The Town FilesWest Middlesex, Pennsylvania
Borough in Mercer County · population 818 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,100
- Household income
- $89,667
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 43.1
West Middlesex is a borough of 818 people in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $158,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks quieter than 89% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 86% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 81% of Pennsylvania towns.
How West Middlesex 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 Middlesex is worth $158,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $89,667, which is more affordable than 93% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $713 a month. 85.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Middlesex | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $713 | $996 |
| Median household income | $89,667 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 85.6% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1946 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West Middlesex
| People | West Middlesex | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.3% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 17.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 89.0% |
Weather in West Middlesex
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 19.0°F. About 41.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.7 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Middlesex since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 31, 1985 about 3.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 19 deaths and 340 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 16, 2022.
Severe weather in Mercer County since 1996
Mercer County has been included in 13 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 |
| 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 Mercer County
Mercer County had 43,239 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,120 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in West Middlesex itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in West Middlesex
3 public schools with 722 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Middlesex Area JSHS | 7-12 | 353 | 11.4 |
| Luther W Low El Sch | K-3 | 204 | 10.2 |
| Oakview El Sch | 4-6 | 165 | 11.8 |
Towns near West Middlesex
- Shenango, PA1.7 mi · 3,522 people · home $188,900
- Farrell, PA3.3 mi · 4,258 people · home $87,800
- Hermitage, PA3.9 mi · 16,230 people · home $199,500
- Sharon, PA4.7 mi · 13,147 people · home $78,800
- Masury, OH4.9 mi · 2,001 people · home $71,100
- West Hill, OH5.3 mi · 2,218 people · home $77,100
- Pulaski, PA5.4 mi · 3,102 people · home $158,300
- Lackawannock, PA5.6 mi · 2,471 people · home $166,600
West Middlesex questions
Is West Middlesex, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Middlesex scores better for retirees than 86% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 89%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.1).
How much does a house cost in West Middlesex?
The median owner-occupied home in West Middlesex is valued at $158,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,667, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $713 a month.
What is the weather like in West Middlesex?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 19.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.8 inches of precipitation a year and 42.7 inches of snow.
Does West Middlesex get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Middlesex since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 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)