The Town FilesWest Cocalico, Pennsylvania
Township in Lancaster County · population 7,456 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $316,700
- Household income
- $96,480
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 38.5
West Cocalico is a township of 7,456 people in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $316,700, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for families than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 89% of Pennsylvania towns.
How West Cocalico 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 Cocalico is worth $316,700, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $96,480, which is more affordable than 29% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,103 a month. 93.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Cocalico | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $316,700 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,103 | $996 |
| Median household income | $96,480 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.6% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West Cocalico
| People | West Cocalico | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 30.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 89.0% |
Weather in West Cocalico
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 19.5°F. About 48.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.2 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Cocalico since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 18, 1970 about 10.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 4, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 18, 2006.
Severe weather in Lancaster County since 1996
Lancaster County has been included in 22 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 |
| February 6, 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3367: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Lancaster County
Lancaster County had 252,045 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,966 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in West Cocalico itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Towns near West Cocalico
- Denver, PA2.4 mi · 3,792 people · home $242,400
- East Cocalico, PA4.1 mi · 10,767 people · home $306,900
- Reamstown, PA4.3 mi · 3,367 people · home $321,400
- Clay, PA4.6 mi · 6,857 people · home $324,000
- South Heidelberg, PA4.7 mi · 7,663 people · home $311,800
- Millcreek, PA5.4 mi · 4,368 people · home $267,000
- Ephrata, PA5.9 mi · 13,794 people · home $224,400
- Wernersville, PA6.2 mi · 2,776 people · home $234,200
West Cocalico questions
Is West Cocalico, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Cocalico scores better for retirees than 8% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 52%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in West Cocalico?
The median owner-occupied home in West Cocalico is valued at $316,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,480, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,103 a month.
What is the weather like in West Cocalico?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 19.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.4 inches of precipitation a year and 28.2 inches of snow.
Does West Cocalico get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Cocalico since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 18, 1970. 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)