The Town FilesPerry, Pennsylvania
Township in Jefferson County · population 1,248 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $156,000
- Household income
- $72,426
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 41.9
Perry is a township of 1,248 people in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $156,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 92% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Perry 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 Perry is worth $156,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $72,426, which is more affordable than 82% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $625 a month. 89.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Perry | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,000 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $625 | $996 |
| Median household income | $72,426 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.1% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.0% | — |
Who lives in Perry
| People | Perry | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.4% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 89.0% |
Weather in Perry
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 45.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Perry since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 31, 1985 about 2.0 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 55 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 2, 2025.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 14 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 |
| 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 Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 14,437 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,283 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Perry itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Towns near Perry
- Young, PA3.8 mi · 1,711 people · home $173,000
- North Mahoning, PA4.2 mi · 1,331 people · home $152,800
- Punxsutawney, PA4.7 mi · 5,769 people · home $99,000
- Oliver, PA6.0 mi · 1,000 people · home $164,000
- West Mahoning, PA6.8 mi · 1,324 people · home $135,300
- Ringgold, PA6.9 mi · 773 people · home $112,200
- Rossiter, PA7.1 mi · 537 people · home $95,500
- Bell, PA7.3 mi · 2,010 people · home $172,600
Perry questions
Is Perry, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Perry scores better for retirees than 41% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 90%. 16.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Perry?
The median owner-occupied home in Perry is valued at $156,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,426, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $625 a month.
What is the weather like in Perry?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.7 inches of precipitation a year and 38.6 inches of snow.
Does Perry get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Perry 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)