The Town FilesLake Meade, Pennsylvania
Community in Adams County · population 2,539 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $294,800
- Household income
- $114,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 53.5
Lake Meade is a community of 2,539 people in Adams County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $294,800, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Pennsylvania towns, better for families than 90% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Lake Meade 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 Meade is worth $294,800, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $114,917, which is more affordable than 64% of Pennsylvania towns. 97.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Meade | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $294,800 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | — | $996 |
| Median household income | $114,917 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 97.3% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 15.7% | — |
Who lives in Lake Meade
| People | Lake Meade | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.5 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 13.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 33.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.7% | 89.0% |
Weather in Lake Meade
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 20.8°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.5 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Meade since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 7, 1980 about 3.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 18, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 18, 2012.
Severe weather in Adams County since 1996
Adams County has been included in 20 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 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Adams County
Adams County had 33,195 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,542 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Lake Meade itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Lake Meade
- Reading, PA2.3 mi · 5,799 people · home $276,200
- Washington, PA3.3 mi · 2,573 people · home $309,600
- Latimore, PA3.6 mi · 2,646 people · home $308,100
- Hamilton, PA6.0 mi · 2,714 people · home $290,700
- Franklin, PA6.2 mi · 5,032 people · home $259,500
- Paradise, PA7.0 mi · 3,969 people · home $270,600
- Warrington, PA8.4 mi · 4,552 people · home $276,300
- Carroll, PA8.8 mi · 6,853 people · home $354,500
Lake Meade questions
Is Lake Meade, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Meade scores better for retirees than 79% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 90%. 26.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.5).
How much does a house cost in Lake Meade?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Meade is valued at $294,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $114,917, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Meade?
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 20.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 28.5 inches of snow.
Does Lake Meade get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Meade since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 7, 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)