1st Advantage MortgageThe median Cambria County household earns $58,418, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Pennsylvania before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Cambria County
- What Cambria County households earn
- What it costs to live in Cambria County
- How Cambria County residents earn a living
- Counties near Cambria County
- The communities that make up Cambria County
- Cambria County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Cambria County
- Budget math at the Cambria County median
- Licensing and complaints for Cambria County
- Checklist for Cambria County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Cambria County
With an estimated 131,538 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Cambria County ranks 26th of 67 in Pennsylvania for population. Packed into 688 square miles, that is close to 191 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Johnstown, PA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 50 places in the county (33 incorporated, 17 census-designated); the largest is Johnstown, with about 18,087 residents, or 14% of the county.
What Cambria County households earn
Cambria County households have a median income of $58,418 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 64th of 67 in Pennsylvania.
| Band | Cambria County | Compared with Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.1% | +7.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.3% | +6.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.8% | -6.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.8% | -7.1 pts |
About 29% of households earn under $35,000, while 26% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 14.2%, 3 points higher than the state's 11.7%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.459 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Cambria County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
What it costs to live in Cambria County
Renters in Cambria County pay a median of $739 a month, 39% below the Pennsylvania figure of $1,209. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $121,000, about 2.1 times the median household income. Owners occupy 76% of homes.
| Cambria County | Pennsylvania | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $739/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $121,000 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.0% | 3.5% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
How Cambria County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 29% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Education and health care stands out: 29% of workers here, versus 27% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Cambria County averages 4.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Cambria County workers | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.1% | +2.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.4% | +1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.0% | -0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -3.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | +0.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.6% | +0.6 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Counties near Cambria County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (21 to 40 miles). Income ranges from $59,992 in Bedford County to $65,557 in Huntingdon County; all six of these neighbors top Cambria County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambria County | - | $58,418 | $739/mo | 76% |
| Blair County, PA | 21 mi | $62,382 | $885/mo | 72% |
| Indiana County, PA | 22 mi | $60,208 | $800/mo | 72% |
| Clearfield County, PA | 36 mi | $62,152 | $791/mo | 79% |
| Bedford County, PA | 37 mi | $59,992 | $784/mo | 78% |
| Huntingdon County, PA | 39 mi | $65,557 | $810/mo | 79% |
| Somerset County, PA | 40 mi | $61,446 | $753/mo | 80% |
The communities that make up Cambria County
50 Census places fall mainly inside Cambria County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 77,868 residents, leaving about 41% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Westmont has the highest median household income on the list ($108,988) and Dale the lowest ($37,813), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $329 in Salix to $1,091 in Southmont. None of the 50 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnstown | city | 18,087 | $37,888 | $644 | 17 mi |
| Westmont | borough | 4,855 | $108,988 | $935 | 18 mi |
| Elim | CDP | 3,759 | $65,482 | $871 | 19 mi |
| Northern Cambria | borough | 3,494 | $54,673 | $612 | 11 mi |
| Ebensburg | borough | 3,321 | $58,179 | $849 | 2 mi |
| Belmont | CDP | 2,618 | $69,146 | $706 | 18 mi |
| Nanty-Glo | borough | 2,598 | $51,604 | $624 | 7 mi |
| Geistown | borough | 2,507 | $63,958 | $773 | 17 mi |
| Portage | borough | 2,495 | $45,556 | $751 | 9 mi |
| Southmont | borough | 2,059 | $73,400 | $1,091 | 18 mi |
| Patton | borough | 1,809 | $47,875 | $484 | 9 mi |
| Vinco | CDP | 1,657 | $85,185 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Oakland | CDP | 1,627 | $61,483 | $770 | 17 mi |
| Westwood | CDP | 1,613 | $43,824 | $678 | 18 mi |
Cambria County residents: age, schooling, coverage
24% of Cambria County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 3.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Cambria County | All of Pennsylvania | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.9% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.9% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.3% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.4% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Cambria County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.0% |
| 60+ min | 5.6% |
Borrowing situations common in Cambria County
What the Cambria County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Fixed incomes. Cambria County's median age is 45.6. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Cambria County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Budget math at the Cambria County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Cambria County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $4,868 gross per month ($58,418 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $739 uses 15%
- $1,208: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Cambria County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Licensing and complaints for Cambria County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Cambria County, check the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Pennsylvania guide.
Checklist for Cambria County applicants
Steps that save money for Cambria County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Pennsylvania borrowers.
- Ask a Cambria County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Pennsylvania guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Cambria County earn?
The median is $58,418; 26% earn $100,000 or more and 29% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Cambria County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $739 against $1,209 statewide, and 43% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Cambria County?
By population: Johnstown, Westmont, Elim, Northern Cambria, Ebensburg. The county has 50 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Cambria County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Cambria County residents?
The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities licenses consumer lenders in Pennsylvania; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.