The Town FilesAvella, Pennsylvania
Community in Washington County · population 782 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $139,100
- Household income
- $71,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 35.5
Avella is a community of 782 people in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $139,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks quieter than 88% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Avella 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 Avella is worth $139,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $71,000, which is more affordable than 89% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,507 a month. 70.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Avella | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $139,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,507 | $996 |
| Median household income | $71,000 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.2% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Avella
| People | Avella | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.2% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 57.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 89.0% |
Weather in Avella
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 43.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.8 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 116 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Avella since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 21, 2021 about 2.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 21, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 12, 2023.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1555: Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 87,434 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,319 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Avella itself the ACS puts it at 20.6%.
Public schools in Avella
2 public schools with 471 students, about 10.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avella El Center | K-6 | 242 | 11.5 |
| Avella Area JSHS | 7-12 | 229 | 9.2 |
Towns near Avella
- Independence, PA2.3 mi · 1,515 people · home $190,600
- Cross Creek, PA3.3 mi · 1,371 people · home $233,700
- Jefferson, PA4.2 mi · 1,119 people · home $236,600
- Hopewell, PA5.1 mi · 852 people · home $234,100
- Hooverson Heights, WV6.7 mi · 2,582 people · home $154,600
- Langeloth, PA6.8 mi · 659 people · home $153,800
- Bethany, WV6.9 mi · 781 people · home $110,600
- Slovan, PA7.3 mi · 529 people · home —
Avella questions
Is Avella, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Avella scores better for retirees than 64% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 88%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in Avella?
The median owner-occupied home in Avella is valued at $139,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,000, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $1,507 a month.
What is the weather like in Avella?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.2 inches of precipitation a year and 26.8 inches of snow.
Does Avella get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Avella since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 21, 2021. 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)