The Town FilesLa Vale, Maryland
Community in Allegany County · population 4,201 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $170,800
- Household income
- $77,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 45.7
La Vale is a community of 4,201 people in Allegany County, Maryland. The median home is worth $170,800, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks better for retirees than 92% of Maryland towns, quieter than 88% of Maryland towns, easier by car than 84% of Maryland towns.
- #1 in The 19 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Maryland
- #2 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Maryland
- #3 in 25 Small Towns in Maryland With the Cheapest Homes
- #4 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Maryland
- #7 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Maryland
- #11 in 25 Small Towns in Maryland With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
How La Vale ranks
Percentile among Maryland towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maryland towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in La Vale is worth $170,800, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $77,500, which is more affordable than 97% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $871 a month. 83.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | La Vale | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $170,800 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $871 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $77,500 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 83.5% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in La Vale
| People | La Vale | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.4% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.9% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.6% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 11.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 13.8% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 19.7 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 94.3% |
Weather in La Vale
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 22.5°F. About 39.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.7 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 37 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Vale since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 2, 1998 about 2.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 21 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 2, 1998.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 1, 2025.
Severe weather in Allegany County since 1996
Allegany County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3634: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4491: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3430: Covid-19 |
| March 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4261: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| November 20, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4091: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Allegany County
Allegany County had 26,680 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,777 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in La Vale itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in La Vale
1 public school with 274 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Valley Elementary | PK-5 | 274 | 11.0 |
Towns near La Vale
- Cumberland, MD3.9 mi · 19,076 people · home $123,200
- Cresaptown, MD5.4 mi · 5,442 people · home $142,600
- Frostburg, MD5.5 mi · 7,027 people · home $181,700
- Keyser, WV18.1 mi · 4,864 people · home $143,000
- Somerset, PA26.6 mi · 6,048 people · home $163,600
- Somerset, PA27.1 mi · 12,083 people · home $165,700
- Bedford, PA29.3 mi · 2,865 people · home $182,000
La Vale questions
Is La Vale, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, La Vale scores better for retirees than 92% of Maryland towns and quieter than 88%. 26.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.7).
How much does a house cost in La Vale?
The median owner-occupied home in La Vale is valued at $170,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,500, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $871 a month.
What is the weather like in La Vale?
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 22.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.2 inches of precipitation a year and 28.7 inches of snow.
Does La Vale get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Vale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 2, 1998. The typical Maryland town has had 18.
- 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)