The Town FilesJefferson, Pennsylvania
Township in Somerset County · population 1,426 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $229,400
- Household income
- $75,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 142 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 51.8
Jefferson is a township of 1,426 people in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $229,400, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 88% 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 $229,400, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $75,625, which is more affordable than 43% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $979 a month. 90.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jefferson | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $229,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $979 | $996 |
| Median household income | $75,625 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.1% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 67.9% | — |
Who lives in Jefferson
| People | Jefferson | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.8 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 29.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 89.0% |
Weather in Jefferson
July highs average 76.9°F and January lows 16.7°F. About 55.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 142.2 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 142 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 2, 1998 about 1.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 2, 1998.
Severe weather in Somerset County since 1996
Somerset County has been included in 21 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 |
| January 10, 2013 | Hurricane | DR-4099: Hurricane Sandy |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Somerset County
Somerset County had 23,303 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,925 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Jefferson itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Towns near Jefferson
- Donegal, PA5.9 mi · 2,192 people · home $182,700
- Lincoln, PA6.6 mi · 1,457 people · home $174,600
- Middlecreek, PA7.2 mi · 832 people · home $204,500
- Cook, PA7.6 mi · 1,896 people · home $212,900
- Milford, PA8.2 mi · 1,490 people · home $175,900
- Saltlick, PA8.7 mi · 3,037 people · home $162,500
- Somerset, PA9.1 mi · 6,048 people · home $163,600
- Somerset, PA9.5 mi · 12,083 people · home $165,700
Jefferson questions
Is Jefferson, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jefferson scores better for retirees than 88% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 96%. 31.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.8).
How much does a house cost in Jefferson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jefferson is valued at $229,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,625, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $979 a month.
What is the weather like in Jefferson?
July highs average 76.9°F and January lows 16.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.9 inches of precipitation a year and 142.2 inches of snow.
Does Jefferson get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 2, 1998. 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)