Northern Cambria is a rural, central Pennsylvania borough with a rich history, set among the hardwood forests and scenic ridges of the Allegheny Mountains. In the late 1800s, the area’s population rapidly increased with European immigrants coming to work in the community’s coal fields, and mining remained a major industry until the 1980s. While the population has since declined, Northern Cambria still draws in those looking for a quiet lifestyle with easy access to outdoor recreation and larger towns like Indiana and Johnstown. “Northern Cambria is a small, peaceful community with reasonable prices,” says Ethel Solinski, a local real estate broker with Ethel Solinski Realty who has been living in the area for years. “The area is home to a lot of retirees and outdoor lovers, and we have a lot of amenities for a small town. Many locals enjoy gardening, fishing, and just spending time in the outdoors.”
Northern Cambria blends retail and residential blocks beneath the Allegheny ridgeline.
Try some disk golf with Northern Cambria friends at Prince Gallitzin State Park.
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Attractive home prices and historic charm
The borough’s quiet streets are lined with century-old architecture and newer construction, from American Foursquares and farmhouses to ranch-style homes and Colonial Revivals. Most homes sit close together on small lots, while on the outskirts of town, some properties reach over half an acre. Houses in Cambria County are significantly lower than the Pennsylvania average, with a median price of $160,000. In Northern Cambria, fixer-uppers needing renovation range from $10,000 to $50,000, while move-in-ready homes can sell for $70,000 to $210,000, with prices increasing alongside modern upgrades and property size.
Northern Cambria’s hillside homes offer scenic views of Pennsylvania’s Allegheny range.
Brick foursquare homes sit on tree-lined lots in Northern Cambria.
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Career-based learning at North Cambria High School
Most local students are served by Northern Cambria Elementary School, which earns a C-plus grade from Niche. Northern Cambria Junior-Senior High School receives a B-minus and partners with Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Saint Francis University and Pennsylvania Highlands Community College for its dual enrollment courses. The high school also offers a variety of career-based courses, from robotics engineering and metalworking to accounting and video broadcasting and editing. The Northern Cambria Public Library hosts regular community events, including a monthly book club, craft workshops and weekly story times.
Northern Cambria High School earns a B- rating for academics and student experience.
Northern Cambria Middle School shares a campus with the elementary in a unified learning environment.
Students begin their academic journey at Northern Cambria Elementary School.
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Local eateries and amenities in Northern Cambria
The community has a small selection of businesses downtown and along Bigler Avenue. Just Love Coffee Cafe serves specialty espresso drinks, tea, waffles and breakfast burritos. Mosscreek Bar & Grill is a local favorite for pub fare and drinks, with pool tables and wing nights every Tuesday. Northern Cambria also has numerous pizza restaurants, from Starlite to Italian Village Pizza. Downtown also has an Indiana Regional Medical Center clinic. For groceries, shoppers can stop by the nearby Giant Eagle or BiLo Foods. “The BiLo has a great selection of meats, hot dinner food and a really good bakery,” Solinski says. “Plus the Bobik’s Home Center is right across the street and has almost as much as Lowe’s in terms of hardware.” The city of Indiana is around 25 miles away and has a wide offering of shops, eateries and big-box stores.
Just Love Coffee Cafe serves espresso in the heart of Northern Cambria’s downtown district.
Giant Eagle serves as Northern Cambria’s primary grocery store for everyday essentials.
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Recreation at Prince Gallitzin State Park and off-roading trails
Prince Gallitzin State Park is a short drive east of town, home to a 1,635-acre lake, dozens of campsites and swimming areas. Visitors can take a dip or play sand volleyball at Muskrat Beach, or start a day on the water at the Wyerough Boat Launch. Anglers can reel in bass, pike and bluegill, while hikers and mountain bikers can enjoy over 30 miles of trails. The Rock Run Recreation Area has 140 miles of off-road trails for ATV, side-by-side and dirt bike riding. The public Cambrian Hills Golf Course features nine well-maintained greens and fairways with panoramic views of the Appalachian foothills.
Scenic trails and docks line the Glendale Lake Marina in Prince Gallitzin State Park.
Cambrian Hills Golf Course offers scenic fairways in Northern Cambria.
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Cambria County bus routes and access to Altoona and Pittsburg
CamTran has bus routes connecting Northern Cambria to the nearby towns of Hastings, Patton and Ebensburg. The borough is around 25 miles from Altoona and roughly 80 miles from downtown Pittsburgh. The Johnstown Airport offers a small selection of commercial flights, around 30 miles south.
