The Town FilesLower Paxton, Pennsylvania
Township in Dauphin County · population 53,501 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $284,700
- Household income
- $91,789
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 40.8
Lower Paxton is a township of 53,501 people in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $284,700, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more vibrant than 82% of Pennsylvania towns, better for young professionals than 81% of Pennsylvania towns, more upscale than 79% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Lower Paxton 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 Paxton is worth $284,700, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $91,789, which is more affordable than 39% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,417 a month. 66.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lower Paxton | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $284,700 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,417 | $996 |
| Median household income | $91,789 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 66.5% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Lower Paxton
| People | Lower Paxton | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.1% | — |
| Work from home | 18.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.3% | 89.0% |
Weather in Lower Paxton
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 21.8°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.9 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lower Paxton since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 5, 1977 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 29, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 7, 1986.
Severe weather in Dauphin County since 1996
Dauphin County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| January 10, 2013 | Hurricane | DR-4099: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Dauphin County
Dauphin County had 190,296 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,012 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Lower Paxton itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Towns near Lower Paxton
- Paxtonia, PA0.7 mi · 5,450 people · home $249,900
- Colonial Park, PA1.3 mi · 16,243 people · home $231,100
- Linglestown, PA1.9 mi · 6,539 people · home $259,400
- Progress, PA2.7 mi · 11,168 people · home $202,500
- Susquehanna, PA3.5 mi · 26,736 people · home $227,100
- Lawnton, PA3.6 mi · 4,967 people · home $222,600
- Penbrook, PA3.6 mi · 3,274 people · home $168,100
- Rutherford, PA3.8 mi · 5,765 people · home $214,200
Lower Paxton questions
Is Lower Paxton, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lower Paxton scores better for retirees than 40% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 18%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.8).
How much does a house cost in Lower Paxton?
The median owner-occupied home in Lower Paxton is valued at $284,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,789, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,417 a month.
What is the weather like in Lower Paxton?
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 21.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 23.9 inches of snow.
Does Lower Paxton get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lower Paxton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 5, 1977. 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)