The Town FilesLake City, Pennsylvania
Borough in Erie County · population 2,935 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $165,600
- Household income
- $75,048
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 106 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 34.5
Lake City is a borough of 2,935 people in Erie County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $165,600, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 81% of Pennsylvania towns, better for young professionals than 80% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 76% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Lake City 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 Lake City is worth $165,600, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $75,048, which is more affordable than 82% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $871 a month. 84.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake City | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,600 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $871 | $996 |
| Median household income | $75,048 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 84.0% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Lake City
| People | Lake City | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.5% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 31.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in Lake City
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 21.3°F. About 43.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 106.3 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake City since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 31, 1985 about 7.5 miles from the town center and killed 12. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 12 deaths and 94 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 28, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 8, 1980.
Severe weather in Erie County since 1996
Erie County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1555: Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances |
Jobs and pay in Erie County
Erie County had 119,552 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,524 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Lake City itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Lake City
1 public school with 553 students, about 10.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Valley El Sch | PK-4 | 553 | 10.8 |
Towns near Lake City
- Girard, PA1.7 mi · 2,993 people · home $160,500
- Girard, PA2.6 mi · 4,869 people · home $204,600
- Fairview, PA4.7 mi · 2,850 people · home $209,600
- Fairview, PA5.7 mi · 11,138 people · home $295,200
- Springfield, PA6.8 mi · 3,076 people · home $151,100
- Conneaut, PA10.5 mi · 4,191 people · home $170,500
- McKean, PA11.3 mi · 4,437 people · home $241,600
- Millcreek, PA12.6 mi · 54,073 people · home $230,600
Lake City questions
Is Lake City, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake City scores better for retirees than 31% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 31%. 12.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.5).
How much does a house cost in Lake City?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake City is valued at $165,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,048, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $871 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake City?
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 21.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.0 inches of precipitation a year and 106.3 inches of snow.
Does Lake City get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 31, 1985. 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)