The Town FilesWashington, Pennsylvania
Township in Lehigh County · population 6,551 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $282,100
- Household income
- $86,837
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 47.3
Washington is a township of 6,551 people in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $282,100, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks quieter than 78% of Pennsylvania towns, more upscale than 74% of Pennsylvania towns, better for families than 70% 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 $282,100, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $86,837, which is more affordable than 33% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,063 a month. 93.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washington | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $282,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,063 | $996 |
| Median household income | $86,837 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.6% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Washington
| People | Washington | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.8% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 89.0% |
Weather in Washington
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 18.7°F. About 51.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.3 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 26, 1981 about 3.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 17, 2007.
Severe weather in Lehigh County since 1996
Lehigh County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 8, 2011 | Flood | EM-3340: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Lehigh County
Lehigh County had 200,548 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $70,311 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Washington itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Towns near Washington
- Slatington, PA1.8 mi · 4,283 people · home $191,500
- Heidelberg, PA3.9 mi · 3,324 people · home $328,700
- Palmerton, PA4.6 mi · 5,593 people · home $180,000
- Schnecksville, PA4.9 mi · 3,261 people · home $362,000
- East Penn, PA4.9 mi · 2,748 people · home $228,500
- North Whitehall, PA5.3 mi · 15,655 people · home $351,800
- Lehigh, PA5.4 mi · 10,774 people · home $280,800
- Lower Towamensing, PA6.5 mi · 3,046 people · home $232,400
Washington questions
Is Washington, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washington scores better for retirees than 43% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 78%. 23.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.3).
How much does a house cost in Washington?
The median owner-occupied home in Washington is valued at $282,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,837, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,063 a month.
What is the weather like in Washington?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 18.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.9 inches of precipitation a year and 27.3 inches of snow.
Does Washington get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 26, 1981. 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)