The Town FilesWest Penn, Pennsylvania
Township in Schuylkill County · population 4,370 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $234,300
- Household income
- $71,977
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 56.0
West Penn is a township of 4,370 people in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $234,300, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250).
How West Penn 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 Penn is worth $234,300, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $71,977, which is more affordable than 29% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $830 a month. 86.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Penn | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $234,300 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $830 | $996 |
| Median household income | $71,977 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.0% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in West Penn
| People | West Penn | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.0 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.5% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 31.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 89.0% |
Weather in West Penn
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 18.7°F. About 51.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.8 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Penn since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 29, 2021 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Schuylkill County since 1996
Schuylkill County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| November 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Schuylkill County
Schuylkill County had 50,294 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,134 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in West Penn itself the ACS puts it at 8.8%.
Towns near West Penn
- Tamaqua, PA5.3 mi · 6,916 people · home $83,700
- Summit Hill, PA5.8 mi · 3,120 people · home $99,700
- Lansford, PA6.3 mi · 4,141 people · home $55,800
- Mahoning, PA7.1 mi · 4,261 people · home $241,300
- Lynn, PA7.1 mi · 4,232 people · home $305,100
- East Penn, PA7.8 mi · 2,748 people · home $228,500
- Heidelberg, PA9.2 mi · 3,324 people · home $328,700
- Rush, PA9.2 mi · 3,417 people · home $208,000
West Penn questions
Is West Penn, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Penn scores better for retirees than 57% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 65%. 33.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.0).
How much does a house cost in West Penn?
The median owner-occupied home in West Penn is valued at $234,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,977, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $830 a month.
What is the weather like in West Penn?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 18.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.9 inches of precipitation a year and 42.8 inches of snow.
Does West Penn get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Penn since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 29, 2021. 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)