The Town FilesAdamstown, Pennsylvania
Borough in Lancaster County · population 1,938 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $278,500
- Household income
- $117,554
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 34.9
Adamstown is a borough of 1,938 people in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $278,500, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for families than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 88% of Pennsylvania towns, more upscale than 77% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Adamstown ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Adamstown is worth $278,500, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $117,554, which is more affordable than 75% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,231 a month. 82.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Adamstown | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $278,500 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,231 | $996 |
| Median household income | $117,554 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.2% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Adamstown
| People | Adamstown | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.3% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 26.5% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.6% | 89.0% |
Weather in Adamstown
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 19.5°F. About 48.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.2 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Adamstown since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 4, 1950 about 1.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 4, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 22, 2014.
Severe weather in Lancaster County since 1996
Lancaster County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 6, 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3367: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Lancaster County
Lancaster County had 252,045 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,966 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Adamstown itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Adamstown
1 public school with 410 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adamstown El Sch | K-5 | 410 | 14.1 |
Towns near Adamstown
- Swartzville, PA1.3 mi · 2,273 people · home $294,700
- East Cocalico, PA2.6 mi · 10,767 people · home $306,900
- Gouglersville, PA3.0 mi · 585 people · home $268,000
- Brecknock, PA3.5 mi · 7,557 people · home $348,100
- Reamstown, PA3.6 mi · 3,367 people · home $321,400
- Reinholds, PA3.6 mi · 1,786 people · home $273,900
- Bowmansville, PA3.7 mi · 2,989 people · home $341,000
- Denver, PA4.1 mi · 3,792 people · home $242,400
Adamstown questions
Is Adamstown, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Adamstown scores better for retirees than 26% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 47%. 8.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.9).
How much does a house cost in Adamstown?
The median owner-occupied home in Adamstown is valued at $278,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $117,554, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,231 a month.
What is the weather like in Adamstown?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 19.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.4 inches of precipitation a year and 27.2 inches of snow.
Does Adamstown get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Adamstown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 4, 1950. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)