The Town FilesOrwell, Pennsylvania
Township in Bradford County · population 1,186 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $216,800
- Household income
- $89,766
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 34.8
Orwell is a township of 1,186 people in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $216,800, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 76% of Pennsylvania towns, better for families than 72% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Orwell 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 Orwell is worth $216,800, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $89,766, which is more affordable than 75% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,335 a month. 77.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Orwell | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $216,800 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,335 | $996 |
| Median household income | $89,766 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 77.7% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.2% | — |
Who lives in Orwell
| People | Orwell | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.8 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 34.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 89.0% |
Weather in Orwell
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 38.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.9 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Orwell since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 19, 1954 about 5.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 28, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 30, 2020.
Severe weather in Bradford County since 1996
Bradford County has been included in 21 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 |
| November 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| December 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4292: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Bradford County
Bradford County had 22,333 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,112 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Orwell itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Towns near Orwell
- Rome, PA4.5 mi · 1,010 people · home $205,300
- Pike, PA5.2 mi · 624 people · home $257,000
- Herrick, PA6.0 mi · 737 people · home $223,600
- Windham, PA6.4 mi · 818 people · home $151,900
- Wysox, PA6.7 mi · 1,573 people · home $184,300
- Warren, PA7.0 mi · 1,018 people · home $236,900
- Standing Stone, PA7.6 mi · 623 people · home $218,500
- Sheshequin, PA10.0 mi · 1,298 people · home $212,900
Orwell questions
Is Orwell, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Orwell scores better for retirees than 54% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 76%. 19.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.8).
How much does a house cost in Orwell?
The median owner-occupied home in Orwell is valued at $216,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,766, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,335 a month.
What is the weather like in Orwell?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.6 inches of precipitation a year and 43.9 inches of snow.
Does Orwell get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Orwell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 19, 1954. 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)