The Town FilesClarks Summit, Pennsylvania
Borough in Lackawanna County · population 5,107 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $234,900
- Household income
- $92,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 43.8
Clarks Summit is a borough of 5,107 people in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $234,900, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for young professionals than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 93% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Clarks Summit 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 Clarks Summit is worth $234,900, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $92,083, which is more affordable than 64% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,305 a month. 73.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clarks Summit | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $234,900 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,305 | $996 |
| Median household income | $92,083 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 73.0% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Clarks Summit
| People | Clarks Summit | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 56.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 89.0% |
Weather in Clarks Summit
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 20.3°F. About 38.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.9 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clarks Summit since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 2, 1998 about 7.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 16 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 2, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 28, 2019.
Severe weather in Lackawanna County since 1996
Lackawanna County has been included in 22 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 Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County had 98,108 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,720 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Clarks Summit itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Clarks Summit
4 public schools with 2,828 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abington Heights HS | 9-12 | 1,117 | 15.5 |
| Abington Heights MS | 5-8 | 1,079 | 15.4 |
| Clarks Summit El Sch | K-4 | 431 | 16.6 |
| Newton-Ransom El School | K-4 | 201 | 14.4 |
Towns near Clarks Summit
- South Abington, PA1.0 mi · 9,532 people · home $334,700
- Dickson City, PA4.0 mi · 6,038 people · home $192,300
- Newton, PA4.0 mi · 2,816 people · home $326,300
- Blakely, PA5.5 mi · 6,657 people · home $198,300
- Scott, PA5.5 mi · 4,629 people · home $246,700
- Scranton, PA6.3 mi · 76,328 people · home $158,100
- Taylor, PA6.5 mi · 6,294 people · home $182,500
- Throop, PA6.9 mi · 4,065 people · home $165,400
Clarks Summit questions
Is Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clarks Summit scores better for retirees than 93% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 25%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.8).
How much does a house cost in Clarks Summit?
The median owner-occupied home in Clarks Summit is valued at $234,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,083, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,305 a month.
What is the weather like in Clarks Summit?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 20.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.7 inches of precipitation a year and 49.9 inches of snow.
Does Clarks Summit get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clarks Summit since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 2, 1998. 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)