The Town FilesWatts, Pennsylvania
Township in Perry County · population 1,231 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $247,400
- Household income
- $94,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 40.7
Watts is a township of 1,231 people in Perry County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $247,400, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks quieter than 75% of Pennsylvania towns, better for families than 73% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Watts 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 Watts is worth $247,400, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $94,375, which is more affordable than 64% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $970 a month. 85.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watts | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $247,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $970 | $996 |
| Median household income | $94,375 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 85.4% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Watts
| People | Watts | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 27.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 31.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 89.0% |
Weather in Watts
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 20.0°F. About 50.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.7 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watts since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 5, 2026 about 9.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 5, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 18, 2012.
Severe weather in Perry County since 1996
Perry County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Perry County
Perry County had 7,903 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,701 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Watts itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Towns near Watts
- Halifax, PA3.2 mi · 796 people · home $202,200
- Halifax, PA3.6 mi · 3,349 people · home $204,800
- Buffalo, PA4.0 mi · 1,224 people · home $223,100
- Duncannon, PA4.8 mi · 1,478 people · home $155,600
- Miller, PA4.9 mi · 962 people · home $240,400
- Lenkerville, PA5.4 mi · 504 people · home —
- Millersburg, PA6.2 mi · 2,545 people · home $134,500
- Wheatfield, PA6.8 mi · 3,203 people · home $242,600
Watts questions
Is Watts, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watts scores better for retirees than 20% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 75%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Watts?
The median owner-occupied home in Watts is valued at $247,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,375, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $970 a month.
What is the weather like in Watts?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 20.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.9 inches of precipitation a year and 26.7 inches of snow.
Does Watts get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watts since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 5, 2026. 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)