The Town FilesChambersburg, Pennsylvania
Borough in Franklin County · population 21,903 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $215,000
- Household income
- $56,576
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 39.6
Chambersburg is a borough of 21,903 people in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $215,000, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more vibrant than 93% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 89% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 87% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Chambersburg 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 Chambersburg is worth $215,000, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $56,576, which is more affordable than 12% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,099 a month. 42.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chambersburg | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $215,000 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,099 | $996 |
| Median household income | $56,576 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 42.7% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Chambersburg
| People | Chambersburg | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.3% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 16.5 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 89.0% |
Weather in Chambersburg
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 22.9°F. About 43.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.8 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chambersburg since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 19, 2019 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 27, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 29, 1976.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin 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 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| January 10, 2013 | Hurricane | DR-4099: Hurricane Sandy |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 60,414 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,554 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Chambersburg itself the ACS puts it at 7.8%.
Public schools in Chambersburg
16 public schools with 8,679 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chambersburg Area SHS | 9-12 | 2,324 | 18.0 |
| Chambersburg Area MS - South | 6-8 | 1,074 | 15.8 |
| Chambersburg Area MS - North | 6-8 | 1,050 | 16.7 |
| Chambersburg Area Career Magnet Sch | 9-12 | 684 | 21.4 |
| Benjamin Chambers El Sch | K-5 | 564 | 15.2 |
| Hamilton Heights El Sch | K-5 | 544 | 14.3 |
| Scotland El Sch | K-5 | 438 | 15.1 |
| Stevens El Sch | K-5 | 305 | 14.5 |
| Grandview El Sch | K-5 | 293 | 19.5 |
| South Hamilton El Sch | K-5 | 267 | 17.8 |
| Marion El Sch | K-5 | 266 | 15.6 |
| Falling Spring El Sch | K-5 | 242 | 16.1 |
Towns near Chambersburg
- Guilford, PA3.1 mi · 2,923 people · home $278,100
- Hamilton, PA4.2 mi · 11,374 people · home $285,800
- Guilford, PA4.3 mi · 14,627 people · home $256,200
- Greene, PA5.0 mi · 18,436 people · home $261,300
- Fayetteville, PA5.0 mi · 3,208 people · home $194,900
- Antrim, PA7.3 mi · 15,778 people · home $311,700
- St. Thomas, PA7.9 mi · 5,917 people · home $211,500
- Southampton, PA8.7 mi · 8,566 people · home $229,500
Chambersburg questions
Is Chambersburg, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chambersburg scores better for retirees than 14% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 8%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Chambersburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Chambersburg is valued at $215,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,576, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,099 a month.
What is the weather like in Chambersburg?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 22.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 30.8 inches of snow.
Does Chambersburg get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chambersburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 19, 2019. 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)