The Town FilesCook, Pennsylvania
Township in Westmoreland County · population 1,896 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $212,900
- Household income
- $70,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 142 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 52.8
Cook is a township of 1,896 people in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $212,900, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks quieter than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, better for a vacation home than 97% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 94% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Cook 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 Cook is worth $212,900, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $70,875, which is more affordable than 43% of Pennsylvania towns. 92.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cook | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $212,900 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | — | $996 |
| Median household income | $70,875 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.3% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.5% | — |
Who lives in Cook
| People | Cook | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.8 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.4% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 13.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 32.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in Cook
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 45.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 142.2 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cook since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 2, 1998 about 8.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 20 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 2, 1998.
Severe weather in Westmoreland County since 1996
Westmoreland County has been included in 20 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 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| April 16, 2010 | Snowstorm | DR-1898: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County had 129,350 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,519 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Cook itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Towns near Cook
- Donegal, PA5.0 mi · 2,192 people · home $182,700
- Ligonier, PA5.9 mi · 6,056 people · home $243,200
- Ligonier, PA6.0 mi · 1,513 people · home $236,000
- Jefferson, PA7.6 mi · 1,426 people · home $229,400
- Hostetter, PA8.9 mi · 732 people · home $214,300
- Mount Pleasant, PA9.5 mi · 10,119 people · home $191,300
- Mammoth, PA9.5 mi · 526 people · home $155,500
- Bear Rocks, PA9.7 mi · 1,005 people · home $214,100
Cook questions
Is Cook, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cook scores better for retirees than 94% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 98%. 30.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.8).
How much does a house cost in Cook?
The median owner-occupied home in Cook is valued at $212,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,875, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Cook?
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.7 inches of precipitation a year and 142.2 inches of snow.
Does Cook get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cook since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 2, 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)