The Town FilesLocust, Pennsylvania
Township in Columbia County · population 1,458 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $235,400
- Household income
- $72,292
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 44.9
Locust is a township of 1,458 people in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $235,400, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks easier by car than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 89% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Locust 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 Locust is worth $235,400, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $72,292, which is more affordable than 29% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $853 a month. 82.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Locust | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $235,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $853 | $996 |
| Median household income | $72,292 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.6% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.5% | — |
Who lives in Locust
| People | Locust | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.2% | 89.0% |
Weather in Locust
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 19.3°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.5 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Locust since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 26, 1981 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 27, 2001.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 22, 2014.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia 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 |
| November 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 24,395 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,569 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Locust itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Locust
- Cleveland, PA3.4 mi · 1,120 people · home $248,000
- Roaring Creek, PA4.0 mi · 556 people · home $198,400
- Conyngham, PA4.3 mi · 689 people · home $117,900
- Mount Carmel, PA5.5 mi · 5,725 people · home $81,800
- Atlas, PA5.7 mi · 732 people · home $53,600
- Catawissa, PA6.0 mi · 902 people · home $271,100
- Mount Carmel, PA6.2 mi · 2,500 people · home $156,500
- Marion Heights, PA6.3 mi · 560 people · home $89,800
Locust questions
Is Locust, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Locust scores better for retirees than 57% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 89%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.9).
How much does a house cost in Locust?
The median owner-occupied home in Locust is valued at $235,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,292, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $853 a month.
What is the weather like in Locust?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 19.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 33.5 inches of snow.
Does Locust get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Locust since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 26, 1981. 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)