The Town FilesEmporium, Pennsylvania
Borough in Cameron County · population 1,923 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $75,400
- Household income
- $42,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 48.2
Emporium is a borough of 1,923 people in Cameron County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $75,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks hipper than 93% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 90% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 87% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Emporium 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 Emporium is worth $75,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $42,500, which is more affordable than 93% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $678 a month. 57.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Emporium | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $75,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $678 | $996 |
| Median household income | $42,500 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 57.0% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.9% | — |
Who lives in Emporium
| People | Emporium | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.2 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 1.5% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 16.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.9% | 89.0% |
Weather in Emporium
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 16.0°F. About 43.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Emporium since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 26, 1994 about 5.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 26, 1994.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 31, 1985.
Severe weather in Cameron County since 1996
Cameron County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4815: Tropical Storm Debby |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| January 10, 2013 | Hurricane | DR-4099: Hurricane Sandy |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Cameron County
Cameron County had 1,636 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,577 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Emporium itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Emporium
2 public schools with 550 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodland El Sch | K-6 | 308 | 15.4 |
| Cameron County JSHS | 7-12 | 242 | 12.1 |
Towns near Emporium
- Shippen, PA4.6 mi · 1,944 people · home $107,600
- Norwich, PA12.7 mi · 501 people · home $110,100
- St. Marys, PA15.3 mi · 12,738 people · home $149,000
- Liberty, PA18.4 mi · 1,607 people · home $121,700
- Jay, PA18.6 mi · 1,963 people · home $90,500
- Roulette, PA18.8 mi · 695 people · home $80,600
- Roulette, PA18.9 mi · 1,099 people · home $95,100
- Eulalia, PA19.2 mi · 909 people · home $194,300
Emporium questions
Is Emporium, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Emporium scores better for retirees than 41% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 17%. 25.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.2).
How much does a house cost in Emporium?
The median owner-occupied home in Emporium is valued at $75,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,500, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $678 a month.
What is the weather like in Emporium?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 16.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.8 inches of precipitation a year and 47.1 inches of snow.
Does Emporium get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Emporium since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 26, 1994. 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)