Coal is a township in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, home to about 9,769 people across 26 square miles. Its ZIP code is 17866, and parts of 17872 are in Coal too.
Homes sold for a median of $74 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a balanced market.
All in Coal
Mostly Shamokin City; part is in Coal
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Coal. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Coal’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)94 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Williamsport Regional Airport (IPT)37 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Philadelphia, PA92 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Coal; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Coal had 10,139 residents in the 2020 census, down 5% since 2000.
It’s the 271st largest of 2,568 towns in Pennsylvania by population.
Northumberland County grew from 90,911 residents in 1900 to 91,647 in 2020.
Northumberland County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 84°F in summer, and winter lows average 19°F. About 48.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 34 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Bear Gap, PA weather station (3 miles away).
23,047 jobs at 1,611 businesses in Northumberland County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
61 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Coal.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 5 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 17 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 18 |
| Mental health providers | 7 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 13 |
| Optometrists | 1 |
| Pharmacies | 1 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (11 nearby)
Grocery stores (4 nearby)
Pharmacies (2 nearby)
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums (1 nearby)
Theaters and performance venues
Counts are within about 3.5 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Shamokin Area SD, Northumberland County Career and Technology Center. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shamokin Area El SchCoal Township | Pre-K–4 | 830 | Public | 2.1 mi |
| Shamokin Area Intermediate SchCoal Township | 5–6 | 308 | Public | 2.1 mi |
| Shamokin Area MSShamokin | 7–8 | 351 | Public | 1.8 mi |
| Shamokin Area HSShamokin | 9–12 | 675 | Public | 1.8 mi |
| Northumberland County Career and Technology CenterCoal Township | 10–12 | 15 | Career and Technical | 1.6 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Lady of Lourdes Regional SchoolCoal Township | Pre-K–12 | 392 | Roman Catholic | 1.7 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Shamokin City, Zerbe, East Cameron, West Cameron, Shamokin Township, Ralpho and Little Mahanoy.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.