The Town FilesLock Haven, Pennsylvania
City in Clinton County · population 8,108 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $137,300
- Household income
- $46,102
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 28.9
Lock Haven is a city of 8,108 people in Clinton County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $137,300, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more vibrant than 99% of Pennsylvania towns, more of a college town than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 88% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Lock Haven 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 Lock Haven is worth $137,300, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $46,102, which is more affordable than 43% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $792 a month. 38.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lock Haven | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,300 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $792 | $996 |
| Median household income | $46,102 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 38.5% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lock Haven
| People | Lock Haven | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.1% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.9% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 89.0% |
Weather in Lock Haven
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 18.3°F. About 41.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lock Haven since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 31, 1985 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 15, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on October 2, 2018.
Severe weather in Clinton County since 1996
Clinton County has been included in 15 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 1, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4149: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 8, 2011 | Flood | EM-3340: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Clinton County
Clinton County had 12,630 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,458 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Lock Haven itself the ACS puts it at 11.2%.
Public schools in Lock Haven
2 public schools with 591 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robb El Sch | K-4 | 404 | 9.6 |
| Woodward El Sch | K-4 | 187 | 13.4 |
Towns near Lock Haven
- Flemington, PA1.1 mi · 1,271 people · home $158,000
- Dunnstown, PA1.9 mi · 1,464 people · home $218,100
- Castanea, PA1.9 mi · 1,047 people · home $126,900
- Castanea, PA2.1 mi · 1,107 people · home $134,700
- Mill Hall, PA2.9 mi · 1,479 people · home $151,700
- Woodward, PA3.3 mi · 2,453 people · home $221,100
- Salona, PA3.4 mi · 541 people · home $266,100
- Dunnstable, PA4.3 mi · 1,005 people · home $198,300
Lock Haven questions
Is Lock Haven, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lock Haven scores better for retirees than 5% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 5%. 15.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.9).
How much does a house cost in Lock Haven?
The median owner-occupied home in Lock Haven is valued at $137,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,102, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $792 a month.
What is the weather like in Lock Haven?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 18.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.7 inches of precipitation a year and 29.6 inches of snow.
Does Lock Haven get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lock Haven since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 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)