The Town FilesWashington, Pennsylvania
Township in Berks County · population 4,443 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $351,700
- Household income
- $98,859
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 53.6
Washington is a township of 4,443 people in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $351,700, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks easier by car than 95% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 91% of Pennsylvania towns, more of a college town than 83% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Washington 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 Washington is worth $351,700, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $98,859, which is more affordable than 17% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,183 a month. 82.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washington | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $351,700 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,183 | $996 |
| Median household income | $98,859 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.6% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Washington
| People | Washington | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.6 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 38.4% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 30.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in Washington
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 22.0°F. About 45.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.2 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1998 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 1, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 29, 2019.
Severe weather in Berks County since 1996
Berks County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Berks County
Berks County had 173,692 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,608 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Washington itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Washington
1 public school with 511 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington El Sch | PK-5 | 511 | 14.6 |
Towns near Washington
- Douglass, PA3.5 mi · 10,585 people · home $371,800
- Hereford, PA3.8 mi · 2,962 people · home $392,600
- Colebrookdale, PA4.2 mi · 5,112 people · home $249,500
- Boyertown, PA4.5 mi · 4,264 people · home $212,600
- Gilbertsville, PA4.8 mi · 5,508 people · home $359,100
- Upper Hanover, PA5.1 mi · 8,350 people · home $391,900
- East Greenville, PA5.4 mi · 3,166 people · home $253,400
- Pennsburg, PA5.8 mi · 3,889 people · home $275,900
Washington questions
Is Washington, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washington scores better for retirees than 91% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 59%. 38.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.6).
How much does a house cost in Washington?
The median owner-occupied home in Washington is valued at $351,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $98,859, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,183 a month.
What is the weather like in Washington?
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 22.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 4.2 inches of snow.
Does Washington get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 31, 1998. 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)