The Town FilesSunbury, Pennsylvania
City in Northumberland County · population 9,719 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $107,200
- Household income
- $51,028
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 45.1
Sunbury is a city of 9,719 people in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $107,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, more of a college town than 94% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Sunbury 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 Sunbury is worth $107,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $51,028, which is more affordable than 86% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $738 a month. 56.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sunbury | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $107,200 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $738 | $996 |
| Median household income | $51,028 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 56.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Sunbury
| People | Sunbury | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.1 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.7% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.3% | 89.0% |
Weather in Sunbury
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 18.9°F. About 43.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sunbury since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 28, 1978 about 1.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 8, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 28, 2019.
Severe weather in Northumberland County since 1996
Northumberland County has been included in 19 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 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
| September 8, 2011 | Flood | EM-3340: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Northumberland County
Northumberland County had 26,979 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,035 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Sunbury itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Sunbury
3 public schools with 1,886 students, about 20.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shikellamy HS | 9-12 | 896 | 23.6 |
| Chief Shikellamy Sch | 3-5 | 618 | 19.3 |
| Oaklyn Sch | K-2 | 372 | 17.7 |
Towns near Sunbury
- Northumberland, PA2.5 mi · 3,911 people · home $162,600
- Monroe, PA3.8 mi · 4,146 people · home $303,900
- Point, PA4.9 mi · 3,832 people · home $232,600
- Selinsgrove, PA5.9 mi · 5,713 people · home $198,500
- Penn, PA6.8 mi · 4,037 people · home $235,400
- East Buffalo, PA8.0 mi · 7,405 people · home $350,500
- West Chillisquaque, PA8.2 mi · 2,597 people · home $121,500
- Lewisburg, PA8.9 mi · 5,158 people · home $235,200
Sunbury questions
Is Sunbury, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sunbury scores better for retirees than 15% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 3%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.1).
How much does a house cost in Sunbury?
The median owner-occupied home in Sunbury is valued at $107,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,028, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $738 a month.
What is the weather like in Sunbury?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 18.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.7 inches of precipitation a year and 28.6 inches of snow.
Does Sunbury get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sunbury since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 28, 1978. 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)