The Town FilesTowanda, Pennsylvania
Borough in Bradford County · population 2,798 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $166,900
- Household income
- $60,888
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 37.7
Towanda is a borough of 2,798 people in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $166,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 89% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 84% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 80% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Towanda 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 Towanda is worth $166,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $60,888, which is more affordable than 59% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $996 a month. 53.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Towanda | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $166,900 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $996 | $996 |
| Median household income | $60,888 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 53.4% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Towanda
| People | Towanda | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 19.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 89.0% |
Weather in Towanda
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 38.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.8 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Towanda since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 13, 2018 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 28, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 12, 2017.
Severe weather in Bradford County since 1996
Bradford County has been included in 21 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 |
| December 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4292: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Bradford County
Bradford County had 22,333 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,112 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Towanda itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Towanda
4 public schools with 1,504 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Towanda Area JSHS | 7-12 | 698 | 15.9 |
| Towanda Area El Sch | 3-6 | 428 | 13.8 |
| Morrow El Sch | PK-2 | 363 | 16.5 |
| Northern Tier Career Center | 9-12 | 15 | 1.1 |
Towns near Towanda
- Athens, PA12.0 mi · 3,267 people · home $167,200
- Athens, PA14.0 mi · 5,184 people · home $208,300
- Sayre, PA15.3 mi · 5,461 people · home $169,500
- Waverly, NY17.4 mi · 4,373 people · home $140,200
- Barton, NY21.7 mi · 8,609 people · home $141,000
- Tioga, NY23.5 mi · 4,440 people · home $125,300
- Owego, NY24.9 mi · 3,654 people · home $147,300
- Apalachin, NY25.1 mi · 2,632 people · home $179,900
Towanda questions
Is Towanda, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Towanda scores better for retirees than 22% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 20%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Towanda?
The median owner-occupied home in Towanda is valued at $166,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,888, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $996 a month.
What is the weather like in Towanda?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.6 inches of precipitation a year and 37.8 inches of snow.
Does Towanda get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Towanda since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 13, 2018. 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)