The Town FilesJefferson, Pennsylvania
Township in Washington County · population 1,119 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $236,600
- Household income
- $73,229
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 42.9
Jefferson is a township of 1,119 people in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $236,600, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks quieter than 97% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 75% 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 $236,600, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $73,229, which is more affordable than 33% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $616 a month. 80.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jefferson | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $236,600 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $616 | $996 |
| Median household income | $73,229 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 80.4% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Jefferson
| People | Jefferson | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.1% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 17.5% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 32.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.3% | 89.0% |
Weather in Jefferson
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 43.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 116 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 21, 2021 about 7.1 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 43 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 Jefferson itself the ACS puts it at 13.7%.
Towns near Jefferson
- Langeloth, PA4.2 mi · 659 people · home $153,800
- Avella, PA4.2 mi · 782 people · home $139,100
- Cross Creek, PA4.6 mi · 1,371 people · home $233,700
- Hooverson Heights, WV5.3 mi · 2,582 people · home $154,600
- Paris, PA5.4 mi · 667 people · home $202,400
- Slovan, PA5.4 mi · 529 people · home —
- Burgettstown, PA5.8 mi · 1,425 people · home $129,400
- Follansbee, WV6.0 mi · 2,848 people · home $133,900
Jefferson questions
Is Jefferson, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jefferson scores better for retirees than 75% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 97%. 21.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Jefferson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jefferson is valued at $236,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,229, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $616 a month.
What is the weather like in Jefferson?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.2 inches of precipitation a year and 28.1 inches of snow.
Does Jefferson get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 21, 2021. 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)