The Town FilesWilliamsport, Pennsylvania
City in Lycoming County · population 27,754 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,300
- Household income
- $48,851
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 31.5
Williamsport is a city of 27,754 people in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $154,300, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for cycling than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 93% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 92% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Williamsport 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 Williamsport is worth $154,300, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $48,851, which is more affordable than 33% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $855 a month. 43.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Williamsport | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,300 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $855 | $996 |
| Median household income | $48,851 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 43.0% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Williamsport
| People | Williamsport | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.5 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.4% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 11.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 15.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 89.0% |
Weather in Williamsport
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 20.5°F. About 42.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Williamsport since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1985 about 5.9 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 61 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 9, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 28, 2019.
Severe weather in Lycoming County since 1996
Lycoming County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4815: Tropical Storm Debby |
| 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 |
| December 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4292: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lycoming County
Lycoming County had 49,795 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,535 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Williamsport itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Williamsport
8 public schools with 5,179 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williamsport Area SHS | 9-12 | 1,492 | 14.5 |
| Williamsport Area MS | 7-8 | 696 | 13.1 |
| Lycoming Valley Intrmd Sch | 4-6 | 564 | 13.1 |
| Jackson Primary Sch | K-3 | 549 | 14.8 |
| Curtin Intrmd Sch | 4-6 | 539 | 11.7 |
| Cochran Primary Sch | K-3 | 534 | 14.1 |
| Loyalsock Twp SHS | 9-12 | 461 | 14.9 |
| Loyalsock Twp MS | 6-8 | 344 | 12.7 |
Towns near Williamsport
- South Williamsport, PA2.0 mi · 6,261 people · home $180,800
- Old Lycoming, PA2.8 mi · 4,975 people · home $198,700
- Loyalsock, PA3.4 mi · 11,561 people · home $248,900
- Kenmar, PA4.3 mi · 4,241 people · home $225,200
- Hepburn, PA6.1 mi · 2,578 people · home $255,700
- Montoursville, PA6.2 mi · 4,750 people · home $208,200
- Clinton, PA7.6 mi · 3,720 people · home $204,800
- Fairfield, PA8.6 mi · 2,834 people · home $256,100
Williamsport questions
Is Williamsport, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Williamsport scores better for retirees than 6% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 3%. 13.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.5).
How much does a house cost in Williamsport?
The median owner-occupied home in Williamsport is valued at $154,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,851, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $855 a month.
What is the weather like in Williamsport?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 20.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.7 inches of precipitation a year and 32.6 inches of snow.
Does Williamsport get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Williamsport 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)