The Town FilesShirley, Pennsylvania
Township in Huntingdon County · population 2,405 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $174,200
- Household income
- $49,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 51.3
Shirley is a township of 2,405 people in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $174,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks quieter than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, better for a vacation home than 88% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 76% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Shirley 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 Shirley is worth $174,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $49,750, which is more affordable than 21% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $906 a month. 86.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shirley | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $174,200 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $906 | $996 |
| Median household income | $49,750 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.0% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.7% | — |
Who lives in Shirley
| People | Shirley | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.3 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.6% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.3% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 41.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in Shirley
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 21.1°F. About 40.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.0 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shirley since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 19, 2019 about 5.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 19, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on August 4, 2023.
Severe weather in Huntingdon County since 1996
Huntingdon County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| October 1, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4149: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2013 | Hurricane | DR-4099: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Huntingdon County
Huntingdon County had 12,694 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,579 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Shirley itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Towns near Shirley
- Allenport, PA2.4 mi · 572 people · home $151,500
- Mount Union, PA3.5 mi · 2,308 people · home $98,200
- Wayne, PA6.3 mi · 2,360 people · home $161,500
- Tell, PA7.0 mi · 550 people · home $195,700
- Union, PA7.9 mi · 947 people · home $164,700
- Cromwell, PA7.9 mi · 1,478 people · home $168,800
- Lack, PA8.6 mi · 636 people · home $200,000
- Brady, PA9.1 mi · 1,034 people · home $169,900
Shirley questions
Is Shirley, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shirley scores better for retirees than 51% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 98%. 28.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.3).
How much does a house cost in Shirley?
The median owner-occupied home in Shirley is valued at $174,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,750, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $906 a month.
What is the weather like in Shirley?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 21.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.7 inches of precipitation a year and 25.0 inches of snow.
Does Shirley get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shirley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 19, 2019. 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)