The Town FilesThorndale, Pennsylvania
Community in Chester County · population 3,669 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $341,900
- Household income
- $99,479
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 38.4
Thorndale is a community of 3,669 people in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $341,900, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better transit than 95% of Pennsylvania towns, more upscale than 89% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 86% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Thorndale 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 Thorndale is worth $341,900, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $99,479, which is more affordable than 25% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,945 a month. 66.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Thorndale | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $341,900 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,945 | $996 |
| Median household income | $99,479 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 66.7% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Thorndale
| People | Thorndale | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.2% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.7% | — |
| Work from home | 20.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 89.0% |
Weather in Thorndale
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 21.9°F. About 52.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.9 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 120 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thorndale since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 22, 1955 about 7.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 16, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 10, 2008.
Severe weather in Chester County since 1996
Chester County has been included in 26 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 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 6, 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3367: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Chester County
Chester County had 251,284 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $87,886 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Thorndale itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in Thorndale
1 public school with 453 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caln El Sch | K-5 | 453 | 13.3 |
Towns near Thorndale
- Caln, PA0.6 mi · 14,432 people · home $319,200
- East Brandywine, PA2.2 mi · 9,738 people · home $564,400
- Downingtown, PA2.7 mi · 7,892 people · home $353,800
- West Bradford, PA3.4 mi · 14,316 people · home $487,500
- Coatesville, PA3.7 mi · 13,350 people · home $194,000
- East Caln, PA4.0 mi · 5,384 people · home $467,100
- West Brandywine, PA4.1 mi · 7,331 people · home $379,100
- East Fallowfield, PA4.6 mi · 7,626 people · home $400,100
Thorndale questions
Is Thorndale, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Thorndale scores better for retirees than 40% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 23%. 15.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.4).
How much does a house cost in Thorndale?
The median owner-occupied home in Thorndale is valued at $341,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,479, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,945 a month.
What is the weather like in Thorndale?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 21.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.1 inches of precipitation a year and 31.9 inches of snow.
Does Thorndale get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thorndale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 22, 1955. 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)