The Town FilesJefferson, Pennsylvania
Borough in York County · population 658 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $234,100
- Household income
- $83,409
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 51.4
Jefferson is a borough of 658 people in York County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $234,100, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for families than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 70% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 70% 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 $234,100, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $83,409, which is more affordable than 53% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,219 a month. 79.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jefferson | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $234,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,219 | $996 |
| Median household income | $83,409 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 79.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Jefferson
| People | Jefferson | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.4 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 32.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.1% | 89.0% |
Weather in Jefferson
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 23.7°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.8 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 5, 1952 about 3.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 30, 1999.
Severe weather in York County since 1996
York County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 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 |
| February 6, 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3367: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in York County
York County had 182,614 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,427 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Jefferson itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Towns near Jefferson
- Codorus, PA3.3 mi · 3,904 people · home $286,200
- Manheim, PA3.9 mi · 3,462 people · home $340,000
- North Codorus, PA4.0 mi · 9,152 people · home $289,800
- Heidelberg, PA4.2 mi · 3,031 people · home $312,000
- Spring Grove, PA4.9 mi · 2,372 people · home $204,000
- Springfield, PA5.9 mi · 6,026 people · home $334,000
- Glen Rock, PA6.1 mi · 2,121 people · home $241,100
- Penn, PA6.5 mi · 17,487 people · home $240,500
Jefferson questions
Is Jefferson, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jefferson scores better for retirees than 70% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 70%. 22.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.4).
How much does a house cost in Jefferson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jefferson is valued at $234,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,409, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,219 a month.
What is the weather like in Jefferson?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 23.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 28.8 inches of snow.
Does Jefferson get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 5, 1952. 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)