The Town FilesBastress, Pennsylvania
Township in Lycoming County · population 527 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $285,500
- Household income
- $97,813
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 37.9
Bastress is a township of 527 people in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $285,500, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for families than 90% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 75% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 72% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Bastress 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 Bastress is worth $285,500, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $97,813, which is more affordable than 48% of Pennsylvania towns. 92.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bastress | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $285,500 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | — | $996 |
| Median household income | $97,813 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.3% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bastress
| People | Bastress | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 20.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.4% | 89.0% |
Weather in Bastress
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 20.5°F. About 42.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bastress since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1985 about 1.1 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 41 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 11, 2003.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 28, 2019.
Severe weather in Lycoming County since 1996
Lycoming County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4815: Tropical Storm Debby |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| November 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| December 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4292: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lycoming County
Lycoming County had 49,795 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,535 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Bastress itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Bastress
- Susquehanna, PA1.7 mi · 968 people · home $211,700
- Limestone, PA4.1 mi · 1,966 people · home $210,200
- Woodward, PA4.3 mi · 2,046 people · home $190,800
- Duboistown, PA4.6 mi · 1,200 people · home $194,800
- Armstrong, PA4.8 mi · 686 people · home $241,700
- Nippenose, PA5.4 mi · 661 people · home $201,000
- Williamsport, PA5.4 mi · 27,754 people · home $154,300
- Old Lycoming, PA5.5 mi · 4,975 people · home $198,700
Bastress questions
Is Bastress, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bastress scores better for retirees than 44% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 75%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Bastress?
The median owner-occupied home in Bastress is valued at $285,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,813, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Bastress?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 20.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.7 inches of precipitation a year and 32.6 inches of snow.
Does Bastress get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bastress since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 31, 1985. 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)