The Town FilesNorthern Cambria, Pennsylvania
Borough in Cambria County · population 3,560 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $93,100
- Household income
- $54,673
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 57 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 40.2
Northern Cambria is a borough of 3,560 people in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $93,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 79% of Pennsylvania towns, more of a college town than 75% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 72% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Northern Cambria ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Northern Cambria is worth $93,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $54,673, which is more affordable than 95% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $612 a month. 69.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Northern Cambria | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $93,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $612 | $996 |
| Median household income | $54,673 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.5% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.3% | — |
Who lives in Northern Cambria
| People | Northern Cambria | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.6% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 31.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.2% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 89.0% |
Weather in Northern Cambria
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 15.9°F. About 40.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 56.7 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northern Cambria since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 31, 1985 about 5.7 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 45 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on May 28, 2019.
Severe weather in Cambria County since 1996
Cambria County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4815: Tropical Storm Debby |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 8, 2011 | Flood | EM-3340: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Cambria County
Cambria County had 47,545 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,791 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Northern Cambria itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Northern Cambria
3 public schools with 779 students, about 10.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Cambria HS | 9-12 | 276 | 11.0 |
| Northern Cambria El Sch | PK-4 | 260 | 9.6 |
| Northern Cambria MS | 5-8 | 243 | 10.1 |
Towns near Northern Cambria
- Green, PA6.8 mi · 3,414 people · home $91,100
- Cambria, PA11.4 mi · 5,814 people · home $183,100
- Allegheny, PA11.7 mi · 2,815 people · home $249,600
- Ebensburg, PA12.0 mi · 3,404 people · home $174,700
- Nanty-Glo, PA13.2 mi · 2,511 people · home $83,700
- Jackson, PA16.0 mi · 4,236 people · home $160,600
- Rayne, PA17.1 mi · 2,786 people · home $217,000
- Cresson, PA17.7 mi · 2,839 people · home $167,100
Northern Cambria questions
Is Northern Cambria, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Northern Cambria scores better for retirees than 4% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 11%. 16.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Northern Cambria?
The median owner-occupied home in Northern Cambria is valued at $93,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,673, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $612 a month.
What is the weather like in Northern Cambria?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 15.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.7 inches of precipitation a year and 56.7 inches of snow.
Does Northern Cambria get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northern Cambria since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 31, 1985. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)