Sayretimes, 1891
Sayre’s story
155 years in pictures
Census counts: 729 in 1880, a peak of 8,078 in 1920, 5,461 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1891 and 6 maps from 1939 on.
- 1871Sayre is settled
Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
5,328
2025 Census estimate · −2% since 2020
Typical home
$189K
+3.6% in a year
Household income
$51K
median
Median age
40.4
years
Jobs based here
5,177
A job hub
TownGrade
B−
#705 of 1032 in PA
Is Sayre a good place to live?
Sayre grades B− overall, 705th among Pennsylvania's 1032 graded towns, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. It is more walkable than 92% of U.S. towns. On the other side, the median household income is $51K, and 8% of residents live below the poverty line. 30% of working residents work locally in Sayre, where Pennsylvania’s towns sit at 6.3% and U.S. towns at 8%. The biggest park or preserve is Riverfront Park, at 22 acres.
What makes Sayre stand out
Where Sayre beats most towns.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here5,177
Residents who work2,517
Work
2.1 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 94% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
WalkabilityA
More walkable than 92% of U.S. towns
9.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Sayre1.7
Pennsylvania2.3
U.S.3.3
SafetyB+
26% less violent crime than PA
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
A job hub
Every workday, about 4,412 people come to Sayre for work
Where Sayre’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
5,177jobs based in Sayre
30%of working residents work in town
9 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Sayre grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Sayre is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.4 of 20; 11.8% of households have no carAOpen →Jobs & incomeC−Open →SafetyB+Open →SchoolsCOpen →HealthRobert Packer Hospital 1.2 miles awayBOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →Cost of livingB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 2% conserved landB−Open →History6 notable people born hereBOpen →Civic life3 library visits per resident; 7.8 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 Sayre: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Sayre, and how to reach them.
PowerClaverack Rural Elec Coop18.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterAqua Pa Susquehanna DivisionNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressDay by addressTown site
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 hereBradford County Board of ElectionsBradford County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jan 2025
ZIP code1884018840 100%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 Sayre.
Sayre draws workers from Barton and beyond and is healthier than towns with similar incomes.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
About one in three working residents works right in Sayre
5,177 jobs are based in Sayre, 2.1 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. 32% of working residents cross a state line to work, Barton among the top destinations.
About one in 3 of Sayre’s working residents works in town. Sayre’s average trip to work is 19 minutes. Jobs based in Sayre fell to 5,177 in 2023, 344 fewer than in 2013.
30%work in town
| Sayre | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 19 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $51,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Sayre30%
Athens Township7%
Athens5%
Barton4%
Elmira3%
9 mi
median commute distance
5,177
jobs based in Sayre
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 92% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SchoolsC
Sayre’s public schools trail 69% of Pennsylvania districts
Its public schools are run by Sayre Area SD. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Sayre Area HS, with 396 students.
31%of PA districts it outscoresCSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snyder El SchLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 428 | B |
| Sayre Area HSLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 396 | C |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade B−
A typical Sayre home is worth about $189K
The typical Sayre home is worth about $189,000, up 3.6% in a year, 34% below the Pennsylvania typical home. 63% of households own their home in Sayre.
$189KZillow home value
| Sayre | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 63% | 78% | 73% |
| Median rent | $968 a month | $1,116 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Sayre$189K
Pennsylvania$287K
Market temperature
60
days on market
95.1%
sale-to-list price
+3.6%
value change, 1 year
10
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SafetyB+
Less crime per resident in Sayre than in 73% of U.S. towns
The property crime rate in Sayre is 2.3 per 1,000 residents. Pennsylvania has less reported crime than most states, so among its own towns Sayre sits closer to the middle.
73%of U.S. towns report more crimeB+Safety Grade
| Sayre | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.3 per 1,000 residents | 5.7 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.7 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Sayre1.7
Pennsylvania2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Sayre2.3
Pennsylvania13.6
U.S.15.5
73rd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
51st
percentile among PA towns
11
violent crimes reported in 2025
15
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
Sayre has four seasons and pleasant summers
Sayre has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 17° and about 35 inches of snow falls in a winter.
35″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter20–36°
Spring35–58°
Summer57–81°
Fall41–62°
Oct 10
typical first frost
May 6
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthB
On CDC estimates, Sayre is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns
Against the 6,075 U.S. towns with household incomes like Sayre’s, it is healthier than 95%, so its B isn’t only a matter of income. Its B for health tops all 3 graded neighbors; Athens Township (C+) comes closest.
Sayre beats the Pennsylvania average on 1 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 19% of Sayre adults binge drink.
64%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Sayre | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 18% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 38% | 36% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 17% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 34% | 35% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
1 better25 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Sayre | PA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 11.6% | 14.5% |
Robert Packer Hospital
1.2 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
59th
percentile among PA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Who lives here
An age mix much like Pennsylvania’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Pennsylvania average. 36% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 35% across Pennsylvania.
