Hill's Sawmill · National Register of Historic Places
Damascus Township’s story
202 years in pictures
The archive holds 5 maps from 1920 on.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1824Damascus Township is settled
Damascus TownshipPA
Home to 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
8 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Doug Kerr (Dougtone) · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
3,699
2025 Census estimate · +0.8% since 2020
Median home value
$282K
Census ACS
Household income
$75K
median
Median age
52.3
years
Jobs based here
265
A commuter town
TownGrade
B−
#709 of 1032 in PA
Is Damascus Township a good place to live?
Damascus Township grades B− overall, ranked 709th of 1032 in Pennsylvania, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. Its schools outperform 84% of the state's. Its lowest everyday mark is in incomes: the median household income is $75K, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. A typical home there costs about $282K, 4.5 years of the county’s $62K median household income. Damascus Township’s average trip to work is 39 minutes, where Pennsylvania’s towns sit at 26 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. On civic life, just 100 of Pennsylvania’s 1,717 towns do better. Damascus Township has 4 places on the National Register.
What makes Damascus Township stand out
Where Damascus Township beats most towns.
Hill's SawmillHistoryA
Settled in 1824
3 places on the National Register
A history going back 202 years.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
Damascus Township4.6
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical PA town3.7
Civic lifeA
26% more nonprofits per person
than the typical Pennsylvania town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
Wayne Highlands SD schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Damascus Area Sch | PK–8 | 258 |
SchoolsA−
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
A commuter town
94% of working residents leave Damascus Township for work
Where Damascus Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
265jobs based in Damascus Township
6%of working residents work in town
22 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Damascus Township grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Damascus Township is from typical.
SchoolsA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 4.4 of 20; 4.6% of households have no car; 1.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →Jobs & income265 jobs based hereC+Open →HealthGarnet Health Medical Center Catskills 8.1 miles awayBOpen →Cost of livingC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 3% conserved landCOpen →History3 places on the National RegisterAOpen →Civic life4.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsAOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Damascus Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Damascus Township, and how to reach them.
PowerPPL Electric Utilities18.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterPine Grove Estates water system2 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers86% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Damascus Township’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Pennsylvania you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereWayne County Board of ElectionsWayne County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP codes18415, 18405, 18443, 1846918415 32% · 18405 31% · 18443 13% · 18469 11%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Damascus Township.
Damascus Township is a second-home town and sends many workers across the state line to Delaware, but it has a long record of flood insurance claims.
SchoolsA−
Damascus Township earns an A− for schools
Its public schools are run by Wayne Highlands SD. Its one school is below.
84%of PA districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damascus Area SchLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 258 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
Most working residents commute out of Damascus Township
27% of working residents cross a state line to work, Delaware among the top destinations. Damascus Township has 265 jobs for its 1,645 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out.
Most working residents leave Damascus Township for work: only 6% work in town. The top destinations are Honesdale (12%), Delaware (6%) and Texas Township (4%). Half commute less than 22 miles.
6%work in town
| Damascus Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $75,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 8.9% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Damascus Township6%
Honesdale12%
Delaware6%
Texas Township4%
Thompson3%
22 mi
median commute distance
265
jobs based in Damascus Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 21% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
Fewer young adults than Pennsylvania overall
29.6% of homes are seasonal or vacation homes, against 2.5% statewide, which helps explain the older median age.
Adults 18 to 34 are 12% of residents (22% statewide); people 65 and older are 28% of residents (20% statewide). The median age in Damascus Township is 52.3 years. 30% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 35% across Pennsylvania.
52.3median age · PA 40.9
| Damascus Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.3 years | 43.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 17% | 20% | 22% |
Damascus TownshipPennsylvaniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
17%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma4%
High school33%
Some college19%
Associate’s14%
Bachelor’s18%
Graduate12%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.1 points. Across Pennsylvania, 50.7% of residents are women. Among residents 45 to 54, 76% are men (PA 50%).
| Damascus Township | PA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 8% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.6% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 3.4% | 9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 8.1% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 14.6% | 11.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 17.1% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13.6% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 14.4% | 8.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.6% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 33% | 32.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 19.4% | 15.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 13.6% | 8.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 17.9% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 12.4% | 14.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 3,700, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Damascus Township
Damascus Township has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Damascus Township’s July high is 82°F.
47″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter18–35°
Spring34–57°
Summer56–79°
Fall39–60°
Oct 9
typical first frost
May 3
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthB
Residents of Damascus Township are healthier than 58% of U.S. towns
Damascus Township beats the Pennsylvania average on 2 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 6. 39% of adults have high blood pressure in Damascus Township.
58%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Damascus Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 34% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 16% | 17% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 81% | 79% | 79% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 11% | 12% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
2 better18 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Damascus Township | PA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 83% | 79.2% |
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 88% | 85.3% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.5% | 8.8% |
Garnet Health Medical Center Catskills
8.1 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
50th
percentile among PA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Damascus Township
52 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 14 properties have flooded more than once.
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 57% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 52 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Damascus Township.
57risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
52
paid flood claims since 1979
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsC
Damascus Township has set aside 2.7% of its land for conservation
2.9 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves.
#758for trails in PA
2.7%
conserved · 1,374 of 51,087 acres
2.9 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Damascus Township
18pages on Damascus Township
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Damascus Township; the nearest are
Sullivan County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Loch Sheldrake, NY24.2 mi$6,468 in-state tuitionPennsylvania State University-Penn State ScrantonUniversity or college · Public · Dunmore31.3 mi$15,208 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Damascus Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.
Landmarks
3 places in Damascus Township on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Damascus Township
Unincorporated community in Pennsylvania, US
Damascus is a village in Damascus Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The Damascus-Cochecton Bridge connects the town with Cochecton, New York across the Delaware River. The bridge is often used by smugglers of fireworks (which are legal in Pennsylvania but illegal in New York), especially in the run-up to the Independence Day holiday, when fireworks are used extensively.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Elevation
- 735 ft
- ZIP code
- 18415
Damascus Township’s neighbors
8 towns share a border with Damascus Township.
CochectonDelawareTustenNarrowsburgOregon TownshipLebanon TownshipBerlin TownshipManchester TownshipDamascus Township
How the neighbors grade
| Town | PA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damascus Township | #709 | B− | C+ | — | A− | B |
| Oregon Township | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Lebanon Township | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Berlin Township | — | — | C+ | — | A− | B− |
| Manchester Township | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Berlin Township has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Damascus Township and Berlin Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Oregon Township, Lebanon Township and Manchester Township aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Damascus Township with a neighbor →
Questions about Damascus Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Damascus Township, PA a good place to live?
Damascus Township grades B− overall, better than 49% of U.S. towns and #709 of 1032 in Pennsylvania. It grades B for health and A− for schools. Walkability is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Damascus Township, PA expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.