Lock Haven, PA — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

Clinton County · Lock Haven · population 8,531

First-time buyersSmall-town feel
View watchlist →
70
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Lock Haven stands

At or near all-time high.

Median home $201,248
1-year +2.8%
5-yr CAGR +4.9%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population +1.3%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$201k$116k$147k$178k$209k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
25/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
10/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
68/100
Strong remote-work fit
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$889/mo$691$841$99020242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent11212110012020242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 18.9
Lean buy

At a 18.9 price-to-rent ratio, Lock Haven is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
64 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
64 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
69 · w16%
Rent YoY
73 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
60 · w10%
Long thesis

Lock Haven is a Rust Belt market with +1.3% population growth — a rare combination. You're buying real housing for less than the cost of a coastal studio in a city the data says is finally turning.

Short thesis

Lock Haven's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Lock Haven

Lock Haven is a city in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, with an estimated population of 8,531. The population grew 1.3% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Lock Haven is $201,248 as of 2026-04, up 2.8% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +4.9% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Lock Haven average $889 per month, up 4.2% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 70 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

Bull case

Affordable AND rising: median home $201,248 with positive recent direction — rare combination most of the country can’t offer.
Quiet strength: +2.8% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
Net positive migration: population up 1.3% per year — demand fundamentals are intact.
Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

Bear case

Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Clinton County right now.

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Clinton County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Neighborhoods of Lock Haven

1 tracked · ranked by median home value
1Dunnstown$227,212+0.3%

Cities like Lock Haven

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
36° / 21°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
83° / 63°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
186
~51% of year
Annual precip
42″ rain
30″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Low
Tornado
Low
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Lock Haven listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Lock Haven area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
71%
Humid climate
Median household income
$73,800
Pennsylvania state median
Top industries (state-level)
Healthcare (Pittsburgh)Finance (Philly)Manufacturing

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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