The Town FilesBloomsburg, Pennsylvania
Town in Columbia County · population 12,711 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $179,100
- Household income
- $51,536
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 24.3
Bloomsburg is a town of 12,711 people in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $179,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks hipper than 99% of Pennsylvania towns, better for young professionals than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, more of a college town than 91% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Bloomsburg 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 Bloomsburg is worth $179,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $51,536, which is more affordable than 21% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $980 a month. 35.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bloomsburg | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $179,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $980 | $996 |
| Median household income | $51,536 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 35.4% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Bloomsburg
| People | Bloomsburg | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 24.3 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 10.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 3.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 14.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 89.0% |
Weather in Bloomsburg
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 19.3°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bloomsburg since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 17, 2004 about 5.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 17, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 19, 1983.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 20 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 |
| November 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 24,395 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,569 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Bloomsburg itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in Bloomsburg
9 public schools with 4,072 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Columbia El Sch | K-4 | 704 | 12.8 |
| Central Columbia MS | 5-8 | 630 | 16.2 |
| Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School | 9-12 | 617 | 13.4 |
| Central Columbia SHS | 9-12 | 606 | 12.9 |
| Memorial El Sch | K-5 | 413 | 10.9 |
| Bloomsburg Area HS | 9-12 | 389 | 14.4 |
| Bloomsburg Area MS | 6-8 | 368 | 13.6 |
| W W Evans Memorial El Sch | K-5 | 254 | 15.9 |
| Beaver-Main El Sch | K-5 | 91 | 15.2 |
Towns near Bloomsburg
- Scott, PA2.6 mi · 5,514 people · home $234,100
- Mahoning, PA8.1 mi · 4,559 people · home $400,900
- Danville, PA8.6 mi · 4,239 people · home $186,400
- Briar Creek, PA11.3 mi · 2,982 people · home $189,500
- Berwick, PA11.3 mi · 10,327 people · home $156,500
- Ralpho, PA11.8 mi · 4,186 people · home $243,900
- Kulpmont, PA14.3 mi · 2,758 people · home $84,000
- Mount Carmel, PA14.4 mi · 2,500 people · home $156,500
Bloomsburg questions
Is Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bloomsburg scores better for retirees than 8% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 5%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 24.3).
How much does a house cost in Bloomsburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Bloomsburg is valued at $179,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,536, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $980 a month.
What is the weather like in Bloomsburg?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 19.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 28.6 inches of snow.
Does Bloomsburg get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bloomsburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 17, 2004. 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)