The Town FilesShamokin, Pennsylvania
City in Northumberland County · population 6,942 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $60,400
- Household income
- $39,690
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 39.1
Shamokin is a city of 6,942 people in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $60,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 97% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 94% of Pennsylvania towns.
- #1 in The 25 Most Walkable Historic Small Towns in Pennsylvania
- #2 in The 50 Most Walkable Historic Small Towns in America
- #3 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Pennsylvania
- #6 in 25 Small Towns in Pennsylvania With the Cheapest Homes
- #13 in The 50 Most Walkable Small Towns in America
- #13 in 25 Small Towns in Pennsylvania With the Oldest Homes
How Shamokin 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 is worth $60,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $39,690, which is more affordable than 97% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $824 a month. 59.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shamokin | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $60,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $824 | $996 |
| Median household income | $39,690 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 59.6% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Shamokin
| People | Shamokin | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 32.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.1% | 89.0% |
Weather in Shamokin
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 19.3°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.5 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shamokin since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 12, 1953 about 9.6 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 16 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 22, 2014.
Severe weather in Northumberland County since 1996
Northumberland County has been included in 19 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 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 Northumberland County
Northumberland County had 26,979 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,035 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Shamokin itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Shamokin
2 public schools with 1,012 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shamokin Area HS | 9-12 | 662 | 17.0 |
| Shamokin Area MS | 7-8 | 350 | 14.0 |
Towns near Shamokin
- Coal, PA2.2 mi · 10,139 people · home $88,300
- Ralpho, PA4.3 mi · 4,186 people · home $243,900
- Kulpmont, PA4.4 mi · 2,758 people · home $84,000
- Mount Carmel, PA5.9 mi · 2,500 people · home $156,500
- Mount Carmel, PA7.5 mi · 5,725 people · home $81,800
- Hegins, PA10.0 mi · 3,337 people · home $197,100
- Butler, PA11.9 mi · 4,906 people · home $173,100
- Danville, PA12.4 mi · 4,239 people · home $186,400
Shamokin questions
Is Shamokin, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shamokin scores better for retirees than 5% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 2%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Shamokin?
The median owner-occupied home in Shamokin is valued at $60,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,690, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $824 a month.
What is the weather like in Shamokin?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 19.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 33.5 inches of snow.
Does Shamokin get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shamokin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 12, 1953. 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)