The Town FilesJefferson, Pennsylvania
Township in Fayette County · population 2,004 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $245,700
- Household income
- $74,844
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 47.9
Jefferson is a township of 2,004 people in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $245,700, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 90% of Pennsylvania towns, more of a college town than 84% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 74% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Jefferson 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 Jefferson is worth $245,700, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $74,844, which is more affordable than 29% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $735 a month. 92.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jefferson | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $245,700 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $735 | $996 |
| Median household income | $74,844 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Jefferson
| People | Jefferson | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.8% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 13.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 21.3% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 34.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.8% | 89.0% |
Weather in Jefferson
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 21.3°F. About 40.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.3 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 22, 2026 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 22, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 20, 1983.
Severe weather in Fayette County since 1996
Fayette County has been included in 18 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 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 1, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4149: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Fayette County
Fayette County had 37,892 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,069 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Jefferson itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Towns near Jefferson
- Roscoe, PA2.7 mi · 720 people · home $110,300
- Star Junction, PA3.1 mi · 518 people · home $146,700
- Brownsville, PA3.1 mi · 534 people · home $79,000
- Rowes Run, PA3.2 mi · 517 people · home $63,000
- Fayette City, PA3.3 mi · 502 people · home $76,400
- Washington, PA3.6 mi · 3,894 people · home $135,200
- Newell, PA3.9 mi · 513 people · home $115,300
- West Brownsville, PA4.0 mi · 977 people · home $82,800
Jefferson questions
Is Jefferson, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jefferson scores better for retirees than 72% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 62%. 29.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.9).
How much does a house cost in Jefferson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jefferson is valued at $245,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,844, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $735 a month.
What is the weather like in Jefferson?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 21.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.9 inches of precipitation a year and 10.3 inches of snow.
Does Jefferson get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 22, 2026. 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)