The Town FilesWindber, Pennsylvania
Borough in Somerset County · population 3,941 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $99,000
- Household income
- $52,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 74 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 41.2
Windber is a borough of 3,941 people in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $99,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 85% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 84% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 83% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Windber 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 Windber is worth $99,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $52,438, which is more affordable than 91% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $750 a month. 70.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Windber | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,000 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $750 | $996 |
| Median household income | $52,438 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.3% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1947 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Windber
| People | Windber | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.9% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 19.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 89.0% |
Weather in Windber
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 41.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Windber since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 13, 1956 about 1.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 23, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 17, 1960.
Severe weather in Somerset County since 1996
Somerset 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 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| January 10, 2013 | Hurricane | DR-4099: Hurricane Sandy |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Somerset County
Somerset County had 23,303 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,925 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Windber itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Windber
3 public schools with 1,233 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windber El Sch | PK-5 | 622 | 14.8 |
| Windber Area HS | 9-12 | 322 | 12.9 |
| Windber Area MS | 6-8 | 289 | 15.2 |
Towns near Windber
- Paint, PA2.2 mi · 3,041 people · home $157,600
- Richland, PA3.6 mi · 12,233 people · home $190,000
- Belmont, PA4.5 mi · 2,771 people · home $144,900
- Stonycreek, PA5.7 mi · 2,771 people · home $100,900
- Adams, PA5.7 mi · 5,752 people · home $172,500
- Conemaugh, PA7.6 mi · 6,760 people · home $166,100
- Elim, PA7.7 mi · 3,364 people · home $113,000
- Johnstown, PA8.0 mi · 18,411 people · home $45,400
Windber questions
Is Windber, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Windber scores better for retirees than 9% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 21%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in Windber?
The median owner-occupied home in Windber is valued at $99,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,438, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $750 a month.
What is the weather like in Windber?
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.3 inches of precipitation a year and 74.1 inches of snow.
Does Windber get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Windber since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 13, 1956. 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)