The Town FilesLower Merion, Pennsylvania
Township in Montgomery County · population 63,633 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $810,400
- Household income
- $176,512
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 41.2
Lower Merion is a township of 63,633 people in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $810,400, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more upscale than 99% of Pennsylvania towns, better transit than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, better for young professionals than 94% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Lower Merion 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 Lower Merion is worth $810,400, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $176,512, which is more affordable than 3% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,893 a month. 74.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lower Merion | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $810,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,893 | $996 |
| Median household income | $176,512 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 74.7% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Lower Merion
| People | Lower Merion | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 78.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.2% | — |
| Work from home | 31.6% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 29.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 89.0% |
Weather in Lower Merion
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 22.6°F. About 50.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 107 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lower Merion since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on September 1, 2021 about 5.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 25 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 1, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 6, 2023.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 505,821 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $88,412 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Lower Merion itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Lower Merion
1 public school with 545 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gladwyne Sch | K-4 | 545 | 12.7 |
Towns near Lower Merion
- Narberth, PA1.7 mi · 4,492 people · home $749,500
- Ardmore, PA2.0 mi · 13,566 people · home $453,100
- Bryn Mawr, PA2.1 mi · 5,879 people · home $453,400
- Merion Station, PA2.4 mi · 5,741 people · home $886,600
- Rosemont, PA2.5 mi · 3,507 people · home $643,600
- Bala Cynwyd, PA3.0 mi · 9,285 people · home $640,400
- Penn Wynne, PA3.0 mi · 6,493 people · home $555,500
- Villanova, PA3.4 mi · 8,213 people · home $946,400
Lower Merion questions
Is Lower Merion, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lower Merion scores better for retirees than 53% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 9%. 21.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in Lower Merion?
The median owner-occupied home in Lower Merion is valued at $810,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $176,512, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,893 a month.
What is the weather like in Lower Merion?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 22.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.6 inches of precipitation a year and 7.6 inches of snow.
Does Lower Merion get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lower Merion since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on September 1, 2021. 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)