The Town FilesWatsontown, Pennsylvania
Borough in Northumberland County · population 2,237 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $164,600
- Household income
- $60,051
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 38.8
Watsontown is a borough of 2,237 people in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $164,600, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks easier by car than 87% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Watsontown 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 Watsontown is worth $164,600, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $60,051, which is more affordable than 59% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $877 a month. 53.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watsontown | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,600 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $877 | $996 |
| Median household income | $60,051 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 53.5% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Watsontown
| People | Watsontown | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 16.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in Watsontown
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 18.9°F. About 43.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.5 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watsontown since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1985 about 6.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 61 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 2, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on September 18, 1991.
Severe weather in Northumberland County since 1996
Northumberland County has been included in 19 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 |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
| September 8, 2011 | Flood | EM-3340: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Northumberland County
Northumberland County had 26,979 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,035 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Watsontown itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Towns near Watsontown
- Dewart, PA1.7 mi · 1,385 people · home $206,400
- Delaware, PA2.5 mi · 4,303 people · home $238,000
- New Columbia, PA3.4 mi · 1,024 people · home $181,900
- Gregg, PA4.2 mi · 4,096 people · home $169,000
- West Milton, PA4.7 mi · 799 people · home $174,200
- White Deer, PA4.9 mi · 4,404 people · home $190,900
- Turbotville, PA5.1 mi · 677 people · home $245,300
- Turbot, PA5.1 mi · 1,815 people · home $221,700
Watsontown questions
Is Watsontown, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watsontown scores better for retirees than 51% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 30%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.8).
How much does a house cost in Watsontown?
The median owner-occupied home in Watsontown is valued at $164,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,051, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $877 a month.
What is the weather like in Watsontown?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 18.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.9 inches of precipitation a year and 31.5 inches of snow.
Does Watsontown get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watsontown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 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)