The Town FilesRidgway, Pennsylvania
Borough in Elk County · population 4,039 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $94,900
- Household income
- $52,863
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 53 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 46.0
Ridgway is a borough of 4,039 people in Elk County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $94,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks hipper than 86% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 83% of Pennsylvania towns, better transit than 83% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Ridgway 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 Ridgway is worth $94,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $52,863, which is more affordable than 93% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $744 a month. 71.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ridgway | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $94,900 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $744 | $996 |
| Median household income | $52,863 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 71.7% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1945 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Ridgway
| People | Ridgway | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.0% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 19.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 89.0% |
Weather in Ridgway
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows 16.2°F. About 45.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.7 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ridgway since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 3, 1963 about 0.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 2, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 2, 2012.
Severe weather in Elk County since 1996
Elk County has been included in 10 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 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
Jobs and pay in Elk County
Elk County had 13,348 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,545 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Ridgway itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Ridgway
3 public schools with 783 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francis S Grandinetti El Sch | K-5 | 367 | 13.1 |
| Ridgway Area HS | 9-12 | 215 | 11.9 |
| Ridgway Area MS | 6-8 | 201 | 15.5 |
Towns near Ridgway
- Fox, PA9.7 mi · 3,576 people · home $170,800
- St. Marys, PA10.8 mi · 12,738 people · home $149,000
- Kane, PA16.5 mi · 3,630 people · home $73,600
- Treasure Lake, PA18.2 mi · 5,460 people · home $304,100
- Jenks, PA19.5 mi · 3,858 people · home $100,000
- Sandy, PA19.7 mi · 11,848 people · home $228,100
- Marienville, PA20.4 mi · 3,362 people · home $99,100
- DuBois, PA21.4 mi · 7,510 people · home $123,600
Ridgway questions
Is Ridgway, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ridgway scores better for retirees than 7% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 29%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.0).
How much does a house cost in Ridgway?
The median owner-occupied home in Ridgway is valued at $94,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,863, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $744 a month.
What is the weather like in Ridgway?
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows 16.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 52.7 inches of snow.
Does Ridgway get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ridgway since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 3, 1963. 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)