The Town FilesBenton, Pennsylvania
Borough in Columbia County · population 823 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $168,400
- Household income
- $34,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 55.9
Benton is a borough of 823 people in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $168,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks easier by car than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, better for a vacation home than 91% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 83% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Benton 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 Benton is worth $168,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 4.9 times the median household income of $34,500, which is more affordable than 2% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $956 a month. 43.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benton | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $956 | $996 |
| Median household income | $34,500 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 43.4% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.0% | — |
Who lives in Benton
| People | Benton | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.8% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.2% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.4% | 89.0% |
Weather in Benton
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 16.2°F. About 48.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.0 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 15, 2019 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 15, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 19, 1983.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 20 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 |
| November 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 24,395 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,569 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Benton itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Benton
3 public schools with 622 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| L R Appleman El Sch | K-6 | 307 | 9.9 |
| Benton Area HS | 9-12 | 202 | 14.4 |
| Benton Area MS | 7-8 | 113 | 14.1 |
Towns near Benton
- Benton, PA1.0 mi · 1,323 people · home $209,900
- Jackson, PA3.3 mi · 622 people · home $226,400
- Fishing Creek, PA4.2 mi · 1,523 people · home $263,100
- Sugarloaf, PA5.5 mi · 887 people · home $223,000
- Greenwood, PA5.5 mi · 1,881 people · home $218,700
- Pine, PA6.8 mi · 1,011 people · home $231,800
- Huntington, PA7.2 mi · 2,053 people · home $217,000
- Orange, PA7.7 mi · 1,161 people · home $299,300
Benton questions
Is Benton, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benton scores better for retirees than 46% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 83%. 32.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.9).
How much does a house cost in Benton?
The median owner-occupied home in Benton is valued at $168,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,500, so homes cost about 4.9 times income. Median rent is $956 a month.
What is the weather like in Benton?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 16.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.4 inches of precipitation a year and 46.0 inches of snow.
Does Benton get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 15, 2019. 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)