RANK #558 / 1001 NAT · #30 / 44 PA · POP 131,538
1YR FORECAST: -0.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +17%
Cambria County, Pennsylvania, is perhaps best known for the Johnstown Flood National Memorial, commemorating the devastating 1889 flood that claimed over 2,200 lives. Located in southwestern Pennsylvania, roughly 57 miles east of Pittsburgh, the county offers a blend of small-town atmosphere and natural scenery. The Allegheny Mountains provide a backdrop of rolling hills and forests, with outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking on the Ghost Town Trail or Path of the Flood Trail. Commuting within the county is primarily by car, with an average travel time of 23.4 minutes, though public transit is available through CamTran's fixed-route and "Reserve-a-Ride" services.
Life in Cambria County offers a community feel, attracting families and retirees. The economy, historically tied to coal and steel, has seen shifts, with healthcare and social assistance now the largest employment sectors, followed by retail trade and manufacturing. Educational institutions like Saint Francis University and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown contribute to the local landscape. Recent economic initiatives include growth in small-scale manufacturing, craftspeople, and tourism, with efforts to utilize natural resources like wind and natural gas.
Cambria County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +2.4% YoY, population -0.6%, wages +4.9%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 6.5x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Cambria County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Cambria County scores 44/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#558). Median household income is $58,418 and job growth is running at -1.2%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Cambria County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $121,000, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.48 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $739/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Both population (-0.6% YoY) and employment (-1.2%) are contracting in Cambria County, though housing tells its own story with values moving +2.4% over the past 12 months. This is a county where the trend lines are pointing in the wrong direction.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.61% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Cambria County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.