The Town FilesBradford, Pennsylvania
City in McKean County · population 7,849 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $85,600
- Household income
- $56,161
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 75 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 40.1
Bradford is a city of 7,849 people in McKean County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $85,600, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks hipper than 93% of Pennsylvania towns, better for cycling than 93% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Bradford 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 Bradford is worth $85,600, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $56,161, which is more affordable than 97% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $800 a month. 58.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bradford | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $85,600 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $800 | $996 |
| Median household income | $56,161 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 58.4% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Bradford
| People | Bradford | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.5% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.0% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 14.5 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 89.0% |
Weather in Bradford
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 49.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 75.2 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bradford since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 15, 1961 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 26, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 21, 1976.
Severe weather in McKean County since 1996
McKean 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 McKean County
McKean County had 13,930 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,225 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Bradford itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Bradford
4 public schools with 2,291 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradford Area HS | 9-12 | 736 | 15.3 |
| Floyd C Fretz MS | 6-8 | 539 | 14.2 |
| George Blaisdell El Sch | PK-2 | 518 | 10.8 |
| School Street El Sch | 3-5 | 498 | 12.8 |
Towns near Bradford
- Foster, PA1.2 mi · 4,038 people · home $99,200
- Bradford, PA3.9 mi · 4,793 people · home $171,900
- Allegany, NY10.6 mi · 7,493 people · home $169,400
- Keating, PA11.6 mi · 2,725 people · home $121,700
- Olean, NY13.6 mi · 13,937 people · home $86,100
- Salamanca, NY14.6 mi · 5,929 people · home $80,900
- Portville, NY16.4 mi · 3,504 people · home $118,600
- Kane, PA22.3 mi · 3,630 people · home $73,600
Bradford questions
Is Bradford, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bradford scores better for retirees than 6% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 14%. 14.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.1).
How much does a house cost in Bradford?
The median owner-occupied home in Bradford is valued at $85,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,161, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $800 a month.
What is the weather like in Bradford?
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.6 inches of precipitation a year and 75.2 inches of snow.
Does Bradford get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bradford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 15, 1961. 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)