The Town FilesNorvelt, Pennsylvania
Community in Westmoreland County · population 846 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $205,700
- Household income
- $73,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 50.3
Norvelt is a community of 846 people in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $205,700, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 80% of Pennsylvania towns, more of a college town than 78% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 74% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Norvelt 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 Norvelt is worth $205,700, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $73,125, which is more affordable than 53% of Pennsylvania towns. 91.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Norvelt | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $205,700 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | — | $996 |
| Median household income | $73,125 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Norvelt
| People | Norvelt | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.3 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.7% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.7% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 1.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.2% | 89.0% |
Weather in Norvelt
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 20.7°F. About 43.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.8 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norvelt since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 11, 1976 about 8.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 42 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 64 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 14, 1984.
Severe weather in Westmoreland County since 1996
Westmoreland County has been included in 20 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 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| April 16, 2010 | Snowstorm | DR-1898: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County had 129,350 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,519 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Norvelt itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Norvelt
- Calumet, PA1.0 mi · 1,145 people · home $158,000
- Mammoth, PA1.9 mi · 526 people · home $155,500
- Mount Pleasant, PA2.4 mi · 10,119 people · home $191,300
- Mount Pleasant, PA4.5 mi · 4,245 people · home $143,000
- Youngwood, PA5.2 mi · 2,975 people · home $171,600
- Bear Rocks, PA5.6 mi · 1,005 people · home $214,100
- South Greensburg, PA5.7 mi · 2,135 people · home $162,300
- New Stanton, PA6.0 mi · 2,339 people · home $245,600
Norvelt questions
Is Norvelt, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Norvelt scores better for retirees than 74% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 74%. 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.3).
How much does a house cost in Norvelt?
The median owner-occupied home in Norvelt is valued at $205,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,125, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Norvelt?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 20.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.9 inches of precipitation a year and 29.8 inches of snow.
Does Norvelt get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norvelt since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 11, 1976. 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)