The Town FilesNorthumberland, Pennsylvania
Borough in Northumberland County · population 3,911 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $162,600
- Household income
- $66,477
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 41.0
Northumberland is a borough of 3,911 people in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $162,600, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 87% of Pennsylvania towns, more of a college town than 80% of Pennsylvania towns, better transit than 79% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Northumberland 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 Northumberland is worth $162,600, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $66,477, which is more affordable than 75% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $897 a month. 70.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Northumberland | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $162,600 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $897 | $996 |
| Median household income | $66,477 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.9% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Northumberland
| People | Northumberland | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 27.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 89.0% |
Weather in Northumberland
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 18.9°F. About 43.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 16 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 Northumberland since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 28, 1978 about 3.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 2, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 28, 2019.
Severe weather in Northumberland County since 1996
Northumberland County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| September 8, 2011 | Flood | EM-3340: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Northumberland County
Northumberland County had 26,979 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,035 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Northumberland itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Northumberland
2 public schools with 885 students, about 18.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shikellamy MS | 6-8 | 646 | 20.2 |
| Priestley Sch | K-2 | 239 | 15.9 |
Towns near Northumberland
- Sunbury, PA2.5 mi · 9,719 people · home $107,200
- Point, PA2.6 mi · 3,832 people · home $232,600
- Monroe, PA4.3 mi · 4,146 people · home $303,900
- West Chillisquaque, PA5.8 mi · 2,597 people · home $121,500
- East Buffalo, PA6.5 mi · 7,405 people · home $350,500
- Lewisburg, PA6.9 mi · 5,158 people · home $235,200
- Selinsgrove, PA7.7 mi · 5,713 people · home $198,500
- Milton, PA7.9 mi · 6,609 people · home $196,800
Northumberland questions
Is Northumberland, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Northumberland scores better for retirees than 62% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 19%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in Northumberland?
The median owner-occupied home in Northumberland is valued at $162,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,477, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $897 a month.
What is the weather like in Northumberland?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 18.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.7 inches of precipitation a year and 28.6 inches of snow.
Does Northumberland get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northumberland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 28, 1978. 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)