The Town FilesLack, Pennsylvania
Township in Juniata County · population 636 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $200,000
- Household income
- $55,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 49.8
Lack is a township of 636 people in Juniata County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $200,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks quieter than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, better for a vacation home than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 85% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Lack 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 Lack is worth $200,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $55,417, which is more affordable than 17% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $863 a month. 72.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lack | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $200,000 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $863 | $996 |
| Median household income | $55,417 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 72.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 40.5% | — |
Who lives in Lack
| People | Lack | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.8 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.2% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 44.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in Lack
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 21.0°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.8 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lack since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 20, 1989 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 19, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on April 25, 2010.
Severe weather in Juniata County since 1996
Juniata County has been included in 20 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 Juniata County
Juniata County had 6,498 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,182 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Lack itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Lack
- Tuscarora, PA6.4 mi · 1,134 people · home $193,300
- Bratton, PA8.5 mi · 1,191 people · home $159,300
- Shirley, PA8.6 mi · 2,405 people · home $174,200
- Tell, PA8.9 mi · 550 people · home $195,700
- Wayne, PA9.1 mi · 2,360 people · home $161,500
- Jackson, PA9.4 mi · 590 people · home $243,800
- Allenport, PA10.3 mi · 572 people · home $151,500
- Mount Union, PA10.8 mi · 2,308 people · home $98,200
Lack questions
Is Lack, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lack scores better for retirees than 85% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 98%. 26.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.8).
How much does a house cost in Lack?
The median owner-occupied home in Lack is valued at $200,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,417, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $863 a month.
What is the weather like in Lack?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 21.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 28.8 inches of snow.
Does Lack get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lack since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 20, 1989. 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)