The Town FilesShenandoah, Pennsylvania
Borough in Schuylkill County · population 4,243 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $49,500
- Household income
- $45,294
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 32.7
Shenandoah is a borough of 4,243 people in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $49,500, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more vibrant than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 92% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 91% of Pennsylvania towns.
- #1 in 25 Small Towns in Pennsylvania With the Cheapest Homes
- #2 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Pennsylvania
- #12 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Homes
- #14 in 50 Places in America With the Cheapest Homes
- #16 in The 50 Most Affordable Small Towns in America
- #18 in The 50 Most Affordable Places in America
How Shenandoah 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 Shenandoah is worth $49,500, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.1 times the median household income of $45,294, which is more affordable than 100% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $982 a month. 67.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shenandoah | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $49,500 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $982 | $996 |
| Median household income | $45,294 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.4% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Shenandoah
| People | Shenandoah | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 30.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.7% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.5% | — |
| Work from home | 2.0% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 89.0% |
Weather in Shenandoah
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 17.6°F. About 53.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.0 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shenandoah since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 26, 1981 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 11, 1996.
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 Shenandoah itself the ACS puts it at 9.4%.
Public schools in Shenandoah
2 public schools with 1,231 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shenandoah Valley El Sch | PK-6 | 692 | 12.6 |
| Shenandoah Valley JSHS | 7-12 | 539 | 15.0 |
Towns near Shenandoah
- West Mahanoy, PA2.0 mi · 2,785 people · home $88,700
- Frackville, PA2.9 mi · 3,860 people · home $103,400
- Mahanoy, PA3.0 mi · 3,192 people · home $65,100
- Mahanoy City, PA3.3 mi · 3,499 people · home $52,400
- Ryan, PA4.7 mi · 2,589 people · home $231,500
- St. Clair, PA6.7 mi · 2,745 people · home $71,800
- Butler, PA7.6 mi · 4,906 people · home $173,100
- Minersville, PA9.3 mi · 4,370 people · home $82,300
Shenandoah questions
Is Shenandoah, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shenandoah scores better for retirees than 6% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 14%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.7).
How much does a house cost in Shenandoah?
The median owner-occupied home in Shenandoah is valued at $49,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,294, so homes cost about 1.1 times income. Median rent is $982 a month.
What is the weather like in Shenandoah?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 17.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.6 inches of precipitation a year and 48.0 inches of snow.
Does Shenandoah get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shenandoah since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 26, 1981. 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)