The Town FilesLima, Pennsylvania
Community in Delaware County · population 2,745 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $396,300
- Household income
- $76,932
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 70.9
Lima is a community of 2,745 people in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $396,300, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Pennsylvania towns, better for young professionals than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, more upscale than 94% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Lima 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 Lima is worth $396,300, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 5.2 times the median household income of $76,932, which is more affordable than 1% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $3,000 a month. 32.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lima | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $396,300 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $3,000 | $996 |
| Median household income | $76,932 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 32.5% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.2% | — |
Who lives in Lima
| People | Lima | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 70.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 55.2% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 10.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 12.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 21.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 33.5 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in Lima
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 26.8°F. About 41.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.0 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lima since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 22, 1955 about 8.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 31, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 22, 2014.
Severe weather in Delaware County since 1996
Delaware 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 |
| February 6, 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3367: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Delaware County
Delaware County had 218,536 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,172 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Lima itself the ACS puts it at 10%.
Towns near Lima
- Middletown, PA0.8 mi · 16,373 people · home $500,600
- Chester Heights, PA2.4 mi · 2,897 people · home $343,200
- Edgmont, PA2.4 mi · 4,283 people · home $614,200
- Upper Providence, PA2.4 mi · 10,852 people · home $632,400
- Media, PA2.8 mi · 5,901 people · home $467,800
- Aston, PA3.2 mi · 16,791 people · home $343,000
- Village Green-Green Ridge, PA3.9 mi · 8,000 people · home $325,800
- Thornbury, PA4.1 mi · 6,904 people · home $770,000
Lima questions
Is Lima, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lima scores better for retirees than 100% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 37%. 55.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 70.9).
How much does a house cost in Lima?
The median owner-occupied home in Lima is valued at $396,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,932, so homes cost about 5.2 times income. Median rent is $3,000 a month.
What is the weather like in Lima?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 26.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.6 inches of precipitation a year and 19.0 inches of snow.
Does Lima get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lima since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 22, 1955. 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)