The Town FilesElk Creek, Pennsylvania
Township in Erie County · population 1,786 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $230,500
- Household income
- $86,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 111 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 49.9
Elk Creek is a township of 1,786 people in Erie County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $230,500, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks easier by car than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, more of a college town than 93% of Pennsylvania towns, better for families than 86% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Elk Creek 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 Elk Creek is worth $230,500, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $86,250, which is more affordable than 59% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $693 a month. 92.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elk Creek | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $230,500 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $693 | $996 |
| Median household income | $86,250 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.4% | — |
Who lives in Elk Creek
| People | Elk Creek | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.1% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 12.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 27.6 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 89.0% |
Weather in Elk Creek
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 17.3°F. About 48.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 111.0 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 142 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elk Creek since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 31, 1985 about 1.9 miles from the town center and killed 12. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 12 deaths and 99 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 8, 1980.
Severe weather in Erie County since 1996
Erie County has been included in 11 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 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1555: Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances |
Jobs and pay in Erie County
Erie County had 119,552 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,524 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Elk Creek itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Towns near Elk Creek
- Cranesville, PA2.5 mi · 570 people · home $133,300
- Albion, PA3.7 mi · 1,528 people · home $141,100
- Franklin, PA4.8 mi · 1,508 people · home $277,700
- Spring, PA6.0 mi · 1,402 people · home $176,000
- Girard, PA6.9 mi · 4,869 people · home $204,600
- Cussewago, PA7.2 mi · 1,429 people · home $191,000
- Conneaut, PA7.5 mi · 4,191 people · home $170,500
- Girard, PA8.2 mi · 2,993 people · home $160,500
Elk Creek questions
Is Elk Creek, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elk Creek scores better for retirees than 40% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 46%. 26.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.9).
How much does a house cost in Elk Creek?
The median owner-occupied home in Elk Creek is valued at $230,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,250, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $693 a month.
What is the weather like in Elk Creek?
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 17.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.2 inches of precipitation a year and 111.0 inches of snow.
Does Elk Creek get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elk Creek 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)