The Town FilesSmethport, Pennsylvania
Borough in McKean County · population 1,436 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,100
- Household income
- $60,455
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 80 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 44.8
Smethport is a borough of 1,436 people in McKean County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $116,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 92% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 76% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Smethport 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 Smethport is worth $116,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $60,455, which is more affordable than 91% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $762 a month. 70.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Smethport | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $762 | $996 |
| Median household income | $60,455 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.3% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1945 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Smethport
| People | Smethport | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.8 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.2% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 15.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.4% | 89.0% |
Weather in Smethport
July highs average 76.4°F and January lows 13.2°F. About 50.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 79.5 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Smethport since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 21, 2003 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2003.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 31, 1985.
Severe weather in McKean County since 1996
McKean County has been included in 13 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 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1555: Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances |
Jobs and pay in McKean County
McKean County had 13,930 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,225 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Smethport itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Smethport
2 public schools with 728 students, about 8.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smethport Area El Sch | PK-6 | 367 | 9.2 |
| Smethport Area JSHS | 7-12 | 361 | 7.8 |
Towns near Smethport
- Keating, PA3.1 mi · 2,725 people · home $121,700
- Eldred, PA7.9 mi · 1,394 people · home $100,800
- Liberty, PA8.3 mi · 1,607 people · home $121,700
- Port Allegany, PA8.7 mi · 2,135 people · home $112,500
- Otto, PA9.6 mi · 1,516 people · home $102,400
- Annin, PA9.6 mi · 709 people · home $79,400
- Norwich, PA10.6 mi · 501 people · home $110,100
- Eldred, PA10.8 mi · 765 people · home $125,900
Smethport questions
Is Smethport, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Smethport scores better for retirees than 92% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 76%. 25.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.8).
How much does a house cost in Smethport?
The median owner-occupied home in Smethport is valued at $116,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,455, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $762 a month.
What is the weather like in Smethport?
July highs average 76.4°F and January lows 13.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.8 inches of precipitation a year and 79.5 inches of snow.
Does Smethport get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Smethport since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 21, 2003. 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)