The Town FilesGaleton, Pennsylvania
Borough in Potter County · population 990 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $104,500
- Household income
- $70,298
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 57 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 54.0
Galeton is a borough of 990 people in Potter County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $104,500, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for a vacation home than 89% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 87% of Pennsylvania towns, better transit than 70% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Galeton 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 Galeton is worth $104,500, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $70,298, which is more affordable than 97% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $930 a month. 69.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Galeton | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $104,500 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $930 | $996 |
| Median household income | $70,298 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.9% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 15.4% | — |
Who lives in Galeton
| People | Galeton | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.0 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.3% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 11.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 13.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 38.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 89.0% |
Weather in Galeton
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows 14.1°F. About 42.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 56.7 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Galeton since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 24, 2010 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 24, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 21, 2024.
Severe weather in Potter County since 1996
Potter County has been included in 14 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 Potter County
Potter County had 4,800 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,050 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Galeton itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Galeton
2 public schools with 308 students, about 8.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galeton Area Sch | PK-6 | 161 | 7.3 |
| Galeton JSHS | 7-12 | 147 | 11.3 |
Towns near Galeton
- Gaines, PA4.3 mi · 608 people · home $188,500
- Clymer, PA9.3 mi · 623 people · home $222,000
- Ulysses, PA9.8 mi · 643 people · home $156,900
- Shippen, PA10.0 mi · 500 people · home $217,500
- Ulysses, PA13.0 mi · 599 people · home $104,200
- Westfield, PA13.2 mi · 988 people · home $114,200
- Westfield, PA13.7 mi · 1,112 people · home $87,300
- Chatham, PA14.3 mi · 610 people · home $210,000
Galeton questions
Is Galeton, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Galeton scores better for retirees than 35% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 87%. 29.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.0).
How much does a house cost in Galeton?
The median owner-occupied home in Galeton is valued at $104,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,298, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $930 a month.
What is the weather like in Galeton?
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows 14.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.3 inches of precipitation a year and 56.7 inches of snow.
Does Galeton get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Galeton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 24, 2010. 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)