The Town FilesWest Alexander, Pennsylvania
Community in Washington County · population 565 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $165,600
- Household income
- $84,773
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 43.6
West Alexander is a community of 565 people in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $165,600, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for families than 81% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 78% of Pennsylvania towns.
How West Alexander 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 West Alexander is worth $165,600, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $84,773, which is more affordable than 89% of Pennsylvania towns. 89.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Alexander | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,600 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | — | $996 |
| Median household income | $84,773 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.7% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.1% | — |
Who lives in West Alexander
| People | West Alexander | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.7% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.0% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 31.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 89.0% |
Weather in West Alexander
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 22.3°F. About 37.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Alexander since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 1, 2022 about 6.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 12, 2023.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 14 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 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1555: Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 87,434 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,319 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in West Alexander itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near West Alexander
- Donegal, PA3.4 mi · 2,395 people · home $202,400
- Claysville, PA5.2 mi · 733 people · home $138,900
- West Liberty, WV6.1 mi · 1,454 people · home $151,900
- West Finley, PA6.2 mi · 813 people · home $225,000
- Triadelphia, WV7.3 mi · 669 people · home $93,600
- Bethany, WV7.3 mi · 781 people · home $110,600
- East Finley, PA7.4 mi · 1,288 people · home $238,000
- Blaine, PA7.8 mi · 617 people · home $225,000
West Alexander questions
Is West Alexander, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Alexander scores better for retirees than 67% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 78%. 15.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.6).
How much does a house cost in West Alexander?
The median owner-occupied home in West Alexander is valued at $165,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,773, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in West Alexander?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 22.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 20.1 inches of snow.
Does West Alexander get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Alexander since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 1, 2022. 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)