The Town FilesNorristown, Pennsylvania
Borough in Montgomery County · population 35,748 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $213,900
- Household income
- $66,701
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 33.2
Norristown is a borough of 35,748 people in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $213,900, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, better transit than 98% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Norristown 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 Norristown is worth $213,900, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $66,701, which is more affordable than 33% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,422 a month. 42.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Norristown | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $213,900 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,422 | $996 |
| Median household income | $66,701 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 42.7% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Norristown
| People | Norristown | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.2 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.4% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.4% | — |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in Norristown
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 22.6°F. About 50.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.3 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 107 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norristown since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 22, 1955 about 8.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 1, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 6, 2023.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 29 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 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 6, 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3367: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 505,821 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $88,412 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Norristown itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Norristown
13 public schools with 8,080 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norristown Area HS | 9-12 | 2,273 | 17.6 |
| East Norriton MS | 5-8 | 850 | 14.4 |
| Eisenhower MS | 5-8 | 791 | 12.6 |
| Blockson MS | 5-8 | 727 | 14.8 |
| Marshall Street El Sch | K-4 | 564 | 12.3 |
| Whitehall El Sch | K-4 | 496 | 13.1 |
| Paul V Fly El Sch | K-4 | 461 | 13.6 |
| Woodland El Sch | K-4 | 439 | 12.2 |
| Davenport El Sch | 1-4 | 370 | 12.3 |
| Hancock El Sch | 1-4 | 354 | 13.1 |
| Cole Manor El Sch | K-4 | 354 | 12.2 |
| Ray S. Musselman Learning Center | K-K | 246 | 11.2 |
Towns near Norristown
- Bridgeport, PA1.3 mi · 5,015 people · home $341,100
- West Norriton, PA2.1 mi · 16,201 people · home $312,900
- East Norriton, PA2.1 mi · 14,021 people · home $361,100
- Plymouth, PA2.4 mi · 18,256 people · home $457,800
- King of Prussia, PA2.7 mi · 24,695 people · home $436,200
- Upper Merion, PA3.1 mi · 33,613 people · home $455,300
- Plymouth Meeting, PA3.3 mi · 7,452 people · home $512,500
- Conshohocken, PA3.6 mi · 9,261 people · home $443,600
Norristown questions
Is Norristown, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Norristown scores better for retirees than 1% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 1%. 10.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.2).
How much does a house cost in Norristown?
The median owner-occupied home in Norristown is valued at $213,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,701, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,422 a month.
What is the weather like in Norristown?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 22.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.6 inches of precipitation a year and 25.3 inches of snow.
Does Norristown get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norristown 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)