The Town FilesSimpson, Pennsylvania
Community in Lackawanna County · population 1,336 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,000
- Household income
- $52,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 61 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 42.3
Simpson is a community of 1,336 people in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $158,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 81% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Simpson 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 Simpson is worth $158,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $52,875, which is more affordable than 43% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,002 a month. 74.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Simpson | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,000 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,002 | $996 |
| Median household income | $52,875 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 74.1% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1944 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Simpson
| People | Simpson | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.7% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.2% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 23.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.2% | 89.0% |
Weather in Simpson
July highs average 77.3°F and January lows 11.9°F. About 51.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 61.4 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Simpson since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 23, 2010 about 7.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Lackawanna County since 1996
Lackawanna County has been included in 22 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 |
| November 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County had 98,108 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,720 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Simpson itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Simpson
1 public school with 98 students, about 8.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fell CS (charter) | K-9 | 98 | 8.2 |
Towns near Simpson
- Fell, PA1.5 mi · 2,338 people · home $173,100
- Carbondale, PA2.1 mi · 8,828 people · home $132,200
- Vandling, PA2.3 mi · 730 people · home $181,000
- Carbondale, PA3.2 mi · 1,125 people · home $203,200
- Waymart, PA4.0 mi · 1,297 people · home $193,600
- Forest City, PA4.0 mi · 1,780 people · home $143,900
- Mayfield, PA4.7 mi · 1,763 people · home $165,400
- Clinton, PA5.1 mi · 2,040 people · home $228,300
Simpson questions
Is Simpson, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Simpson scores better for retirees than 44% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 81%. 14.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Simpson?
The median owner-occupied home in Simpson is valued at $158,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,875, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,002 a month.
What is the weather like in Simpson?
July highs average 77.3°F and January lows 11.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.4 inches of precipitation a year and 61.4 inches of snow.
Does Simpson get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Simpson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 23, 2010. 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)