What are the schools like in Sandy Lake, PA?

School district data for Sandy Lake is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Sandy Lake?

The median household income in Sandy Lake, PA is $75,000 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.1%.

What is the weather like in Sandy Lake, PA?

Sandy Lake has an average high temperature of 34.9°F in January and 81.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 53.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Sandy Lake, PA affordable or expensive?

Sandy Lake's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Sandy Lake is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $156,100 and the median rent is $717 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Sandy Lake, PA?

Sandy Lake has a violent crime rate of 181.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 555.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Sandy Lake, PA a Good Place to Live?

Sandy Lake is a small town of 775 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $75,000 and a 8.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Sandy Lake stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, a well-educated population.

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

All Sandy Lake 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: 86.0

Sandy Lake's overall cost of living index is 86.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Sandy Lake costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Sandy Lake, PA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$156,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$717	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$75,000	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Sandy Lake's violent crime rate is 181.9 per 100,000 residents — 52% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

181.9 /100k

Property Crime

555.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Sandy Lake, PA	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	45.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Sandy Lake sees average highs of 34.9°F in January and 81.9°F in July, with 46.3 inches of annual precipitation and 53.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Sandy Lake, PA
Average High — January	34.9°F
Average High — July	81.9°F
Annual Precipitation	46.3"
Annual Snowfall	53.7"

Demographics

Metric	Sandy Lake, PA	National Avg
Population	775	—
Median Age	32.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	24.0%	22.2%
65 and over	11.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Stoneboro, PA 2 mi New Lebanon, PA 5 mi Jackson Center, PA 6 mi Lake Latonka, PA 7 mi Polk, PA 8 mi

Sandy Lake vs Other Cities

Sandy Lake, PA vs Stoneboro, PA Sandy Lake, PA vs New Lebanon, PA Sandy Lake, PA vs Jackson Center, PA Sandy Lake, PA vs Lake Latonka, PA Sandy Lake, PA vs Polk, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sandy Lake, PA affordable or expensive?

Sandy Lake's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Sandy Lake roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $156,100 and median rent is $717/month.

What is the crime rate in Sandy Lake, PA?

Sandy Lake's violent crime rate is 181.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 555.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Sandy Lake?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Sandy Lake, PA a good place to live?

Sandy Lake, PA has a population of 775, a median household income of $75,000, and an unemployment rate of 8.1%. 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 Sandy Lake?

Sandy Lake averages 34.9°F in January and 81.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.3 inches with about 53.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Sandy Lake?

The population of Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania is 775 with a median age of 32.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Sandy Lake?

Key numbers for living in Sandy Lake: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $156,100, median household income $75,000, crime index 39 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sandy Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.