Lacawac · National Register of Historic Places
Paupack Township’s story
Paupack Township in pictures
The archive holds 5 maps from 1932 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →
Paupack TownshipPA
A town of 3,738.
6 bordering townsMap →
Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ. M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
3,738
2025 Census estimate · +2.3% since 2020
Typical home
$413K
−1.5% in a year
Household income
$75K
median
Median age
58.6
years
Jobs based here
358
A commuter town
TownGrade
C−
#976 of 1032 in PA
Is Paupack Township a good place to live?
Paupack Township grades C− overall, ranked 976th of 1032 in Pennsylvania, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. Natural-hazard risk is low. On the other side, the typical home is worth about $413K, 6.6 years of the county’s $62K median household income. Paupack Township’s average trip to work is 39 minutes, against 26 minutes in Pennsylvania’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 85% of U.S. towns. Lacawac is on the National Register of Historic Places.
What makes Paupack Township stand out
Where Paupack Township beats most towns.
A commuter town
94% of working residents leave Paupack Township for work
Where Paupack Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
358jobs based in Paupack Township
6%of working residents work in town
23 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Paupack Township grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Paupack Township is from typical.
Cost of livingDOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 15% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.4 of 20; 4.1% of households have no car; 0.3% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →Jobs & income$75K median household incomeCOpen →SchoolsBeat 61% of Pennsylvania districts on tests and graduationBOpen →HealthWayne Memorial Hospital 9.5 miles awayB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors6% conserved landB+Open →History1 place on the National RegisterBOpen →Civic life3.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →
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 Paupack Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Paupack Township, and how to reach them.
PowerPPL Electric Utilities18.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWallenpaupack Lake Estates water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Paupack 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 codes18436, 18438, 18428, 1843118436 40% · 18438 32% · 18428 27% · 18431 1%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 Paupack Township.
Paupack Township is a second-home town and sends most of its workers to Palmyra Township and beyond, but it has homes that cost more against local pay than most of Pennsylvania.
HousingCost of living grade D
Paupack Township earns a D for cost of living
At 6.6 years of the county’s $62K median household income, the typical home (about $413K) costs more against local pay than in 95% of Pennsylvania towns; that ratio is one input to its D for cost of living.
91% of Paupack Township households own their home. The typical Paupack Township home is worth about $413,000, down 1.5% in a year, 44% above the Pennsylvania typical home.
$413KZillow home value
Typical home value
Paupack Township$413K
Pennsylvania$287K
−1.5%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Paupack Township faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 85% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 9 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Paupack Township.
15risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesCold waves
9
paid flood claims since 1979
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
Most working residents commute out of Paupack Township
Paupack Township has 358 jobs for its 1,499 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out. Jobs based here fell from 565 in 2013 to 358.
Most working residents leave Paupack Township for work: only 6% work in town. Since 2013, Paupack Township has lost 207 jobs, to 358 in 2023. The top destinations are Palmyra Township (7%), Honesdale (5%) and Scranton (4%).
6%work in town
| Paupack Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $75,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 7.6% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Paupack Township6%
Palmyra Township7%
Honesdale5%
Scranton4%
Salem Township3%
23 mi
median commute distance
358
jobs based in Paupack Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 15% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
Paupack Township stands out in Pennsylvania and nationally, with the median age higher than most
57.5% of homes are seasonal or vacation homes, against 2.5% statewide, which helps explain the older median age.
The median age in Paupack Township is 58.6 years. Paupack Township has grown 2.3% since 2020, to 3,738 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 31% of residents are 65 or older in Paupack Township.
