Highacres1998, 1998
Sugarloaf Township’s story
143 years in pictures
Census counts: 3,652 in 2000, 3,879 in 2020. The archive holds 11 old photos and papers going back to 1998.
- 1883Sugarloaf Township is settled
Sugarloaf TownshipPA
A town of 4,068, settled in 1883.
5 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Margaretta Lovell · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
4,068
2025 Census estimate · +4.7% since 2020
Typical home
$321K
+2.9% in a year
Household income
$103K
median
Median age
41.6
years
Jobs based here
1,292
Balanced
TownGrade
B
#630 of 1032 in PA
Is Sugarloaf Township a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Sugarloaf Township grades B overall, ranked 630th of 1032 in Pennsylvania. The median household earns $103K and crime is low: it reports less per resident than 79% of U.S. towns. The catch is cost: the typical home is worth about $321K, 4.9 years of the Scranton metro’s $65K median household income. Only 86 of Pennsylvania’s 1,749 towns score lower on history. Sugarloaf Township is home to Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton. Sugarloaf Township's public schools trail 85% of Pennsylvania towns on state tests and graduation.
What makes Sugarloaf Township stand out
Where Sugarloaf Township beats most towns.
Natural hazardsA−
Low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Sugarloaf Township0.2
Pennsylvania2.3
U.S.3.3
SafetyA−
91% less violent crime than PA
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
The college
| College | Students |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton | 506 |
A college in town
506 college students
at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton
Students are 13% of residents.
College town
13% of Sugarloaf Township is in college
College Scorecard · IPEDS
How Sugarloaf Township grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Sugarloaf Township is from typical.
SchoolsC−Open →Jobs & incomeA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 21% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →SafetyA−Open →Cost of livingC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.7 of 20; 3.3% of households have no car; 3.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →HealthLehigh Valley Hospital - Hazleton 7.3 miles awayB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors6% conserved landC+Open →History1 notable person born hereCOpen →Civic life5.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 41.6; 32% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Sugarloaf Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Sugarloaf Township, and how to reach them.
PowerPPL Electric Utilities18.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterConyngham Sugarloaf Joint Ma water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Sugarloaf Township’s trash rules yet
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 hereLuzerne County Board of ElectionsLuzerne County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2015
ZIP codes18249, 18222, 1820218249 66% · 18222 21% · 18202 13%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 Sugarloaf Township.
Sugarloaf Township owes part of its health edge to its incomes and is safe by national standards but not by Pennsylvania’s.
SchoolsC−
For schools, Sugarloaf Township earns a C−
Its one school is below. Hazleton Area SD runs its public schools. Sugarloaf Township’s only public school teaches 957 students.
15%of PA districts it outscoresC−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley El/MSLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 957 | C |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
SafetyA−
For safety, Sugarloaf Township earns an A−
At 8.7 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 60% of Pennsylvania’s graded towns. Violent crime is rare: 1 reported in 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 residents.
The level of property crime for Sugarloaf Township comes to 4.4 per 1,000 residents, below both Pennsylvania’s towns (5.7) and U.S. towns (9.9). Its level of violent crime is 0.2 per 1,000 residents.
79%of U.S. towns report more crimeA−Safety Grade
| Sugarloaf Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.2 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4.4 per 1,000 residents | 5.7 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Sugarloaf Township0.2
Pennsylvania2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Sugarloaf Township4.4
Pennsylvania13.6
U.S.15.5
79th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
60th
percentile among PA towns
1
violent crimes reported in 2025
18
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
The biggest natural risk in Sugarloaf Township is inland flooding, at a low overall level
Households in Sugarloaf Township have drawn federal disaster aid in 4 declared disasters, most recently in 2011. FEMA expects less storm and flood damage in the town than in nearly four fifths of U.S. communities. 70% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by cold waves at 10%. Since 1996, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out locally.
21risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
2
paid flood claims since 1996
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsC+
Protected land: 5.6% of Sugarloaf Township
Count the trails in 2 parks and preserves and they come to 7.0 miles. The trail density for Sugarloaf Township comes to 0.3 miles per square mile, where Pennsylvania’s towns sit at 0.5 and U.S. towns at 0.4.
#545for trails in PA
| Sugarloaf Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 5.6% | 8.2% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.5 | 0.4 |
5.6%
conserved · 804 of 14,250 acres
7.0 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Conyngham Valley Nature Park | 0.2 mi | 8 |
| 2. Sugarloaf Massacre Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthB+
Residents of Sugarloaf Township are healthier than 67% of U.S. towns
Against the 8,131 U.S. towns with household incomes like Sugarloaf Township’s, it is less healthy than 52%: its national edge comes with its incomes.
80% of adults had a checkup this year in Sugarloaf Township. The town beats the Pennsylvania average on 3 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 2.
