The Town FilesBriar Creek, Pennsylvania
Borough in Columbia County · population 597 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $160,400
- Household income
- $42,647
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 38.0
Briar Creek is a borough of 597 people in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $160,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for cycling than 84% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 76% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Briar Creek 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 Briar Creek is worth $160,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $42,647, which is more affordable than 12% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $680 a month. 44.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Briar Creek | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $680 | $996 |
| Median household income | $42,647 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 44.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Briar Creek
| People | Briar Creek | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 39.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 2.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.4% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 32.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.1% | 89.0% |
Weather in Briar Creek
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 39.9 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
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Briar Creek since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 12, 2023 about 5.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 15, 1992.
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 Briar Creek itself the ACS puts it at 32.3%.
Towns near Briar Creek
- Mifflinville, PA1.6 mi · 1,233 people · home $215,300
- Berwick, PA1.8 mi · 10,327 people · home $156,500
- Mifflin, PA2.1 mi · 2,269 people · home $223,400
- Briar Creek, PA2.9 mi · 2,982 people · home $189,500
- Nescopeck, PA3.7 mi · 1,480 people · home $168,200
- East Berwick, PA3.7 mi · 2,042 people · home $221,800
- Lime Ridge, PA3.8 mi · 823 people · home $208,100
- South Centre, PA3.9 mi · 1,904 people · home $174,200
Briar Creek questions
Is Briar Creek, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Briar Creek scores better for retirees than 35% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 69%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Briar Creek?
The median owner-occupied home in Briar Creek is valued at $160,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,647, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $680 a month.
What is the weather like in Briar Creek?
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 39.9 inches of snow.
Does Briar Creek get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Briar Creek since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 12, 2023. 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)