The Town FilesShamokin Dam, Pennsylvania
Borough in Snyder County · population 1,652 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $197,200
- Household income
- $69,063
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 46.3
Shamokin Dam is a borough of 1,652 people in Snyder County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $197,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more upscale than 79% of Pennsylvania towns, better transit than 77% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 76% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Shamokin Dam 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 Shamokin Dam is worth $197,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $69,063, which is more affordable than 48% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $926 a month. 67.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shamokin Dam | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $197,200 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $926 | $996 |
| Median household income | $69,063 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.0% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Shamokin Dam
| People | Shamokin Dam | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 89.0% |
Weather in Shamokin Dam
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 18.9°F. About 43.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shamokin Dam since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 28, 1978 about 0.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 2, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 28, 2019.
Severe weather in Snyder County since 1996
Snyder County has been included in 17 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 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
| September 8, 2011 | Flood | EM-3340: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Snyder County
Snyder County had 15,516 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,001 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Shamokin Dam itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Towns near Shamokin Dam
- Monroe, PA1.8 mi · 4,146 people · home $303,900
- Hummels Wharf, PA2.1 mi · 1,334 people · home $183,500
- Sunbury, PA2.1 mi · 9,719 people · home $107,200
- Kapp Heights, PA3.0 mi · 877 people · home $152,500
- Winfield, PA3.1 mi · 905 people · home $253,200
- Northumberland, PA3.2 mi · 3,911 people · home $162,600
- Upper Augusta, PA3.6 mi · 2,478 people · home $189,700
- Union, PA4.2 mi · 1,633 people · home $266,900
Shamokin Dam questions
Is Shamokin Dam, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shamokin Dam scores better for retirees than 74% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 42%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.3).
How much does a house cost in Shamokin Dam?
The median owner-occupied home in Shamokin Dam is valued at $197,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,063, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $926 a month.
What is the weather like in Shamokin Dam?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 18.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.7 inches of precipitation a year and 28.6 inches of snow.
Does Shamokin Dam get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shamokin Dam since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 28, 1978. 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)