The Town FilesElizabeth, Pennsylvania
Township in Lancaster County · population 3,985 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $307,000
- Household income
- $99,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 42.7
Elizabeth is a township of 3,985 people in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $307,000, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for families than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, more upscale than 73% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth is worth $307,000, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $99,583, which is more affordable than 39% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,125 a month. 85.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elizabeth | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $307,000 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,125 | $996 |
| Median household income | $99,583 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 85.7% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elizabeth
| People | Elizabeth | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 21.4% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.6% | 89.0% |
Weather in Elizabeth
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.3 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elizabeth since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 4, 1950 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 9, 1980.
Severe weather in Lancaster County since 1996
Lancaster County has been included in 22 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 |
| February 6, 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3367: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Lancaster County
Lancaster County had 252,045 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,966 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Elizabeth itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Elizabeth
- Clay, PA3.6 mi · 6,857 people · home $324,000
- Penn, PA4.3 mi · 10,210 people · home $320,500
- Lititz, PA4.7 mi · 9,381 people · home $299,900
- Warwick, PA4.8 mi · 19,022 people · home $338,200
- Heidelberg, PA5.0 mi · 4,095 people · home $306,000
- Rothsville, PA5.7 mi · 2,960 people · home $313,700
- Cornwall, PA6.1 mi · 4,604 people · home $333,700
- Manheim, PA6.2 mi · 5,046 people · home $246,400
Elizabeth questions
Is Elizabeth, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elizabeth scores better for retirees than 62% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 63%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Elizabeth?
The median owner-occupied home in Elizabeth is valued at $307,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,583, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,125 a month.
What is the weather like in Elizabeth?
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 24.3 inches of snow.
Does Elizabeth get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elizabeth since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 4, 1950. 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)