The Town FilesCatawissa, Pennsylvania
Borough in Columbia County · population 1,536 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $145,900
- Household income
- $51,992
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 42.8
Catawissa is a borough of 1,536 people in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $145,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for retirees than 90% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 88% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 81% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Catawissa 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 Catawissa is worth $145,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $51,992, which is more affordable than 53% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $644 a month. 57.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Catawissa | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $145,900 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $644 | $996 |
| Median household income | $51,992 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 57.0% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1946 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Catawissa
| People | Catawissa | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.2% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 24.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.0% | 89.0% |
Weather in Catawissa
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 19.3°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Catawissa since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 30, 2015 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 30, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 22, 2014.
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 Catawissa itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Catawissa
3 public schools with 1,207 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartman El Ctr | K-4 | 461 | 13.6 |
| Southern Columbia MS | 5-8 | 382 | 13.6 |
| Southern Columbia HS | 9-12 | 364 | 13.5 |
Towns near Catawissa
- Catawissa, PA0.9 mi · 902 people · home $271,100
- Montour, PA3.0 mi · 1,263 people · home $231,100
- Franklin, PA3.2 mi · 550 people · home $238,100
- Bloomsburg, PA3.4 mi · 12,711 people · home $179,100
- Espy, PA4.2 mi · 1,620 people · home $166,900
- Cooper, PA4.3 mi · 944 people · home $197,400
- Main, PA4.6 mi · 1,271 people · home $225,800
- Scott, PA5.4 mi · 5,514 people · home $234,100
Catawissa questions
Is Catawissa, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Catawissa scores better for retirees than 90% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 50%. 25.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Catawissa?
The median owner-occupied home in Catawissa is valued at $145,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,992, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $644 a month.
What is the weather like in Catawissa?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 19.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 28.6 inches of snow.
Does Catawissa get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Catawissa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 30, 2015. 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)