The Town FilesZion, Pennsylvania
Community in Centre County · population 2,197 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $344,700
- Household income
- $94,829
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 51.2
Zion is a community of 2,197 people in Centre County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $344,700, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Pennsylvania towns, better for families than 92% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 91% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Zion 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 Zion is worth $344,700, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $94,829, which is more affordable than 17% of Pennsylvania towns. 94.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Zion | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $344,700 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | — | $996 |
| Median household income | $94,829 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.4% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 2004 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Zion
| People | Zion | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.2 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.2% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 12.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 16.5% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.1% | 89.0% |
Weather in Zion
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 42.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zion since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 2, 2023 about 1.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 2, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on August 7, 2023.
Severe weather in Centre County since 1996
Centre County has been included in 15 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 |
| December 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4292: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 1, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4149: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Centre County
Centre County had 68,578 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,822 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Zion itself the ACS puts it at 9.1%.
Towns near Zion
- Mingoville, PA2.1 mi · 527 people · home —
- Spring, PA2.7 mi · 7,979 people · home $273,600
- Bellefonte, PA4.0 mi · 6,105 people · home $240,300
- Pleasant Gap, PA4.4 mi · 2,945 people · home $240,200
- Walker, PA4.6 mi · 4,596 people · home $301,400
- Centre Hall, PA5.0 mi · 1,268 people · home $263,700
- Marion, PA5.4 mi · 1,182 people · home $262,500
- Milesburg, PA5.6 mi · 1,093 people · home $191,800
Zion questions
Is Zion, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Zion scores better for retirees than 86% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 91%. 35.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.2).
How much does a house cost in Zion?
The median owner-occupied home in Zion is valued at $344,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,829, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Zion?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.4 inches of precipitation a year and 40.1 inches of snow.
Does Zion get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zion since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 2, 2023. 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)