Small flight options are available at John Murtha Johnstown Airport near Northern Cambria.
CamTran buses connect Northern Cambria residents to nearby towns and services.
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Written By
Jillian Pillow
Photography Contributed By
Ellie Brown
Video By
Alex Finneran
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Nathaniel Brida,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Northern Cambria, PA sell after 44 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Northern Cambria, PA over the last 12 months is $90,000, up 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to 1108 Maple Avenue in Northern Cambria Borough - an impeccably maintained all-brick home showcasing extensive updates including the roof, windows, sewer system, fully rebuilt furnace, soffit & fascia, gutters, hot water tank, custom blinds, & more. The main floor offers a bright sun porch, a large living room, a generous dining room, & a fully updated eat-in kitchen w/ included
Looking for your next project? This 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath home is priced to sell and offers a fantastic opportunity for renovation. Perfect for investors or buyers ready for a project, the property has plenty of space to transform and add value. Sold as-is, it's ready for someone with a vision to bring updates and improvements to life.
Beautiful brick rancher on a nice corner lot. This home, being sold to settle estate, features 3 bedrooms, ceramic bath, large living room, formal dining room and eat in kitchen. Full basement ready for finish. Front and back porches. Attractive home ready for you!!
Welcome to 2709 Bigler Avenue in the Northern Cambria School District. This beautifully updated home has just undergone a fresh remodel, featuring a brand-new metal roof, vinyl flooring throughout, fresh paint, & numerous modern updates. The main level offers a spacious living room, formal dining room, full bathroom, & a tastefully updated kitchen with all-new appliances, along with the
Nice Cape Cod home in Northern Cambria features large formal living room, dining room combo, oak kitchen w/ granite countertops, first floor bedroom and bath. Upstairs you will find 2 additional bedrooms - one with large walk-in closet and another with no closet plus ample storage cubbies. Large attached 1 car garage with breezeway and additional detached garage/storage bay to rear. Buyer to pay
Come tour this 4 bedroom 3 full bath multi-level home in Northern Cambria that offers a versatile layout with plenty of room to gather and entertain. A formal entry opens to a spacious living room and formal dining area, while the eat-in kitchen overlooks the cozy lower-level family room. With four bedrooms, including a large primary suite, there's space for everyone. Step outside to a beautiful,
Northern Cambria. Huge 4 bedroom handy man special on huge lot. Modern oak kitchen. Some plaster walls. Older oak flooring. 1 bath. Spacious rooms. Oil hw heat. Some water and heating pipes may be broken. Vinyl siding. Newer windows. Newer roof. Needs lots of TLC. On huge corner lot. Public water and sewer. Call Ethel Solinski 814-948-5191 or email esolinski@comcast.net
Located in the Northern Cambria School District, this 3-bedroom, 1-bath home offers a seemingly solid exterior with metal roof and potentially promising curb appeal. The interior has been partially demolished down to the studs -- this property is in need of a full renovation from top to bottom. Ideal for investors, flippers, or experienced renovators ready to bring a vision to life. With the
Welcome to 1104 Crawford Avenue in Northern Cambria-- a well-maintained raised ranch offering the convenience of one-level living. The interior includes two comfortable bedrooms and one full bathroom complete with a tub. This home features a spacious backyard with a fenced-in area, perfect for outdoor enjoyment along with a paved driveway providing easy access and ample parking.
Buyer to verify Sq. Footage, lot size and Taxes. Unit #1 - $800/month 3 Bedroom, 1 Bath, Kitchen, Dining Room, Living Room, Basement, Attic, Front Porch, Shared Back Porch/Yard Unit #2 - $850/month 3 Bedroom, 1 1/2 Bath, Eat-in Kitchen, Living Room, Basement, Attic, Front Porch, Shared Back Porch/Yard Oil Heat, each unit has its own washer/dryer hook-up on the main floor, public water/trash,
Welcome to 3609 Crawford Ave. in Northern Cambria, PA! This move-in ready 4-bedroom, 1.75-bathroom home offers flexible living options and plenty of space. The main floor features a convenient first-floor bedroom and 3/4 bath, while the second floor includes three additional bedrooms, a full bath, and a large rear entrance with laundry hookups.
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