The Town FilesOil City, Pennsylvania
City in Venango County · population 9,613 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $74,100
- Household income
- $51,316
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 40.3
Oil City is a city of 9,613 people in Venango County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $74,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks hipper than 92% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 88% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 77% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Oil City 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 Oil City is worth $74,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $51,316, which is more affordable than 98% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $821 a month. 61.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oil City | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $74,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $821 | $996 |
| Median household income | $51,316 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 61.3% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Oil City
| People | Oil City | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 89.0% |
Weather in Oil City
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 18.3°F. About 46.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 53.7 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 142 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oil City since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 31, 1985 about 3.4 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 45 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 29, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 15, 1996.
Severe weather in Venango County since 1996
Venango County has been included in 15 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 1, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4149: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
Jobs and pay in Venango County
Venango County had 16,232 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,299 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Oil City itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Oil City
6 public schools with 1,812 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil City SHS | 9-12 | 608 | 14.8 |
| Oil City Area MS | 5-8 | 562 | 13.4 |
| Hasson Heights Sch | K-4 | 389 | 12.2 |
| Seventh Street Sch | 2-4 | 152 | 10.1 |
| Smedley Street Sch | K-1 | 98 | 9.8 |
| Venango Technology Center | 9-12 | 3 | 0.2 |
Towns near Oil City
- Cranberry, PA4.2 mi · 6,342 people · home $149,600
- Sugarcreek, PA6.3 mi · 4,775 people · home $108,200
- Franklin, PA7.2 mi · 6,077 people · home $116,900
- Titusville, PA13.9 mi · 5,262 people · home $79,200
- Clarion, PA22.8 mi · 3,931 people · home $163,200
- Pine, PA25.7 mi · 4,806 people · home $284,700
- West Mead, PA25.7 mi · 5,014 people · home $157,300
- Clarion, PA26.7 mi · 3,645 people · home $183,400
Oil City questions
Is Oil City, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oil City scores better for retirees than 33% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 17%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Oil City?
The median owner-occupied home in Oil City is valued at $74,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,316, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $821 a month.
What is the weather like in Oil City?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 18.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 53.7 inches of snow.
Does Oil City get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oil City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 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)