67%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Sugarloaf Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 16% | 17% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 80% | 79% | 79% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 18% | 16% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 19% | 19% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
3 better21 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Sugarloaf Township | PA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 10.7% | 14.5% |
| More adults seeing a dentist | 69% | 64.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.5% | 8.8% |
Lehigh Valley Hospital - Hazleton
7.3 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: dental
64th
percentile among PA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Sugarloaf Township: snowy winters and pleasant summers
The midsummer high for Sugarloaf Township comes to 82°F.
42″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter20–36°
Spring36–58°
Summer58–80°
Fall41–61°
Oct 22
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Most of Sugarloaf Township’s workers commute out: the town has 0.8 jobs for each of them
Just 7% of Sugarloaf Township’s working residents have a job in town. The share of residents in Sugarloaf Township who live below the poverty line: 4%. Employers in Sugarloaf Township added 220 jobs between 2013 and 2023, to 1,292. The median commute is under 10 miles.
7%work in town
| Sugarloaf Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $103,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 4% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 12% | 11% |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Sugarloaf Township7%
Hazle Township14%
West Hazleton9%
Hazleton9%
Butler Township4%
10 mi
median commute distance
1,292
jobs based in Sugarloaf Township
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 68% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade C−
For cost of living, Sugarloaf Township earns a C−
Sugarloaf Township: 83% of households are owner-occupiers. A typical home in the town is worth about $321,000, up 2.9% in a year, 12% above the Pennsylvania typical home. For Sugarloaf Township, the typical rent is $1,378 a month.
$321KZillow home value
| Sugarloaf Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 83% | 78% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,378 a month | $1,114 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Sugarloaf Township$321K
Pennsylvania$287K
+2.9%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
More adults under 35 in Sugarloaf Township than across Pennsylvania
The bachelor’s-degree share among adults 25 and older is 33%, against 35% across Pennsylvania. Adults 18 to 34 are just over a quarter of residents (22% statewide). Sugarloaf Township has grown 4.7% since 2020, to 4,068 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
41.6median age · PA 40.9
| Sugarloaf Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 18% | 20% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 33% | 29% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 21% | 21% | 18% |
| Median age | 41.6 years | 43.2 years | 40.5 years |
Sugarloaf TownshipPennsylvaniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma2%
High school30%
Some college19%
Associate’s16%
Bachelor’s19%
Graduate14%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.2 points. Across Pennsylvania, 50.7% of residents are women.
| Sugarloaf Township | PA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 7.5% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 11.6% | 9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 14.6% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 9.8% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.7% | 11.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.8% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13.4% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7.2% | 8.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 2.4% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 29.9% | 32.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 18.9% | 15.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 16.4% | 8.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 18.9% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 13.6% | 14.3% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 4,100, single groups can be off by several points
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Sugarloaf Township
20pages on Sugarloaf Township
The big questions
SchoolsC−Behind 85% of PA districts · 1 schoolSafetyA−0.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB+Better than PA on 3 of 26 CDC measuresCost of livingC−$321K typical home · up 2.9% in a yearWork & commuteA−$103K median household income · 1,292 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 21% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Sugarloaf Township
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HazletonUniversity or college · Public · Sugarloaf TownshipIn town$15,208 in-state tuitionLuzerne County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Nanticoke14.3 mi$6,600 in-state tuition
About 13 of every 100 Sugarloaf Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.
About Sugarloaf Township
Township in Pennsylvania, US
Sugarloaf Township is a township that is located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,879 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 23 sq mi
Sugarloaf Township’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with Sugarloaf Township.
Butler TownshipHollenback TownshipNescopeck TownshipBlack Creek TownshipHazle TownshipSugarloaf Township
How the neighbors grade
| Town | PA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugarloaf Township | #630 | B | C− | A− | C− | B+ |
| Butler Township | #833 | C+ | C− | A− | C− | B− |
| Hollenback Township | — | — | B | — | C+ | B− |
| Nescopeck Township | — | — | B− | — | C+ | C+ |
| Black Creek Township | — | — | B | — | C− | B+ |
| Hazle Township | #1024 | D | B− | — | C− | D |
Hollenback Township, Nescopeck Township and Black Creek Township have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Hollenback Township, Nescopeck Township, Black Creek Township and Hazle Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Sugarloaf Township with a neighbor →
Questions about Sugarloaf Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Sugarloaf Township, PA a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Sugarloaf Township grades B overall, better than 56% of U.S. towns and #630 of 1032 in Pennsylvania. It grades B+ for health, A− for safety and C− for schools. Schools is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Sugarloaf Township, PA safe?
Yes, by national standards. Sugarloaf Township reports less crime per resident than 79% of U.S. towns, an A− Safety Grade: 1 violent and 18 property crimes in 2025.
Is Sugarloaf Township, PA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.