The Town FilesWashington, Pennsylvania
Township in Armstrong County · population 895 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $175,000
- Household income
- $52,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 52.2
Washington is a township of 895 people in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $175,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 85% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 72% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Washington 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 Washington is worth $175,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $52,917, which is more affordable than 29% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $708 a month. 85.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washington | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $175,000 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $708 | $996 |
| Median household income | $52,917 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 85.1% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 22.0% | — |
Who lives in Washington
| People | Washington | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.2 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.5% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 33.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.3% | 89.0% |
Weather in Washington
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 45.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 23, 1986 about 6.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 28 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 23, 1986.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 6, 2024.
Severe weather in Armstrong County since 1996
Armstrong County has been included in 17 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 |
| April 16, 2010 | Snowstorm | DR-1898: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
| June 30, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1649: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Armstrong County
Armstrong County had 15,650 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,796 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Washington itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Washington
- East Franklin, PA4.3 mi · 3,816 people · home $216,000
- Madison, PA4.8 mi · 824 people · home $132,500
- Sugarcreek, PA5.3 mi · 1,350 people · home $180,900
- East Brady, PA5.6 mi · 818 people · home $143,500
- Madison, PA5.7 mi · 1,157 people · home $150,800
- West Hills, PA5.8 mi · 1,228 people · home $226,400
- Kittanning, PA6.8 mi · 3,921 people · home $101,300
- Boggs, PA6.8 mi · 817 people · home $169,700
Washington questions
Is Washington, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washington scores better for retirees than 58% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 85%. 23.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.2).
How much does a house cost in Washington?
The median owner-occupied home in Washington is valued at $175,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,917, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $708 a month.
What is the weather like in Washington?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.7 inches of precipitation a year and 36.6 inches of snow.
Does Washington get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 23, 1986. 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)