Avella Area Elementary School, 2007
Avella’s story
139 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2007.
- 1887Avella is settled
AvellaPA
A town of 688, settled in 1887.
2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Textah01 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
688
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$209K
+3.3% in a year
Household income
$71K
median
Median age
35.5
years
Jobs based here
41
A commuter town
Is Avella a good place to live?
The biggest park or preserve is Independence Township Community Park, at 36 acres. Avella has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
688 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Independence TownshipCross Creek TownshipAvella
Getting set up
Moving to Avella: who provides what
Avella is unincorporated, so Washington County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerWest Penn PowerEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterPennsylvania American WaterNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesWashington CountyWashington County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Pennsylvania you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereWashington County Board of ElectionsWashington County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2023
ZIP code1531215312 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Avella.
Work & commute
Avella stands out in Pennsylvania and nationally, with the average trip to work longer than most
Half of commuters travel less than 19 miles. Only 10 of the 1,036 Pennsylvania towns we compare have a lower share of working residents who work in town than Avella. The share of residents in Avella who live below the poverty line is 28%, where Pennsylvania’s towns sit at 7.6% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. The town had 41 jobs in 2023, up 21 from 2013.
1%work in town
| Avella | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 57 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 28% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.2% | 6.3% | 8% |
| Median household income | $71,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Avella1%
Pittsburgh10%
Washington6%
Chartiers Township5%
Smith Township5%
19 mi
median commute distance
41
jobs based in Avella
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Housing
The typical home in Avella is valued at about $209K
Values rose 3.3% in the 12 months to September 2026. Avella: 70% of households live in a home they own.
$209KZillow home value
Typical home value
Avella$209K
Pennsylvania$287K
+3.3%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Expect four seasons and pleasant summers in Avella
Avella’s peak summer temperature stands at 84°F, close to Pennsylvania’s towns (85°F) and below U.S. towns (85°F).
15″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter23–40°
Spring39–62°
Summer60–82°
Fall43–64°
Oct 20
typical first frost
Apr 29
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Avella is
Among adults in Avella, 39% sleep under 7 hours. Two figures for adults in the town: 40% have obesity, 16% report frequent physical distress.
| Avella | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 17% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 35% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 14% | 14% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 18% | 16% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
0 better17 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Avella | PA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 10.5% | 7.7% |
| More smokers | 20.9% | 15.8% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9.3% | 7.4% |
Weirton Medical Center
8.9 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Top of a moderate hazard risk in Avella: inland flooding
Of the losses FEMA expects in Avella, 91% come from inland flooding. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 58% of U.S. communities.
58risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland flooding
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
6.3%conserved
6.3%
conserved · 36 of 572 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Independence Township Community Park | — | 36 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 75 attractions →Acrisure Stadium and 61 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Avella. Close and well known come first.
Big draw27 mi Stadium & arenaAcrisure Stadium
2 mi MuseumMeadowcroft Rockshelter
27 mi LandmarkFort Duquesne
27 mi Stadium & arenaPNC Park
33 mi Theme parkKennywood
28 mi Stadium & arenaPPG Paints ArenaSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Acrisure Stadium: Fo2grfr, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Meadowcroft Rockshelter: Lee Paxton, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Fort Duquesne: Sébastien Paquin, CC BY-SA 3.0 · PNC Park: alpineinc, CC BY 2.0 · Kennywood: Ski2007 of English Wikipedia, Public domain · PPG Paints Arena: Jleedev, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Avella
16pages on Avella
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
5 within 15 miles of the center of Avella
Bethany CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Bethany, WV6.8 mi$36,765 tuitionWest Liberty UniversityUniversity or college · Public · West Liberty, WV10.4 mi$8,893 in-state tuitionEastern Gateway Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Steubenville, OH12.8 mi
About 3 of every 100 Avella residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Avella for work
Where Avella’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
41jobs based in Avella
1%of working residents work in town
19 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Avella
Unincorporated community in Pennsylvania, US
Avella is a census-designated place in Independence Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, Avella had a population of 782. It is located at 40.27° north & 80.45° west.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,158 ft
- ZIP code
- 15312
Questions about Avella
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Avella, PA a good place to live?
Avella has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.