40.4median age · PA 40.9
| Sayre | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 17% | 20% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 23% | 21% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 36% | 29% | 29% |
| Median age | 40.4 years | 43.2 years | 40.5 years |
SayrePennsylvaniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma7%
High school32%
Some college13%
Associate’s14%
Bachelor’s19%
Graduate17%
Women and men · all residents
54% women, 46% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.4 points. Across Pennsylvania, 50.7% of residents are women.
| Sayre | PA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 7.3% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.4% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 11.6% | 9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 12.2% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 16.4% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 9.3% | 11.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.3% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 16% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.5% | 8.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 6.6% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 31.5% | 32.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 12.5% | 15.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 13.6% | 8.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 19.1% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 16.6% | 14.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Sayre faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 56% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 9 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Sayre.
56risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingLightning
9
paid flood claims since 1979
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
2.4%conserved
| Sayre | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 2.4% | 8.2% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.5 | 0.4 |
2.4%
conserved · 30 of 1,294 acres
0.7 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Riverfront Park | — | 22 |
| 2. Elmer Park | 0.2 mi | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 30 attractions →Watkins Glen State Park and 17 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Sayre. Close and well known come first.
33 mi State parkWatkins Glen State Park
30 mi MuseumCorning Museum of Glass400K visitors a year
39 mi State parkTaughannock Falls State Park
32 mi Stadium & arenaSchoellkopf Field
32 mi MuseumHerbert F. Johnson Museum of Art80K visitors a year
36 mi State parkWorlds End State ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Watkins Glen State Park: Flickr user: Peter Rivera Stamford, Connecticut https://www.flickr.com/people/ri, CC BY 2.0 · Corning Museum of Glass: User:Stilfehler, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Taughannock Falls State Park: Michael C. Rygel, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Schoellkopf Field: Alex Sergeev, (www.asergeev.com) Originally uploaded by en:User:Cornell010, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art: Dmadeo, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Worlds End State Park: Nicholas, CC BY 2.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Sayre
20pages on Sayre
The big questions
SchoolsCBehind 69% of PA districts · 3 schoolsSafetyB+1.7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than PA on 1 of 26 CDC measuresCost of livingB−$189K typical home · up 3.6% in a yearWork & commuteC−$51K median household income · 5,177 jobs hereNatural hazardsC+FEMA risk higher than 56% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Sayre; the nearest are
Elmira CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Elmira, NY16.8 mi$38,976 tuitionBinghamton UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Vestal, NY29.3 mi$10,567 in-state tuitionSUNY Corning Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Corning, NY29.7 mi$6,534 in-state tuition
About 6 of every 100 Sayre residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Pennsylvania.
Famous people from Sayre
6 notable people were born in Sayre.
C
Colleen DominguezAmerican sportscaster · born 1960G
Grover PowellMajor League Baseball pitcher · 1940–1985J
Jeff TerpkoAmerican baseball player · born 1950R
Robert B. RedmanAmerican football player and coach, educator · 1908–1960W
Wes BiziliaAmerican basketball player-coach · 1936–2011J
Jack BravyakAmerican football player · born 1959About Sayre
Borough in Pennsylvania, US
Sayre is a borough in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of Northeastern Pennsylvania. It is the principal city in the Sayre, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area. It lies 18 miles (29 km) southeast of Elmira, New York, and 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Binghamton. It is currently the largest city in Bradford County. The population was 5,403 at the 2020 census. Sayre is part of the Penn-York Valley ("The Valley"), a group of four contiguous communities in New York and Pennsylvania: Waverly, New York; South Waverly, Pennsylvania; Sayre; Athens, Pennsylvania, and smaller surrounding communities with a combined population near 35,000.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1871
- Area
- 2.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 771 ft
- ZIP code
- 18840
Sayre’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Sayre.
Athens TownshipSouth WaverlyAthensSayre
How the neighbors grade
| Town | PA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sayre | #705 | B− | B− | B+ | C | B |
| Athens Township | #908 | C | B− | B− | C+ | C+ |
| South Waverly | — | — | B | — | C | C− |
| Athens | #933 | C− | B | B | C+ | C |
South Waverly has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. South Waverly reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Sayre with a neighbor →
Questions about Sayre
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Sayre, PA a good place to live?
Sayre grades B− overall, better than 49% of U.S. towns and #705 of 1032 in Pennsylvania. It grades B for health, B+ for safety and C for schools. Jobs & income is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Sayre, PA safe?
Yes, by national standards. Pennsylvania has less crime than most states, so among its own towns Sayre sits nearer the middle.
Is Sayre, PA expensive?
That is 3 years of the area's median household income ($63,675 across the Sayre, PA area).
What is Sayre, PA known for?
6 notable people were born here, including Colleen Dominguez and Grover Powell.