The Town FilesWatson, Pennsylvania
Township in Lycoming County · population 534 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $312,500
- Household income
- $82,150
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 48.3
Watson is a township of 534 people in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $312,500, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks quieter than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, better for a vacation home than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, better for families than 87% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Watson 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 Watson is worth $312,500, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $82,150, which is more affordable than 12% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,094 a month. 90.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watson | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $312,500 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,094 | $996 |
| Median household income | $82,150 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.4% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 15.5% | — |
Who lives in Watson
| People | Watson | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.3 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.8% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.0% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 11.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 89.0% |
Weather in Watson
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 18.3°F. About 41.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.2 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watson since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 31, 1985 about 3.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 15, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 26, 2011.
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 Watson itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Towns near Watson
- Porter, PA4.8 mi · 1,528 people · home $226,500
- Pine Creek, PA4.8 mi · 3,416 people · home $180,800
- Woolrich, PA5.3 mi · 932 people · home $231,100
- Avis, PA5.5 mi · 1,473 people · home $166,700
- Mifflin, PA5.9 mi · 1,089 people · home $175,300
- Jersey Shore, PA6.0 mi · 4,166 people · home $153,000
- Dunnstable, PA6.3 mi · 1,005 people · home $198,300
- McElhattan, PA7.4 mi · 1,224 people · home $215,500
Watson questions
Is Watson, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watson scores better for retirees than 82% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 98%. 23.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.3).
How much does a house cost in Watson?
The median owner-occupied home in Watson is valued at $312,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,150, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,094 a month.
What is the weather like in Watson?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 18.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.7 inches of precipitation a year and 31.2 inches of snow.
Does Watson get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watson 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)