The Town FilesCochranton, Pennsylvania
Borough in Crawford County · population 1,118 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $130,500
- Household income
- $59,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 65 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 48.3
Cochranton is a borough of 1,118 people in Crawford County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $130,500, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for a vacation home than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, better transit than 78% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 75% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Cochranton 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 Cochranton is worth $130,500, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $59,375, which is more affordable than 82% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $726 a month. 68.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cochranton | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $130,500 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $726 | $996 |
| Median household income | $59,375 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 68.6% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cochranton
| People | Cochranton | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.3 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 89.0% |
Weather in Cochranton
July highs average 80.4°F and January lows 18.4°F. About 41.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.5 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cochranton since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 31, 1985 about 0.6 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 16 deaths and 118 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 9, 1996.
Severe weather in Crawford County since 1996
Crawford County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 1, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4149: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
Jobs and pay in Crawford County
Crawford County had 28,870 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,526 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Cochranton itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Cochranton
2 public schools with 675 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cochranton JSHS | 7-12 | 343 | 12.3 |
| Cochranton El Sch | K-6 | 332 | 15.1 |
Towns near Cochranton
- East Fairfield, PA2.7 mi · 837 people · home $152,300
- Fairfield, PA3.5 mi · 1,011 people · home $194,800
- French Creek, PA3.9 mi · 710 people · home $157,000
- Wayne, PA4.2 mi · 1,405 people · home $202,000
- Canal, PA6.1 mi · 937 people · home $134,000
- Union, PA6.7 mi · 857 people · home $155,700
- East Mead, PA7.2 mi · 1,316 people · home $182,200
- Mill Creek, PA8.1 mi · 778 people · home $239,800
Cochranton questions
Is Cochranton, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cochranton scores better for retirees than 66% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 71%. 25.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.3).
How much does a house cost in Cochranton?
The median owner-occupied home in Cochranton is valued at $130,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,375, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $726 a month.
What is the weather like in Cochranton?
July highs average 80.4°F and January lows 18.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.4 inches of precipitation a year and 64.5 inches of snow.
Does Cochranton get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cochranton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 31, 1985. 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)