The Town FilesEllwood City, Pennsylvania
Borough in Lawrence County · population 7,642 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $122,800
- Household income
- $67,138
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 45.2
Ellwood City is a borough of 7,642 people in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $122,800, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 89% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 87% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 86% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Ellwood 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 Ellwood City is worth $122,800, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $67,138, which is more affordable than 93% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $865 a month. 70.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ellwood City | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,800 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $865 | $996 |
| Median household income | $67,138 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.5% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1944 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ellwood City
| People | Ellwood City | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.2 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in Ellwood City
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 40.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.8 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 131 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ellwood City since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1985 about 4.5 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 124 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 26, 1956.
Severe weather in Lawrence County since 1996
Lawrence County has been included in 12 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 |
| 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 Lawrence County
Lawrence County had 26,838 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,927 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Ellwood City itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Ellwood City
7 public schools with 2,939 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln JSHS | 7-12 | 679 | 12.1 |
| Riverside El Sch | PK-5 | 646 | 15.4 |
| Riverside HS | 9-12 | 451 | 14.1 |
| North Side Primary School | K-2 | 355 | 12.7 |
| Riverside MS | 6-8 | 322 | 16.1 |
| Hartman Intrmd Sch | 5-6 | 250 | 13.9 |
| Perry Lower Intrmd Sch | 3-4 | 236 | 11.8 |
Towns near Ellwood City
- North Sewickley, PA3.6 mi · 5,495 people · home $204,000
- Franklin, PA5.0 mi · 3,882 people · home $226,500
- Shenango, PA6.1 mi · 7,133 people · home $169,100
- Beaver Falls, PA7.4 mi · 9,005 people · home $92,100
- Slippery Rock, PA7.7 mi · 2,913 people · home $190,600
- Daugherty, PA7.9 mi · 3,078 people · home $191,300
- Patterson, PA8.6 mi · 3,129 people · home $233,400
- Chippewa, PA8.6 mi · 8,042 people · home $255,600
Ellwood City questions
Is Ellwood City, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ellwood City scores better for retirees than 21% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 27%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.2).
How much does a house cost in Ellwood City?
The median owner-occupied home in Ellwood City is valued at $122,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,138, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $865 a month.
What is the weather like in Ellwood City?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.3 inches of precipitation a year and 27.8 inches of snow.
Does Ellwood City get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ellwood City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 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)