The Town FilesSouth Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Borough in Lycoming County · population 6,261 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $180,800
- Household income
- $64,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 43.0
South Williamsport is a borough of 6,261 people in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $180,800, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more of a college town than 92% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 90% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 89% of Pennsylvania towns.
How South Williamsport 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 South Williamsport is worth $180,800, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $64,583, which is more affordable than 53% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,067 a month. 65.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Williamsport | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $180,800 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,067 | $996 |
| Median household income | $64,583 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 65.1% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in South Williamsport
| People | South Williamsport | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 10.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 89.0% |
Weather in South Williamsport
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 20.5°F. About 42.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Williamsport since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1985 about 5.9 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 61 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 9, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 28, 2019.
Severe weather in Lycoming County since 1996
Lycoming County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4815: Tropical Storm Debby |
| 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 |
| December 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4292: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lycoming County
Lycoming County had 49,795 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,535 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in South Williamsport itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in South Williamsport
3 public schools with 1,098 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Williamsport Area JSHS | 7-12 | 480 | 13.0 |
| Central El Sch | K-4 | 426 | 15.8 |
| Rommelt El Sch | 5-6 | 192 | 17.5 |
Towns near South Williamsport
- Williamsport, PA2.0 mi · 27,754 people · home $154,300
- Loyalsock, PA2.8 mi · 11,561 people · home $248,900
- Kenmar, PA2.9 mi · 4,241 people · home $225,200
- Montoursville, PA4.5 mi · 4,750 people · home $208,200
- Old Lycoming, PA4.8 mi · 4,975 people · home $198,700
- Clinton, PA5.7 mi · 3,720 people · home $204,800
- Fairfield, PA7.0 mi · 2,834 people · home $256,100
- Hepburn, PA7.0 mi · 2,578 people · home $255,700
South Williamsport questions
Is South Williamsport, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Williamsport scores better for retirees than 67% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 12%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.0).
How much does a house cost in South Williamsport?
The median owner-occupied home in South Williamsport is valued at $180,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,583, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,067 a month.
What is the weather like in South Williamsport?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 20.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.7 inches of precipitation a year and 32.6 inches of snow.
Does South Williamsport get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Williamsport since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 31, 1985. 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)