The Town FilesDecatur, Pennsylvania
Township in Mifflin County · population 2,968 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $164,100
- Household income
- $61,302
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 50.0
Decatur is a township of 2,968 people in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $164,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for families than 87% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 86% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 85% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Decatur 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 Decatur is worth $164,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $61,302, which is more affordable than 59% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $535 a month. 93.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Decatur | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $535 | $996 |
| Median household income | $61,302 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.2% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.2% | — |
Who lives in Decatur
| People | Decatur | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.0 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.3% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.3% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 89.0% |
Weather in Decatur
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 21.0°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.0 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Decatur since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 9, 1980 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 12, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 16, 2022.
Severe weather in Mifflin County since 1996
Mifflin County has been included in 17 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 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
| September 8, 2011 | Flood | EM-3340: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Mifflin County
Mifflin County had 16,979 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,273 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Decatur itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Towns near Decatur
- Fermanagh, PA5.7 mi · 2,866 people · home $256,800
- Armagh, PA5.8 mi · 4,018 people · home $140,800
- Derry, PA7.7 mi · 7,212 people · home $156,100
- Fayette, PA7.9 mi · 3,340 people · home $202,100
- Lewistown, PA10.8 mi · 8,579 people · home $98,500
- Walker, PA10.9 mi · 2,790 people · home $206,900
- Brown, PA12.6 mi · 4,112 people · home $197,600
- Granville, PA13.4 mi · 4,629 people · home $160,000
Decatur questions
Is Decatur, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Decatur scores better for retirees than 40% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 85%. 24.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.0).
How much does a house cost in Decatur?
The median owner-occupied home in Decatur is valued at $164,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,302, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $535 a month.
What is the weather like in Decatur?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 21.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 32.0 inches of snow.
Does Decatur get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Decatur since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 9, 1980. 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)