If you are shopping outside the densest parts of Pennsylvania, a USDA home loan may be worth checking. The program, backed by USDA Rural Development, serves moderate-income households buying a primary residence in designated areas. Income limits are set by county and household size and are updated periodically. Pick your city below to read more about USDA financing nearby and what to gather before you talk with a participating lender.
Call to talk with a licensed loan officer. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.
Pennsylvania's state housing finance agency is Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). Its homebuyer programs include HFA Preferred (Lo MI), Keystone Home Loan Program, Keystone Government Loan Program. These programs work through participating lenders and have their own eligibility rules. See our Pennsylvania first-time buyer programs guide.
Where USDA loans activity is highest in Pennsylvania
| County | loans originated (2024 HMDA) |
|---|---|
| York County | 99 |
| Westmoreland County | 75 |
| Fayette County | 74 |
| Franklin County | 72 |
| Beaver County | 64 |
| Cambria County | 48 |
| Philadelphia County | 46 |
| Berks County | 46 |
| Somerset County | 36 |
| Washington County | 36 |
Start your application in a few minutes. A licensed loan officer reviews it and follows up with your options.
- Takes a few minutes
- Reviewed by a licensed loan officer
- No obligation to proceed
Prefer to talk first? Call (888) 912-6746. Applying is not a loan approval or commitment to lend; programs vary by borrower, property and investor. ClearPoint Mortgage Advisors, NMLS #173855. Properties in FL, NY, NJ, PA, CT and VA only.
USDA Loans by city in Pennsylvania
- Aliquippa
- Allison Park
- Ambler
- Ambridge
- Ancient Oaks
- Archbald
- Ardmore
- Arlington Heights
- Ashland
- Audubon
- Baldwin
- Bangor
- Beaver Falls
- Bellefonte
- Bellevue
- Berwick
- Bethel Park
- Birdsboro
- Blairsville
- Blakely
- Blandon
- Blue Bell
- Boothwyn
- Bradford
- Breinigsville
- Brentwood
- Brookhaven
- Broomall
- California
- Camp Hill
- Canonsburg
- Carbondale
- Carlisle
- Carnegie
- Carnot-Moon
- Castle Shannon
- Catasauqua
- Chester
- Clairton
- Clarion
- Clearfield
- Clifton Heights
- Coatesville
- Collegeville
- Collingdale
- Colonial Park
- Columbia
- Connellsville
- Conshohocken
- Coraopolis
- Corry
- Crafton
- Cresson
- Croydon
- Darby
- Dickson City
- Dormont
- Downingtown
- Drexel Hill
- DuBois
- Dunmore
- Duquesne
- Eagleville
- East York
- Easton
- Economy
- Edinboro
- Elizabethtown
- Ellwood City
- Emmaus
- Enola
- Ephrata
- Exeter
- Exton
- Fairless Hills
- Folcroft
- Folsom
- Forest Hills
- Fort Washington
- Fox Chapel
- Franklin
- Franklin Park
- Fullerton
- Gettysburg
- Gilbertsville
- Glenolden
- Glenshaw
- Glenside
- Greensburg
- Greenville
- Grove City
- Harleysville
- Hatboro
- Hellertown
- Hermitage
- Hershey
- Hollidaysburg
- Homeacre-Lyndora
- Honesdale
- Huntingdon
- Indiana
- Jeannette
- Jefferson Hills
- Jersey Shore
- Jim Thorpe
- Kennett Square
- King of Prussia
- Kingston
- Kittanning
- Kulpsville
- Kutztown
- Lansdale
- Lansdowne
- Latrobe
- Lehighton
- Leola
- Lewisburg
- Lewistown
- Linglestown
- Lionville
- Lititz
- Littlestown
- Lock Haven
- Lower Burrell
- Maple Glen
- McKees Rocks
- McKeesport
- Meadville
- Mechanicsburg
- Media
- Middletown
- Middletown
- Millersville
- Milton
- Monaca
- Monroeville
- Montgomery
- Montgomeryville
- Moosic
- Morrisville
- Mount Carmel
- Mount Joy
- Mount Pocono
- Mountain Top
- Muncy
- Munhall
- Murrysville
- Nanticoke
- Nazareth
- New Brighton
- New Cumberland
- New Freedom
- New Holland
- New Kensington
- Norristown
- Northampton
- Northern Cambria
- Northwest Harborcreek
- Norwood
- Oakmont
- Oil City
- Old Forge
- Olyphant
- Oreland
- Orwigsburg
- Oxford
- Palmerton
- Palmyra
- Paoli
- Park Forest Village
- Parkville
- Paxtonia
- Penn Estates
- Penn Wynne
- Perkasie
- Philipsburg
- Phoenixville
- Pittston
- Pleasant Hills
- Plum
- Plymouth
- Plymouth Meeting
- Portage
- Progress
- Prospect Park
- Punxsutawney
- Quakertown
- Quarryville
- Red Lion
- Richboro
- Ridley Park
- Roaring Spring
- Sanatoga
- Sayre
- Schuylkill Haven
- Selinsgrove
- Shamokin
- Shanor-Northvue
- Sharon
- Sharon Hill
- Shenandoah
- Shillington
- Shiloh
- Shippensburg
- Slippery Rock
- Somerset
- Souderton
- South Park Township
- South Williamsport
- St. Marys
- Steelton
- Stewartstown
- Stroudsburg
- Sunbury
- Swarthmore
- Swissvale
- Swoyersville
- Tamaqua
- Taylor
- Titusville
- Trooper
- Turtle Creek
- Tyrone
- Village Green-Green Ridge
- Warren
- Washington
- Waynesboro
- Waynesburg
- Weigelstown
- Wescosville
- West Chester
- West Mifflin
- West View
- White Oak
- Wilkinsburg
- Willow Grove
- Willow Street
- Wilson
- Woodlyn
- Wyndmoor
- Wyomissing
- Yeadon
Common questions
Is this website part of USDA?
No. This website is an independent consumer information resource and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development or any government agency. Most USDA-backed home loans are made by private lenders that participate in the program. USDA also runs a separate direct loan program through local Rural Development offices for lower-income applicants. We explain the options and connect you with a licensed lender.
Can I buy a newly built home with a USDA loan?
Yes, new construction may be eligible if the lot is in an eligible area and the home meets program standards. Lenders typically want a certificate of occupancy and may require builder warranties or specific inspections. Some lenders also offer USDA construction-to-permanent financing, though it is less common. Check the lot address on the eligibility map before you sign a builder contract.
Can I use a USDA loan for a second home or rental?
No. USDA loans are for primary residences only, so you must intend to live in the home as your main residence. Vacation homes, investment property and homes bought mainly to rent out are not eligible. If your plans change after you move in, talk with your servicer about the rules. For non-owner-occupied purchases, a lender can describe other loan types that may fit.
Related guides
- USDA Loan Eligibility: Property, Income and Residence
- How Mortgage Preapproval Works
- Documents Needed for a Mortgage
- First-Time Home Buyer Programs in Pennsylvania
USDA Loans overview · Pennsylvania mortgage overview
- 2024 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data; U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey 2025