The Town FilesOld Forge, Pennsylvania
Borough in Lackawanna County · population 8,497 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $174,400
- Household income
- $71,812
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 47.4
Old Forge is a borough of 8,497 people in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $174,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for retirees than 86% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 86% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 86% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Old Forge 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 Old Forge is worth $174,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $71,812, which is more affordable than 75% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $859 a month. 70.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Old Forge | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $174,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $859 | $996 |
| Median household income | $71,812 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.0% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Old Forge
| People | Old Forge | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.4 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.5% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.0% | 89.0% |
Weather in Old Forge
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 20.3°F. About 38.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Old Forge since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 25, 2017 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 2, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 24, 1985.
Severe weather in Lackawanna County since 1996
Lackawanna County has been included in 22 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 |
| November 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County had 98,108 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,720 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Old Forge itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Old Forge
2 public schools with 949 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Forge El Sch | K-6 | 510 | 12.1 |
| Old Forge JSHS | 7-12 | 439 | 12.2 |
Towns near Old Forge
- Moosic, PA2.1 mi · 5,959 people · home $250,900
- Taylor, PA2.2 mi · 6,294 people · home $182,500
- Avoca, PA2.2 mi · 2,507 people · home $185,300
- Duryea, PA2.3 mi · 5,036 people · home $157,900
- Dupont, PA3.2 mi · 2,539 people · home $142,200
- Pittston, PA3.7 mi · 7,591 people · home $126,800
- West Pittston, PA4.2 mi · 4,652 people · home $179,100
- Scranton, PA4.5 mi · 76,328 people · home $158,100
Old Forge questions
Is Old Forge, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Old Forge scores better for retirees than 86% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 31%. 24.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.4).
How much does a house cost in Old Forge?
The median owner-occupied home in Old Forge is valued at $174,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,812, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $859 a month.
What is the weather like in Old Forge?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 20.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.7 inches of precipitation a year and 45.1 inches of snow.
Does Old Forge get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Old Forge since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 25, 2017. 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)