Northumberland County
PA · Pop. 90,925 · Mixed County
Northumberland County is a mixed rural-suburban county in Pennsylvania, spanning 458 square miles with 90,925 residents at a density of 198.5 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on corn, soybeans, hay. A median home price of $152,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.17% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 172-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.4°F and average winter lows of 19.9°F. Annual rainfall averages 42.5 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Sunbury Community Hospital is 3.6 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 97.8% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A median home price of $152,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 97.8% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Sunbury Community Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 3.6 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- Annual rainfall of 42.5 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.
Cons
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
At a glance
Northumberland County, PA is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 66/100
- Median home price
- $152k
- Property tax
- 1.17%
- Growing season
- 172 days (zone 6b)
- Annual rainfall
- 42.5"
- Broadband
- 97.8%
- Nearest hospital
- Sunbury Community Hospital, 3.6 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Northumberland County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Northumberland County?
- Northumberland County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 172-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.4°F, and average winter lows of 19.9°F. The established crops are corn, soybeans, hay.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $152,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.17%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 97.8% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Sunbury Community Hospital is 3.6 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 2 hospitals in the county.
Explore Pennsylvania Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Pennsylvania
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The closest counties to Northumberland County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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