McKean County Courthouse · Nicholas from Pennsylvania, USA / CC BY 2.0Aerial shot of Smethport, PA taken by Pilot Jim Line · Wikimedia Commons / Public domainSmethportHighSchool · JIMMYLINE / Public domain
Smethport is a small town of 1,556 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $62,500
and a 5.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Smethport stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Smethport is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Smethport 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: 91.7
Smethport's overall cost of living index is 91.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Smethport costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Smethport, PA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$120,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$743
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
71.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$62,500
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Smethport's violent crime rate is 155.1 per 100,000 residents
— 59% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
155.1 /100k
Property Crime
585.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Smethport is served primarily by Smethport Area SD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Smethport, PA
National Avg
School District
Smethport Area SD
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
30.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Smethport sees average highs of 29.3°F in January
and 76.4°F in July,
with 50.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 79.5 inches of snow per year.
Smethport's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Smethport roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $120,800 and median rent is $743/month.
Smethport's violent crime rate is 155.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 585.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Smethport are operated by Smethport Area SD.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.7:1. 30.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Smethport, PA has a population of 1,556, a median household income of $62,500, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%.
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.
Smethport averages 29.3°F in January and 76.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.8 inches
with about 79.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Smethport, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 16749.
The population of Smethport, Pennsylvania is 1,556 with a median age of 43.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Smethport: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $120,800, median household income $62,500, 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 Smethport side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
