The Town FilesOrwigsburg, Pennsylvania
Borough in Schuylkill County · population 3,000 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $213,200
- Household income
- $84,063
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 42.0
Orwigsburg is a borough of 3,000 people in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $213,200, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for retirees than 81% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 81% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 77% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Orwigsburg 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 Orwigsburg is worth $213,200, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $84,063, which is more affordable than 70% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $685 a month. 71.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Orwigsburg | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $213,200 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $685 | $996 |
| Median household income | $84,063 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 71.1% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Orwigsburg
| People | Orwigsburg | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 89.0% |
Weather in Orwigsburg
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 20.0°F. About 49.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.3 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Orwigsburg since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 18, 2021 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 18, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 22, 1979.
Severe weather in Schuylkill County since 1996
Schuylkill County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 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 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Schuylkill County
Schuylkill County had 50,294 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,134 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Orwigsburg itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Orwigsburg
2 public schools with 1,194 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountain El East School | K-5 | 623 | 13.8 |
| Blue Mountain MS | 6-8 | 571 | 13.3 |
Towns near Orwigsburg
- West Brunswick, PA2.6 mi · 3,278 people · home $289,700
- North Manheim, PA3.5 mi · 4,059 people · home $244,900
- Schuylkill Haven, PA4.0 mi · 5,236 people · home $132,400
- South Manheim, PA5.4 mi · 2,723 people · home $266,500
- Lake Wynonah, PA5.6 mi · 2,858 people · home $258,200
- Pottsville, PA5.8 mi · 13,346 people · home $100,500
- St. Clair, PA6.5 mi · 2,745 people · home $71,800
- Wayne, PA8.3 mi · 5,213 people · home $233,200
Orwigsburg questions
Is Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Orwigsburg scores better for retirees than 81% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 17%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Orwigsburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Orwigsburg is valued at $213,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,063, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $685 a month.
What is the weather like in Orwigsburg?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 20.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.5 inches of precipitation a year and 21.3 inches of snow.
Does Orwigsburg get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Orwigsburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 18, 2021. 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)