The Town FilesHouston, Pennsylvania
Borough in Washington County · population 1,172 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $203,800
- Household income
- $64,773
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 41.9
Houston is a borough of 1,172 people in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $203,800, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more of a college town than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 90% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 89% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Houston 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 Houston is worth $203,800, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $64,773, which is more affordable than 39% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $775 a month. 62.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Houston | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $203,800 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $775 | $996 |
| Median household income | $64,773 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 62.2% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Houston
| People | Houston | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.0% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.4% | 89.0% |
Weather in Houston
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 20.0°F. About 41.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.9 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Houston since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 11, 2024 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 21, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 28, 2020.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 14 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 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1555: Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 87,434 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,319 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Houston itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Houston
2 public schools with 1,228 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allison Park El Sch | K-6 | 694 | 16.1 |
| Chartiers-Houston JSHS | 7-12 | 534 | 14.8 |
Towns near Houston
- McGovern, PA1.2 mi · 3,621 people · home $320,300
- Canonsburg, PA1.6 mi · 9,744 people · home $213,200
- Chartiers, PA2.0 mi · 8,632 people · home $248,400
- Meadowlands, PA2.4 mi · 839 people · home $183,900
- Muse, PA3.0 mi · 2,525 people · home $340,300
- North Strabane, PA3.5 mi · 15,700 people · home $356,000
- Cecil, PA4.6 mi · 14,609 people · home $347,000
- Cecil-Bishop, PA4.9 mi · 2,730 people · home $305,500
Houston questions
Is Houston, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Houston scores better for retirees than 90% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 17%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Houston?
The median owner-occupied home in Houston is valued at $203,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,773, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $775 a month.
What is the weather like in Houston?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 20.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.3 inches of precipitation a year and 31.9 inches of snow.
Does Houston get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Houston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 11, 2024. 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)