The Town FilesJim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Borough in Carbon County · population 4,507 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $209,800
- Household income
- $72,904
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 48.7
Jim Thorpe is a borough of 4,507 people in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $209,800, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Pennsylvania towns, better for a vacation home than 90% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 75% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Jim Thorpe 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 Jim Thorpe is worth $209,800, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $72,904, which is more affordable than 48% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $908 a month. 86.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jim Thorpe | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $209,800 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $908 | $996 |
| Median household income | $72,904 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.5% | — |
Who lives in Jim Thorpe
| People | Jim Thorpe | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.7 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 21.6% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 30.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.4% | 89.0% |
Weather in Jim Thorpe
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 18.7°F. About 51.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.3 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jim Thorpe since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on May 23, 2011 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 23, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Carbon County since 1996
Carbon County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 8, 2011 | Flood | EM-3340: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
| June 30, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1649: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Carbon County
Carbon County had 16,676 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,741 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Jim Thorpe itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Jim Thorpe
3 public schools with 1,535 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| L B Morris El Sch | PK-8 | 615 | 12.8 |
| Jim Thorpe Area HS | 9-12 | 529 | 13.2 |
| Carbon Career & Technical Institute | 9-12 | 391 | 12.6 |
Towns near Jim Thorpe
- Nesquehoning, PA2.8 mi · 3,336 people · home $122,500
- Mahoning, PA3.4 mi · 4,261 people · home $241,300
- Lehighton, PA3.7 mi · 5,248 people · home $213,600
- Summit Hill, PA4.3 mi · 3,120 people · home $99,700
- Franklin, PA5.9 mi · 4,356 people · home $234,700
- Lansford, PA5.9 mi · 4,141 people · home $55,800
- Weatherly, PA6.3 mi · 2,541 people · home $163,200
- East Penn, PA6.4 mi · 2,748 people · home $228,500
Jim Thorpe questions
Is Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jim Thorpe scores better for retirees than 18% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 53%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.7).
How much does a house cost in Jim Thorpe?
The median owner-occupied home in Jim Thorpe is valued at $209,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,904, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $908 a month.
What is the weather like in Jim Thorpe?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 18.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.9 inches of precipitation a year and 27.3 inches of snow.
Does Jim Thorpe get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jim Thorpe since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on May 23, 2011. 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)