The Town FilesCentral City, Pennsylvania
Borough in Somerset County · population 998 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $67,400
- Household income
- $47,813
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 97 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 44.3
Central City is a borough of 998 people in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $67,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks quieter than 92% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 92% of Pennsylvania towns, better for families than 77% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Central City 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 Central City is worth $67,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $47,813, which is more affordable than 98% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $550 a month. 89.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Central City | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $67,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $550 | $996 |
| Median household income | $47,813 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.5% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1945 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.9% | — |
Who lives in Central City
| People | Central City | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.2% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.9% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.1% | 89.0% |
Weather in Central City
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 18.7°F. About 39.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 96.9 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central City since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 13, 1956 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 13, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 11, 1977.
Severe weather in Somerset County since 1996
Somerset County has been included in 21 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 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| January 10, 2013 | Hurricane | DR-4099: Hurricane Sandy |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Somerset County
Somerset County had 23,303 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,925 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Central City itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Towns near Central City
- Cairnbrook, PA1.3 mi · 505 people · home $65,500
- Shade, PA1.4 mi · 2,455 people · home $103,000
- Hooversville, PA6.4 mi · 628 people · home $86,400
- Paint, PA7.2 mi · 3,041 people · home $157,600
- Stonycreek, PA7.8 mi · 2,087 people · home $196,300
- Quemahoning, PA8.0 mi · 1,840 people · home $125,000
- Napier, PA8.5 mi · 2,031 people · home $216,400
- Windber, PA8.8 mi · 3,941 people · home $99,000
Central City questions
Is Central City, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Central City scores better for retirees than 46% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 92%. 25.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in Central City?
The median owner-occupied home in Central City is valued at $67,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,813, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $550 a month.
What is the weather like in Central City?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 18.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.6 inches of precipitation a year and 96.9 inches of snow.
Does Central City get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 13, 1956. 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)