The Town FilesBirchwood Lakes, Pennsylvania
Community in Pike County · population 1,460 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $168,700
- Household income
- $67,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 53.9
Birchwood Lakes is a community of 1,460 people in Pike County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $168,700, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of Pennsylvania towns, better for families than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Birchwood Lakes 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 Birchwood Lakes is worth $168,700, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $67,500, which is more affordable than 70% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,244 a month. 85.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Birchwood Lakes | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,700 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,244 | $996 |
| Median household income | $67,500 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 85.6% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 27.6% | — |
Who lives in Birchwood Lakes
| People | Birchwood Lakes | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.2% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 13.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.9% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 2.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.1% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 42.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.7% | 89.0% |
Weather in Birchwood Lakes
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 16.7°F. About 48.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.4 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Birchwood Lakes since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1998 about 0.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 1998.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on July 13, 2023.
Severe weather in Pike County since 1996
Pike County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| January 10, 2013 | Hurricane | DR-4099: Hurricane Sandy |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 3, 2011 | Hurricane | DR-4025: Hurricane Irene |
Jobs and pay in Pike County
Pike County had 12,452 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,674 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Birchwood Lakes itself the ACS puts it at 15.9%.
Towns near Birchwood Lakes
- Delaware, PA1.3 mi · 7,453 people · home $236,100
- Gold Key Lake, PA4.7 mi · 1,979 people · home $233,400
- Dingman, PA5.0 mi · 12,490 people · home $286,500
- Layton, NJ5.1 mi · 692 people · home $376,300
- Sunrise Lake, PA5.1 mi · 1,396 people · home $191,000
- Pocono Woodland Lakes, PA5.1 mi · 3,249 people · home $348,000
- Conashaugh Lakes, PA5.6 mi · 1,425 people · home $295,600
- Sandyston, NJ5.7 mi · 1,977 people · home $337,400
Birchwood Lakes questions
Is Birchwood Lakes, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Birchwood Lakes scores better for retirees than 72% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 79%. 21.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.9).
How much does a house cost in Birchwood Lakes?
The median owner-occupied home in Birchwood Lakes is valued at $168,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,500, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,244 a month.
What is the weather like in Birchwood Lakes?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 16.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.7 inches of precipitation a year and 41.4 inches of snow.
Does Birchwood Lakes get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Birchwood Lakes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 31, 1998. 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)