The Town FilesNorth East, Pennsylvania
Borough in Erie County · population 4,106 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,000
- Household income
- $68,828
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 175 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 43.6
North East is a borough of 4,106 people in Erie County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $167,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 95% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 92% of Pennsylvania towns.
How North East 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 North East is worth $167,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $68,828, which is more affordable than 75% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $769 a month. 52.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | North East | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,000 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $769 | $996 |
| Median household income | $68,828 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 52.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1947 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in North East
| People | North East | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.2% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.2% | 89.0% |
Weather in North East
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 20.6°F. About 43.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 174.5 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 117 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of North East since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 9, 2025 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 9, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 14, 2019.
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 North East itself the ACS puts it at 9.2%.
Public schools in North East
4 public schools with 1,492 students, about 9.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North East High School | 9-12 | 543 | 8.1 |
| North East Middle School | 6-8 | 330 | 8.3 |
| North East Intermediate Elementary | 3-5 | 310 | 11.9 |
| Earle C. Davis Primary | K-2 | 309 | 12.4 |
Towns near North East
- North East, PA1.0 mi · 6,529 people · home $211,300
- Harborcreek, PA7.8 mi · 16,635 people · home $237,000
- Northwest Harborcreek, PA9.4 mi · 8,772 people · home $225,800
- Wesleyville, PA10.6 mi · 3,222 people · home $108,600
- Lawrence Park, PA10.6 mi · 3,820 people · home $138,800
- Westfield, NY12.5 mi · 4,553 people · home $114,400
- Greene, PA12.6 mi · 4,478 people · home $227,700
- Erie, PA14.0 mi · 94,831 people · home $115,200
North East questions
Is North East, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North East scores better for retirees than 30% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 7%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.6).
How much does a house cost in North East?
The median owner-occupied home in North East is valued at $167,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,828, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $769 a month.
What is the weather like in North East?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 20.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 174.5 inches of snow.
Does North East get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of North East since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 9, 2025. 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)