The Town FilesScalp Level, Pennsylvania
Borough in Cambria County · population 744 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $86,700
- Household income
- $49,861
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 74 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 38.8
Scalp Level is a borough of 744 people in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $86,700, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for young professionals than 97% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 89% of Pennsylvania towns, better transit than 83% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Scalp Level 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 Scalp Level is worth $86,700, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $49,861, which is more affordable than 95% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $719 a month. 69.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Scalp Level | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $86,700 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $719 | $996 |
| Median household income | $49,861 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.5% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Scalp Level
| People | Scalp Level | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 17.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in Scalp Level
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 41.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scalp Level since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 13, 1956 about 0.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 23, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 17, 1960.
Severe weather in Cambria County since 1996
Cambria County has been included in 18 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 8, 2011 | Flood | EM-3340: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Cambria County
Cambria County had 47,545 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,791 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Scalp Level itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Towns near Scalp Level
- Paint, PA0.6 mi · 906 people · home $93,800
- University of Pittsburgh Johnstown, PA1.2 mi · 1,194 people · home —
- Windber, PA1.4 mi · 3,941 people · home $99,000
- Richland, PA2.5 mi · 12,233 people · home $190,000
- Paint, PA2.8 mi · 3,041 people · home $157,600
- Belmont, PA3.1 mi · 2,771 people · home $144,900
- Geistown, PA3.4 mi · 2,363 people · home $154,700
- Lorain, PA4.2 mi · 589 people · home $61,500
Scalp Level questions
Is Scalp Level, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Scalp Level scores better for retirees than 11% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 14%. 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.8).
How much does a house cost in Scalp Level?
The median owner-occupied home in Scalp Level is valued at $86,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,861, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $719 a month.
What is the weather like in Scalp Level?
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.3 inches of precipitation a year and 74.1 inches of snow.
Does Scalp Level get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scalp Level since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 13, 1956. 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)