The Town FilesLuzerne, Pennsylvania
Township in Fayette County · population 5,586 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $128,500
- Household income
- $57,827
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 40.8
Luzerne is a township of 5,586 people in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $128,500, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more of a college town than 90% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 81% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 80% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Luzerne 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 Luzerne is worth $128,500, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $57,827, which is more affordable than 82% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,273 a month. 86.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Luzerne | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $128,500 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,273 | $996 |
| Median household income | $57,827 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.2% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Luzerne
| People | Luzerne | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.5% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 13.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 29.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.2% | 89.0% |
Weather in Luzerne
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 21.4°F. About 44.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.5 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Luzerne since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 6, 2026 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 8, 2022.
Severe weather in Fayette County since 1996
Fayette County has been included in 18 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 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 1, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4149: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Fayette County
Fayette County had 37,892 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,069 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Luzerne itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Towns near Luzerne
- Centerville, PA4.3 mi · 3,256 people · home $120,600
- Redstone, PA4.4 mi · 5,079 people · home $90,800
- California, PA6.5 mi · 5,362 people · home $152,200
- Cumberland, PA6.7 mi · 6,383 people · home $132,700
- German, PA7.4 mi · 4,669 people · home $123,200
- Menallen, PA8.3 mi · 4,098 people · home $161,200
- Masontown, PA8.7 mi · 3,276 people · home $126,300
- Washington, PA11.0 mi · 3,894 people · home $135,200
Luzerne questions
Is Luzerne, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Luzerne scores better for retirees than 81% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 43%. 14.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.8).
How much does a house cost in Luzerne?
The median owner-occupied home in Luzerne is valued at $128,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,827, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $1,273 a month.
What is the weather like in Luzerne?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 21.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.4 inches of precipitation a year and 21.5 inches of snow.
Does Luzerne get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Luzerne since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 6, 2026. 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)