© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Williamsport.
About
Life in Williamsport
If you're considering Williamsport, understand that you're looking at an affordable, working-class city in transition rather than a thriving growth hub. The median home price around $154,300 and median rent near $855 are genuinely affordable compared to most of Pennsylvania, and the job market is stable with major employers in healthcare, manufacturing, and education keeping unemployment around 4.8%. Your commute will likely be short—average is just 17 minutes—which is a real quality-of-life win.
Williamsport at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
31.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
25.4%
Foreign-Born
1.9%
Broadband Internet
92.2%
of households
Population Growth
-1.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.9% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Williamsport: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Williamsport, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (23.4%), and 1.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.4%
of residents
65 and Older
13.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.9%
of households
Married Couples
26.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.14
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 29% below PA average
Rent, home values, and income in Williamsport
In Williamsport, rent runs 29% below the PA average, and home values are 39% below the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,737
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
43.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
13.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $208,830 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts above PA average
Unemployment in Williamsport
Unemployment in Williamsport is 0.5 percentage points higher than the PA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Williamsport Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute15.8 min avg
How Williamsport residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Williamsport, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 89% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 52 mi
State College Regional Airport (SCE)
Regional airport · few flights151k passengers boarded in 2025
- 131 mi
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Major hub14.8M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 72% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Williamsport runs 72% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
90.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,347.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Williamsport Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
79.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lycoming County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lycoming County, which includes Williamsport, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $87,000 |
| 2024 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $269,000 |
| 2023 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $117,000 |
| 2022 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $368,000 |
| 2021 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $97,000 |
| 2020 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11,000 |
| 2019 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $17,000 |
| 2018 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $57,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lycoming County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lycoming County, which includes Williamsport, is typically good — 282 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
282
per year
Moderate Days
81
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Lycoming County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Williamsport has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
38°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.6"
Annual Snowfall
32.6"
Hot Days/Year
25
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
118
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
143
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 21°F | 2.99" |
| Feb | 39°F | 22°F | 2.39" |
| Mar | 49°F | 29°F | 3.29" |
| Apr | 63°F | 39°F | 3.62" |
| May | 74°F | 50°F | 3.83" |
| Jun | 81°F | 59°F | 3.92" |
| Jul | 86°F | 63°F | 4.30" |
| Aug | 84°F | 62°F | 3.80" |
| Sep | 76°F | 55°F | 4.54" |
| Oct | 64°F | 43°F | 3.69" |
| Nov | 51°F | 33°F | 3.09" |
| Dec | 40°F | 26°F | 3.26" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Williamsport
Williamsport has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Upmc Williamsport
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Upmc Williamsport · 700 High Street
- Hospital campus: UPMC Williamsport Divine Providence Campus · 1100 Grampian Blvd, Williamsport
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 12.3 mi away · Jersey Shore
Upmc Muncy
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 13.7 mi away · Muncy
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education13.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Williamsport
Williamsport's student/teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 27.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Williamsport
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Public · 2-year · 4,464 students · in-state tuition $18,690 · 60% graduate · median earnings $57,348 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 996 students · in-state tuition $51,949 · 63% graduate · median earnings $60,091 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Appalachian National Scenic Trail, 65 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Williamsport
Williamsport has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Appalachian National Scenic Trail (65 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
65 mi awayCarlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
72 mi awaySteamtown National Historic Site
National Historic Site
72 mi awayAllegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
National Historic Site
98 mi awayHopewell Furnace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
98 mi awayGettysburg National Military Park
National Military Park
99 mi awayEisenhower National Historic Site
National Historic Site
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Williamsport
James V.Brown Library
19 East 4th St, Williamsport
Cities Near Williamsport
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Williamsport?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Williamsport FAQ
Is Williamsport, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
Williamsport's median rent is $855/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $48,851/year. Median home value is $154,300.
Is Williamsport, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
Williamsport's violent crime rate was 91 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1348 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Williamsport, Pennsylvania?⌄
Williamsport has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Williamsport, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in Williamsport is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $855/month and median household income is $48,851/year. The median home value is $154,300. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Williamsport, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in Williamsport is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from