The Town FilesNew Columbia, Pennsylvania
Community in Union County · population 1,024 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $181,900
- Household income
- $115,176
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 56.2
New Columbia is a community of 1,024 people in Union County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $181,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks easier by car than 85% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 80% of Pennsylvania towns.
How New Columbia 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 New Columbia is worth $181,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $115,176, which is more affordable than 96% of Pennsylvania towns. 100.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Columbia | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $181,900 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | — | $996 |
| Median household income | $115,176 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 100.0% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.3% | — |
Who lives in New Columbia
| People | New Columbia | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.2 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 9.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.2% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 14.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.6% | 89.0% |
Weather in New Columbia
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 18.9°F. About 43.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.8 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Columbia since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1985 about 8.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 60 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 2, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on September 18, 1991.
Severe weather in Union County since 1996
Union County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4815: Tropical Storm Debby |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Union County
Union County had 17,546 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,821 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in New Columbia itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in New Columbia
1 public school with 344 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Deer El Sch | K-5 | 344 | 13.2 |
Towns near New Columbia
- West Milton, PA1.3 mi · 799 people · home $174,200
- Milton, PA2.8 mi · 6,609 people · home $196,800
- Watsontown, PA3.4 mi · 2,237 people · home $164,600
- Kelly, PA3.5 mi · 3,994 people · home $242,900
- White Deer, PA3.9 mi · 4,404 people · home $190,900
- Turbot, PA4.2 mi · 1,815 people · home $221,700
- West Chillisquaque, PA4.9 mi · 2,597 people · home $121,500
- Dewart, PA5.0 mi · 1,385 people · home $206,400
New Columbia questions
Is New Columbia, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Columbia scores better for retirees than 16% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 80%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.2).
How much does a house cost in New Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home in New Columbia is valued at $181,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $115,176, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in New Columbia?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 18.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.9 inches of precipitation a year and 28.8 inches of snow.
Does New Columbia get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Columbia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 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)