The Town FilesEmmaus, Pennsylvania
Borough in Lehigh County · population 11,652 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $266,000
- Household income
- $83,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 39.1
Emmaus is a borough of 11,652 people in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $266,000, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more vibrant than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 90% of Pennsylvania towns, better for cycling than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Emmaus 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 Emmaus is worth $266,000, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $83,917, which is more affordable than 33% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,389 a month. 64.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Emmaus | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $266,000 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,389 | $996 |
| Median household income | $83,917 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 64.0% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Emmaus
| People | Emmaus | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 26.6 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.3% | 89.0% |
Weather in Emmaus
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 21.8°F. About 47.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emmaus since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 5, 1984 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 63 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 14, 2010.
Severe weather in Lehigh County since 1996
Lehigh County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, 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 |
| September 8, 2011 | Flood | EM-3340: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Lehigh County
Lehigh County had 200,548 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $70,311 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Emmaus itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Emmaus
4 public schools with 3,943 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmaus HS | 9-12 | 2,819 | 14.6 |
| Seven Generations CS (charter) | K-7 | 458 | 11.7 |
| Lincoln El Sch | K-5 | 399 | 13.8 |
| Jefferson El Sch | K-5 | 267 | 14.1 |
Towns near Emmaus
- Dorneyville, PA3.1 mi · 4,850 people · home $417,600
- Upper Milford, PA3.1 mi · 7,777 people · home $396,100
- Macungie, PA3.2 mi · 3,257 people · home $292,900
- Wescosville, PA3.3 mi · 6,039 people · home $452,400
- Lower Macungie, PA3.7 mi · 32,426 people · home $406,500
- Allentown, PA4.2 mi · 125,845 people · home $206,600
- Ancient Oaks, PA4.6 mi · 6,995 people · home $432,800
- Lower Milford, PA4.8 mi · 3,861 people · home $430,500
Emmaus questions
Is Emmaus, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Emmaus scores better for retirees than 23% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 15%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Emmaus?
The median owner-occupied home in Emmaus is valued at $266,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,917, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,389 a month.
What is the weather like in Emmaus?
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 21.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.4 inches of precipitation a year and 33.1 inches of snow.
Does Emmaus get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emmaus since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 5, 1984. 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)