What are the schools like in Catawissa, PA?

Catawissa is served primarily by Southern Columbia Area SD. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.4:1.

What is the median household income in Catawissa?

The median household income in Catawissa, PA is $48,950 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.4%.

What is the weather like in Catawissa, PA?

Catawissa has an average high temperature of 34.8°F in January and 83.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 28.6 inches.

Catawissa, PA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Catawissa, PA affordable or expensive?

Catawissa's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Catawissa is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $130,000 and the median rent is $690 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Catawissa, PA?

Catawissa has a violent crime rate of 131.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 787.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Catawissa, PA a Good Place to Live?

Catawissa is a small town of 1,387 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $48,950 and a 5.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Catawissa stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Catawissa is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Catawissa city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.3

Catawissa's overall cost of living index is 90.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Catawissa costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Catawissa, PA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$130,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$690	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	51.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$48,950	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Catawissa's violent crime rate is 131.2 per 100,000 residents — 65% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

131.2 /100k

Property Crime

787.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Catawissa is served primarily by Southern Columbia Area SD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Catawissa, PA	National Avg
School District	Southern Columbia Area SD	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	25.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Catawissa sees average highs of 34.8°F in January and 83.7°F in July, with 41.6 inches of annual precipitation and 28.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Catawissa, PA
Average High — January	34.8°F
Average High — July	83.7°F
Annual Precipitation	41.6"
Annual Snowfall	28.6"

Demographics

Metric	Catawissa, PA	National Avg
Population	1,387	—
Median Age	43.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.8%	6.3%
Under 18	17.4%	22.2%
65 and over	27.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Rupert, PA 2 mi Bloomsburg, PA 3 mi Fernville, PA 3 mi Espy, PA 4 mi Slabtown, PA 5 mi

Catawissa vs Other Cities

Catawissa, PA vs Rupert, PA Catawissa, PA vs Bloomsburg, PA Catawissa, PA vs Fernville, PA Catawissa, PA vs Espy, PA Catawissa, PA vs Slabtown, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Catawissa, PA affordable or expensive?

Catawissa's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Catawissa roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $130,000 and median rent is $690/month.

What is the crime rate in Catawissa, PA?

Catawissa's violent crime rate is 131.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 787.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Catawissa?

Public schools in Catawissa are operated by Southern Columbia Area SD. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1. 25.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Catawissa, PA a good place to live?

Catawissa, PA has a population of 1,387, a median household income of $48,950, and an unemployment rate of 5.4%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Catawissa?

Catawissa averages 34.8°F in January and 83.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.6 inches with about 28.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Catawissa?

The population of Catawissa, Pennsylvania is 1,387 with a median age of 43.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Catawissa?

Key numbers for living in Catawissa: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $130,000, median household income $48,950, crime index 36 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Catawissa side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.