The Town FilesEspy, Pennsylvania
Community in Columbia County · population 1,620 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $166,900
- Household income
- $79,038
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 49.5
Espy is a community of 1,620 people in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $166,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for cycling than 90% of Pennsylvania towns, more of a college town than 87% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 83% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Espy 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 Espy is worth $166,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $79,038, which is more affordable than 86% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,101 a month. 74.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Espy | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $166,900 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,101 | $996 |
| Median household income | $79,038 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 74.0% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.0% | — |
Who lives in Espy
| People | Espy | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.5 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.2% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.3% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 17.7% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 17.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 89.0% |
Weather in Espy
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 19.3°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.9 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Espy since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 17, 2004 about 6.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 17, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 19, 1983.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 20 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 |
| November 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 24,395 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,569 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Espy itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Towns near Espy
- Scott, PA1.3 mi · 5,514 people · home $234,100
- Almedia, PA1.8 mi · 1,040 people · home $194,000
- Bloomsburg, PA2.1 mi · 12,711 people · home $179,100
- Lightstreet, PA2.4 mi · 1,098 people · home $168,400
- Main, PA2.8 mi · 1,271 people · home $225,800
- South Centre, PA3.7 mi · 1,904 people · home $174,200
- Lime Ridge, PA3.8 mi · 823 people · home $208,100
- Catawissa, PA4.0 mi · 902 people · home $271,100
Espy questions
Is Espy, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Espy scores better for retirees than 65% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 18%. 23.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.5).
How much does a house cost in Espy?
The median owner-occupied home in Espy is valued at $166,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,038, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,101 a month.
What is the weather like in Espy?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 19.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 35.9 inches of snow.
Does Espy get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Espy since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 17, 2004. 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)