Carbondale 72 Excellent
Carbondale Livability #648 ranked city in Pennsylvania#6,298 ranked city in the USARanks better than 78% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Carbondale

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.

  • Crime Crime

    With a lower than average crime rate per 100,000 people, this area could be considered a very safe place to live. Crime rates are based on both violent and property crimes.

  • Housing Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.

CONS
  • Commute Commute

    Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.

  • Ratings Ratings

    AreaVibes conducted surveys and polls with locals who live in the area. The results were not favorable for walkability of amenities, parks, public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.

What's it like Living in Carbondale?

Located in the state of Pennsylvania, Carbondale is a small city with a population of 8,679 inhabitants. At 92%, the majority of the Carbondale population is White; this is followed by 2% Asian and 1% Black.

Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Carbondale could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Pennsylvania if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Finding the best places to live in Carbondale and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, cost of living, housing and other important metrics.

The livability score in Carbondale is 68/100 and the city is ranked in the 70th percentile of all cities across America. There are nine total categories that generate the livability score. Carbondale ranks well for housing (A+) There is at least one category that does not have great scores in Carbondale. The following was graded with a disappointing score: education (D) and employment (D).

Feeling a sense of safety in the area that you live in is a must for most people. Low crime rates can have a positive impact on things like home prices, home appreciation rates and can help foster positive community dynamics and social cohesion. Carbondale has a violent crime rate of 101 crimes per 100,000 residents which is far lower than the national average.

The Carbondale unemployment rate of 2.5% has continued to decrease over the years and is now well below the national average. The result could lead to reduced poverty and inequality in the area, higher wages and increased economic growth. This is a positive sign in the overall health of the local economy.

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Carbondale excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Carbondale is real estate affordability. Median real estate prices in Carbondale come in at $173,930, which is 41.3% lower than the Pennsylvania average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Carbondale, the home price to income ratio is 2.8, which is 24.3% lower than the Pennsylvania average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Carbondale

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Compare Carbondale, PA Livability

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      Carbondale transportation information

      Statistic Carbondale Pennsylvania National
      Average one way commute22min26min26min
      Workers who drive to work78.2%76.5%76.4%
      Workers who carpool10.3%8.5%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.1%5.6%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.5%0.6%
      Workers who walk6.9%3.8%2.8%
      Working from home3.4%4.2%4.6%
      Source: The Carbondale, PA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.