The Town FilesTionesta, Pennsylvania
Township in Forest County · population 668 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,300
- Household income
- $52,292
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 48.8
Tionesta is a township of 668 people in Forest County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $154,300, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks quieter than 100% of Pennsylvania towns, better for a vacation home than 88% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Tionesta 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 Tionesta is worth $154,300, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $52,292, which is more affordable than 43% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $450 a month. 84.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tionesta | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,300 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $450 | $996 |
| Median household income | $52,292 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 84.6% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 61.7% | — |
Who lives in Tionesta
| People | Tionesta | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.8 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.5% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 7.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 24.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 37.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.0% | 89.0% |
Weather in Tionesta
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 19.0°F. About 47.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.8 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tionesta since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 31, 1985 about 4.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 35 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 1, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 26, 2008.
Severe weather in Forest County since 1996
Forest County has been included in 12 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 |
| January 10, 2013 | Hurricane | DR-4099: Hurricane Sandy |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
Jobs and pay in Forest County
Forest County had 1,873 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,723 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Tionesta itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Tionesta
2 public schools with 624 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Clarion Co El Sch | PK-6 | 327 | 13.1 |
| North Clarion Co JSHS | 7-12 | 297 | 11.0 |
Towns near Tionesta
- Washington, PA6.8 mi · 1,865 people · home $169,700
- Pinegrove, PA8.0 mi · 1,328 people · home $157,100
- Pleasantville, PA10.7 mi · 846 people · home $107,900
- Cornplanter, PA10.7 mi · 2,320 people · home $112,000
- Oil Creek, PA10.9 mi · 753 people · home $123,500
- Hasson Heights, PA11.2 mi · 1,229 people · home $114,800
- Farmington, PA11.4 mi · 1,781 people · home $163,600
- Knox, PA11.4 mi · 996 people · home $214,300
Tionesta questions
Is Tionesta, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tionesta scores better for retirees than 49% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 100%. 27.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.8).
How much does a house cost in Tionesta?
The median owner-occupied home in Tionesta is valued at $154,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,292, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $450 a month.
What is the weather like in Tionesta?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 19.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.1 inches of precipitation a year and 50.8 inches of snow.
Does Tionesta get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tionesta since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 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)