The Town FilesWest Fairview, Pennsylvania
Community in Cumberland County · population 1,138 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $162,300
- Household income
- $76,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 37.1
West Fairview is a community of 1,138 people in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $162,300, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for young professionals than 97% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 95% of Pennsylvania towns.
How West Fairview 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 Fairview is worth $162,300, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $76,583, which is more affordable than 86% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,127 a month. 54.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Fairview | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $162,300 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,127 | $996 |
| Median household income | $76,583 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 54.9% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West Fairview
| People | West Fairview | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 12.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 32.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.9% | 89.0% |
Weather in West Fairview
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 21.8°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.9 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Fairview since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 28, 2011 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 5, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 1, 1976.
Severe weather in Cumberland County since 1996
Cumberland County has been included in 19 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 Cumberland County
Cumberland County had 137,668 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,149 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in West Fairview itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Towns near West Fairview
- East Pennsboro, PA1.1 mi · 20,910 people · home $236,000
- Enola, PA1.1 mi · 6,103 people · home $171,700
- Wormleysburg, PA1.4 mi · 3,043 people · home $223,400
- Harrisburg, PA1.9 mi · 50,099 people · home $124,200
- Camp Hill, PA2.5 mi · 8,130 people · home $316,300
- Lemoyne, PA2.6 mi · 4,659 people · home $241,300
- Hampden, PA3.4 mi · 32,761 people · home $354,900
- Lower Allen, PA3.7 mi · 7,465 people · home $263,200
West Fairview questions
Is West Fairview, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Fairview scores better for retirees than 52% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 9%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.1).
How much does a house cost in West Fairview?
The median owner-occupied home in West Fairview is valued at $162,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,583, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,127 a month.
What is the weather like in West Fairview?
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 21.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 23.9 inches of snow.
Does West Fairview get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Fairview since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 28, 2011. 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)