Juniata County
PA · Pop. 23,419 · Suburban County
Juniata County is a suburban county in Pennsylvania, spanning 391 square miles with 23,419 residents at a density of 59.9 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on corn, hay, haylage. A median home price of $206,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.05% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 178-day growing season, average summer highs of 82.6°F and average winter lows of 22.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 41.4 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Geisinger - Lewistown Hospital is 10.7 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 92.3% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- Broadband reaches 92.3% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Annual rainfall of 41.4 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.
- A low poverty rate of 10% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- The nearest hospital, Geisinger - Lewistown Hospital, is 10.7 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
At a glance
Juniata County, PA is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 70/100
- Median home price
- $206k
- Property tax
- 1.05%
- Growing season
- 178 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 41.4"
- Broadband
- 92.3%
- Nearest hospital
- Geisinger - Lewistown Hospital, 10.7 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Juniata County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Juniata County?
- Juniata County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 178-day growing season, average summer highs of 82.6°F, and average winter lows of 22.6°F. The established crops are corn, hay, haylage.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $206,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.05%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 92.3% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Geisinger - Lewistown Hospital is 10.7 miles away, without an in-county emergency room.
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More counties in Pennsylvania
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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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