Donaldson, Pennsylvania, 2011
Donaldson’s story
180 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2011 and 5 maps from 1892 on.
- 1846Donaldson is settled
DonaldsonPA
Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
395
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$97K
Census ACS
Household income
$63K
median
Median age
38.8
years
Jobs based here
1
A commuter town
Is Donaldson a good place to live?
9.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Donaldson, below both Pennsylvania’s towns (29%) and U.S. towns (29%). Donaldson has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Donaldson stand out
Where Donaldson beats most towns.
Small town
395 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Donaldson: who provides what
Donaldson is unincorporated, so Schuylkill County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerPPL Electric Utilities18.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterScma-Tremont water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesSchuylkill CountySchuylkill County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Pennsylvania you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSchuylkill County Board of ElectionsSchuylkill County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP code1798117981 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Donaldson.
Work & commute
With 0.0 jobs for every working resident, most of Donaldson’s workers commute out
Donaldson’s median household income stands at $63,000. Half commute less than 15 miles. The top destinations are Pottsville (10%), Pine Grove (6%) and Tremont (4%).
0%work in town
| Donaldson | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $63,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 7.1% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Donaldson0%
Pottsville10%
Pine Grove6%
Tremont4%
Pine Grove Township4%
15 mi
median commute distance
1
jobs based in Donaldson
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Donaldson: four seasons and pleasant summers
July afternoons reach 81°, January nights drop to 19° and about 34 inches of snow falls in a winter.
34″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–36°
Spring38–58°
Summer60–79°
Fall42–61°
Oct 20
typical first frost
Apr 27
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazards
Donaldson faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
On expected storm and flood damage, Donaldson sits above 64% of U.S. communities. Of the losses FEMA expects in the town, 81% come from inland flooding.
64risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland flooding
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Health
A larger share of adults smoke cigarettes in Donaldson than in most of Pennsylvania or the rest of the country
Among adults in Donaldson, 19% report frequent mental distress. In Donaldson, just over two in five adults sleep under 7 hours.
| Donaldson | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 17% | 14% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 16% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 18% | 16% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
0 better17 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Donaldson | PA |
|---|---|---|
| More smokers | 23.2% | 15.8% |
| More uninsured adults | 8.2% | 5.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 10.1% | 7.7% |
Schuylkill Medical Center - South Jackson Street
11.8 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: dental
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
Homes in Donaldson sell for about $170K
Donaldson’s midpoint rent comes in at $950 a month. For households in the town, the share who own their home is 81%.
$170Kmedian sale price
| Donaldson | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $950 a month | $1,115 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 81% | 78% | 73% |
0
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 67 attractions →Hersheypark and 29 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Donaldson. Close and well known come first.
27 mi Theme parkHersheypark3.0M visitors a year18 mi Theme parkKnoebels Amusement Resort
27 mi Stadium & arenaHersheypark Stadium
28 mi MuseumHershey's Chocolate World
27 mi Stadium & arenaHersheypark Arena
17 mi Park & preserveRoadside AmericaSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Hersheypark: Michael Gray, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Hersheypark Stadium: 45BearsFan, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hershey's Chocolate World: Phillyfan0419, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Hersheypark Arena: Hersheyarena4ever at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Roadside America: Mark Fleisher, President and CEO of Aim Advertising in Lewisburg, PA,, Public domain
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Donaldson
16pages on Donaldson
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Donaldson
About 4 of every 100 Donaldson residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Donaldson for work
Where Donaldson’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1jobs based in Donaldson
0%of working residents work in town
15 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Donaldson
Unincorporated community in Pennsylvania, US
Donaldson is a census-designated place (CDP) in Frailey Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 325 at the 2000 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 925 ft
Questions about Donaldson
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Donaldson, PA a good place to live?
Donaldson has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.