The Town FilesWest Franklin, Pennsylvania
Township in Armstrong County · population 1,701 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $197,700
- Household income
- $67,961
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 47.9
West Franklin is a township of 1,701 people in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $197,700, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks quieter than 91% of Pennsylvania towns, better for families than 90% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 84% of Pennsylvania towns.
How West Franklin 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 Franklin is worth $197,700, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $67,961, which is more affordable than 48% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $900 a month. 90.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Franklin | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $197,700 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $900 | $996 |
| Median household income | $67,961 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.5% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in West Franklin
| People | West Franklin | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.7% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.7% | 89.0% |
Weather in West Franklin
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 19.6°F. About 43.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.2 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Franklin since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1985 about 9.9 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 107 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 21, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 28, 2020.
Severe weather in Armstrong County since 1996
Armstrong County has been included in 17 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 |
| April 16, 2010 | Snowstorm | DR-1898: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
| June 30, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1649: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Armstrong County
Armstrong County had 15,650 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,796 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in West Franklin itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Towns near West Franklin
- Worthington, PA1.1 mi · 594 people · home $162,800
- Clearfield, PA4.5 mi · 2,427 people · home $219,700
- East Franklin, PA4.8 mi · 3,816 people · home $216,000
- North Buffalo, PA5.1 mi · 2,699 people · home $182,900
- Sugarcreek, PA5.5 mi · 1,350 people · home $180,900
- West Hills, PA5.6 mi · 1,228 people · home $226,400
- Donegal, PA6.6 mi · 1,823 people · home $230,400
- West Kittanning, PA6.7 mi · 1,192 people · home $122,400
West Franklin questions
Is West Franklin, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Franklin scores better for retirees than 69% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 91%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.9).
How much does a house cost in West Franklin?
The median owner-occupied home in West Franklin is valued at $197,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,961, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $900 a month.
What is the weather like in West Franklin?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 19.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 35.2 inches of snow.
Does West Franklin get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Franklin 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)