The Town FilesHonesdale, Pennsylvania
Borough in Wayne County · population 4,458 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $182,400
- Household income
- $47,485
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 39.5
Honesdale is a borough of 4,458 people in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $182,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks hipper than 97% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 91% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 83% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Honesdale 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 Honesdale is worth $182,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $47,485, which is more affordable than 12% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,097 a month. 51.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Honesdale | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $182,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,097 | $996 |
| Median household income | $47,485 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 51.7% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.9% | — |
Who lives in Honesdale
| People | Honesdale | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.4% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 9.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 15.8% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.0% | 89.0% |
Weather in Honesdale
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 13.5°F. About 45.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Honesdale since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 23, 2010 about 1.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 24, 1985.
Severe weather in Wayne County since 1996
Wayne County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4815: Tropical Storm Debby |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 1, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4149: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Wayne County
Wayne County had 15,462 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,861 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Honesdale itself the ACS puts it at 9.8%.
Public schools in Honesdale
4 public schools with 1,902 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honesdale HS | 9-12 | 692 | 11.5 |
| Lakeside Elementary School | 3-5 | 414 | 13.4 |
| Stourbridge Primary Ctr | PK-2 | 399 | 12.1 |
| Wayne Highlands MS | 6-8 | 397 | 12.8 |
Towns near Honesdale
- Canaan, PA6.9 mi · 3,610 people · home $276,300
- Paupack, PA9.4 mi · 3,676 people · home $345,000
- Lake, PA10.4 mi · 4,850 people · home $198,700
- Damascus, PA10.9 mi · 3,674 people · home $282,200
- The Hideout, PA11.0 mi · 2,634 people · home $205,600
- Lackawaxen, PA11.1 mi · 5,072 people · home $278,800
- Palmyra, PA12.5 mi · 3,206 people · home $330,300
- Carbondale, PA13.1 mi · 8,828 people · home $132,200
Honesdale questions
Is Honesdale, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Honesdale scores better for retirees than 91% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 43%. 23.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Honesdale?
The median owner-occupied home in Honesdale is valued at $182,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,485, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,097 a month.
What is the weather like in Honesdale?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 13.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.1 inches of precipitation a year and 47.1 inches of snow.
Does Honesdale get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Honesdale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 23, 2010. 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)