58.6median age · PA 40.9
| Paupack Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 58.6 years | 43.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 31% | 21% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 13% | 20% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 34% | 29% | 29% |
Paupack TownshipPennsylvaniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
26%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma4%
High school28%
Some college20%
Associate’s15%
Bachelor’s19%
Graduate16%
Women and men · all residents
46% women, 54% men
About 119 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±3.2 points). Across Pennsylvania, 50.7% of residents are women.
| Paupack Township | PA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 4.8% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.1% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 3.2% | 9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 6.2% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 9.8% | 11.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 25.6% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 17.3% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 13.6% | 8.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4.1% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 27.5% | 32.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 19.5% | 15.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 14.9% | 8.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 18.5% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 15.6% | 14.3% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 3,700, single groups can be off by several points
OutdoorsB+
Conserved land covers 6.2% of Paupack Township
12 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. Lacawac Sanctuary, at 444 acres with 6.9 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
#520for trails in PA
| Paupack Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 6.2% | 8.2% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.5 | 0.4 |
6.2%
conserved · 1,313 of 21,094 acres
12 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lacawac Sanctuary | 6.9 mi | 444 |
| 2. Shuman Point Natural Area | 3.6 mi | 312 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Paupack Township has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Paupack Township has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Paupack Township’s July high is 81°F.
47″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter18–35°
Spring33–56°
Summer55–78°
Fall39–60°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 10
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthB−
On CDC estimates, Paupack Township is healthier than 54% of U.S. towns
Paupack Township beats the Pennsylvania average on 4 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 8.
54%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| Paupack Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 34% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 16% | 17% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 11% | 12% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 81% | 79% | 79% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
4 better14 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Paupack Township | PA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 11.5% | 14.5% |
| Fewer adults in frequent mental distress | 14.8% | 16.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.6% | 8.8% |
Wayne Memorial Hospital
9.5 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
44th
percentile among PA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Nearby attractions
All 66 attractions →Lake Wallenpaupack and 22 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Paupack Township. Close and well known come first.
2 mi LakeLake Wallenpaupack
21 mi National Historic SiteSteamtown National Historic Site61K visitors a year
32 mi MountainHigh Point
24 mi National park siteMiddle Delaware National Scenic River4.1M visitors a year
28 mi Ski areaCamelback Mountain Resort37 runs · 804 ft vertical
26 mi WaterfallBushkill FallsSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Lake Wallenpaupack: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Steamtown National Historic Site: National Park Service, Public domain · High Point: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Middle Delaware National Scenic River: Mike Serfas, Public domain · Camelback Mountain Resort: Calzarette at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Bushkill Falls: Snagglepuss at English Wikipedia, Public domain
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Paupack Township
18pages on Paupack Township
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Paupack Township; the nearest are
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State ScrantonUniversity or college · Public · Dunmore18.9 mi$15,208 in-state tuitionSussex County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Newton, NJ36.5 mi$5,544 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Paupack Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.
About Paupack Township
Unincorporated community in Pennsylvania, US
Paupack is an unincorporated community in Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States. The community is 5.5 miles (8.9 km) south of Hawley. Paupack has a post office with ZIP code 18451, which opened on October 19, 1900. The community derives its name from Wallenpaupack Creek. The area was originally served by Paupack Consolidated School, which dates back to 1925 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Elevation
- 1,565 ft
- ZIP code
- 18451
Paupack Township’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with Paupack Township.
All 3 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its C−; Lake Township (C−) is closest.
Palmyra TownshipPalmyra TownshipWallenpaupack Lake EstatesSalem TownshipLake TownshipCherry Ridge TownshipPaupack Township
How the neighbors grade
| Town | PA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paupack Township | #976 | C− | D | — | B | B− |
| Palmyra Township | #726 | B− | C | — | B | B− |
| Palmyra Township | — | — | C− | — | B | B |
| Wallenpaupack Lake Estates | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Salem Township | #865 | C | C− | — | B | C+ |
| Lake Township | #943 | C− | C− | — | B | C+ |
| Cherry Ridge Township | — | — | C+ | — | A− | B− |
Palmyra Township and Cherry Ridge Township have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Paupack Township, Palmyra Township, Palmyra Township, Salem Township, Lake Township and Cherry Ridge Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Wallenpaupack Lake Estates isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Paupack Township with a neighbor →
Questions about Paupack Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Paupack Township, PA a good place to live?
Paupack Township grades C− overall, better than 16% of U.S. towns and #976 of 1032 in Pennsylvania. It grades B− for health and B for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Paupack Township, PA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.