The Town FilesForks, Pennsylvania
Township in Northampton County · population 16,074 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $358,900
- Household income
- $110,190
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 44.0
Forks is a township of 16,074 people in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $358,900, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more upscale than 89% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 72% of Pennsylvania towns, better for young professionals than 72% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Forks 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 Forks is worth $358,900, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $110,190, which is more affordable than 29% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,440 a month. 90.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forks | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $358,900 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,440 | $996 |
| Median household income | $110,190 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.9% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 2000 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Forks
| People | Forks | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.4% | — |
| Work from home | 17.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 30.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 89.0% |
Weather in Forks
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 21.5°F. About 51.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.4 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forks since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 20, 1981 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 27, 2010.
Severe weather in Northampton County since 1996
Northampton County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 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 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Northampton County
Northampton County had 120,976 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,298 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Forks itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Towns near Forks
- Chestnut Hill, PA1.3 mi · 6,689 people · home $375,000
- Palmer, PA3.0 mi · 22,317 people · home $318,800
- Eastlawn Gardens, PA3.2 mi · 3,435 people · home $391,500
- Easton, PA3.4 mi · 28,127 people · home $196,300
- Wilson, PA3.6 mi · 8,259 people · home $210,700
- Palmer Heights, PA3.8 mi · 3,734 people · home $309,100
- Phillipsburg, NJ3.8 mi · 15,249 people · home $193,200
- Lopatcong, NJ4.0 mi · 8,776 people · home $358,400
Forks questions
Is Forks, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forks scores better for retirees than 49% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 44%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.0).
How much does a house cost in Forks?
The median owner-occupied home in Forks is valued at $358,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $110,190, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,440 a month.
What is the weather like in Forks?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 21.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.0 inches of precipitation a year and 32.4 inches of snow.
Does Forks get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forks since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 20, 1981. 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)