The Town FilesFoster, Pennsylvania
Township in Luzerne County · population 3,408 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $170,200
- Household income
- $68,384
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 54.3
Foster is a township of 3,408 people in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $170,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 89% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 87% of Pennsylvania towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Foster 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 Foster is worth $170,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $68,384, which is more affordable than 70% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,289 a month. 88.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Foster | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $170,200 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,289 | $996 |
| Median household income | $68,384 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 88.1% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 16.5% | — |
Who lives in Foster
| People | Foster | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.3 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 30.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 89.0% |
Weather in Foster
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 48.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.3 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Foster since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on December 1, 2006 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 26, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 17, 2007.
Severe weather in Luzerne County since 1996
Luzerne County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 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 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Luzerne County
Luzerne County had 145,190 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,901 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Foster itself the ACS puts it at 9.4%.
Towns near Foster
- Freeland, PA2.1 mi · 3,833 people · home $118,000
- Weatherly, PA5.0 mi · 2,541 people · home $163,200
- Butler, PA6.4 mi · 9,485 people · home $252,900
- Hazleton, PA7.2 mi · 29,963 people · home $151,600
- Wright, PA8.2 mi · 5,722 people · home $295,100
- Hazle, PA8.8 mi · 10,160 people · home $206,000
- West Hazleton, PA9.0 mi · 5,163 people · home $151,800
- Mountain Top, PA9.1 mi · 11,489 people · home $297,700
Foster questions
Is Foster, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Foster scores better for retirees than 30% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 87%. 27.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.3).
How much does a house cost in Foster?
The median owner-occupied home in Foster is valued at $170,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,384, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,289 a month.
What is the weather like in Foster?
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.8 inches of precipitation a year and 39.3 inches of snow.
Does Foster get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Foster since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on December 1, 2006. 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)