The Town FilesLake Latonka, Pennsylvania
Community in Mercer County · population 951 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $392,600
- Household income
- $94,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 61.4
Lake Latonka is a community of 951 people in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $392,600, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks easier by car than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, better for families than 90% of Pennsylvania towns, better for a vacation home than 86% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Lake Latonka 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 Lake Latonka is worth $392,600, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $94,167, which is more affordable than 6% of Pennsylvania towns. 97.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Latonka | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $392,600 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | — | $996 |
| Median household income | $94,167 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 97.7% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 29.4% | — |
Who lives in Lake Latonka
| People | Lake Latonka | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.4 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 39.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 8.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 16.3% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 32.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.8% | 89.0% |
Weather in Lake Latonka
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 16.8°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.4 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 13 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 Lake Latonka since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 31, 1985 about 6.1 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 86 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 22, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 28, 2019.
Severe weather in Mercer County since 1996
Mercer County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 Mercer County
Mercer County had 43,239 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,120 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Lake Latonka itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Lake Latonka
- Coolspring, PA2.1 mi · 2,107 people · home $225,200
- Jackson, PA2.7 mi · 1,178 people · home $260,300
- Fairview, PA4.4 mi · 953 people · home $259,700
- Mercer, PA4.6 mi · 1,982 people · home $151,200
- Stoneboro, PA4.9 mi · 945 people · home $112,700
- Lake, PA4.9 mi · 699 people · home $212,000
- Findley, PA5.4 mi · 2,843 people · home $191,400
- East Lackawannock, PA7.0 mi · 1,669 people · home $207,800
Lake Latonka questions
Is Lake Latonka, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Latonka scores better for retirees than 81% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 84%. 39.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.4).
How much does a house cost in Lake Latonka?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Latonka is valued at $392,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,167, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Latonka?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 16.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 47.4 inches of snow.
Does Lake Latonka get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Latonka since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 31, 1985. 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)