Snow Storm 4 feet of snow fell in a 24 hour period, 2003
Jackson Township’s story
Jackson Township in pictures
The archive holds 24 old photos and papers going back to 2003 and 4 maps from 1904 on.
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Jackson TownshipCambria County, PA
A town of 4,076.
9 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Ron Shawley · CC BY 3.0
Population
4,076
2025 Census estimate · −3.9% since 2020
Median home value
$161K
Census ACS
Household income
$81K
median
Median age
49.3
years
Jobs based here
555
A commuter town
TownGrade
A+
#74 of 1032 in PA
Is Jackson Township a good place to live?
Few places in the country grade higher. Jackson Township earns an A+, ranked 74th of 1032 in Pennsylvania. It reports less crime per resident than 98% of U.S. towns, a typical home costs about $161K, 2.7 years of the Johnstown metro’s $58K median household income, and its schools rank ahead of 82% of Pennsylvania towns. The exception is health: CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 76% of the country. 31% of the land in Jackson Township is conserved, where Pennsylvania’s towns sit at 8.2% and U.S. towns at 4.3%. On hazard risk, just 23 of Pennsylvania’s 1,751 towns do better. Rager Mountain Division, at 4,952 acres with 22.9 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
What makes Jackson Township stand out
Where Jackson Township beats most towns.
Natural hazardsA+
Lower risk than 98% of U.S. communities
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Jackson Township0.5
Pennsylvania2.3
U.S.3.3
SafetyA+
78% less violent crime than PA
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
Central Cambria SD schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson El Sch | K–2 | 105 |
| Cambria County Christian School | PK–12 | 43 |
SchoolsA−
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
A commuter town
95% of working residents leave Jackson Township for work
Where Jackson Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
555jobs based in Jackson Township
5%of working residents work in town
12 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Jackson Township grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Jackson Township is from typical.
Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listA+Open →SafetyA+Open →Cost of livingAOpen →SchoolsA−Open →HealthConemaugh Memorial Medical Center 9.3 miles awayC−Open →Jobs & income$81K median household incomeBOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.8 of 20; 4.6% of households have no car; 2.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Jackson Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Jackson Township, and how to reach them.
PowerREA Energy Coop16.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterJackson Twp Water Auth4 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers92% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Jackson Township’s trash rules yet
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 hereCambria County Board of ElectionsCambria County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2026
ZIP codes15909, 15942, 15943, 1590615909 51% · 15942 30% · 15943 13% · 15906 3%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 Jackson Township.
Jackson Township pairs an A− for schools with modest home prices, keeps more of its land conserved than most of Pennsylvania and gets more snow than nearly all U.S. towns.
SafetyA+
For safety, Jackson Township earns an A+
Violent crime is rare: 2 reported in 2025, 0.5 per 1,000 residents.
Jackson Township’s property crime rate is 0.5 per 1,000 residents, below both the Pennsylvania town median (5.7) and the median of U.S. towns (9.9).
98%of U.S. towns report more crimeA+Safety Grade
| Jackson Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.5 per 1,000 residents | 5.7 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.5 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Jackson Township0.5
Pennsylvania2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Jackson Township0.5
Pennsylvania13.6
U.S.15.5
98th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
96th
percentile among PA towns
2
violent crimes reported in 2025
2
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsA−
For schools, Jackson Township earns an A−
Its A− for schools comes with an A for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $161K.
Its public schools are run by Central Cambria SD. Its two schools are below.
82%of PA districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson El SchLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–2 | Grades K–2 | 105 | B |
| Cambria County Christian School PrivateLargest high schoolGrades PK–12 | Grades PK–12 | 43 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A+
Jackson Township stands out in Pennsylvania and nationally: the FEMA risk score there is lower
The FEMA risk score in Jackson Township is 2 of 100. Since 1983, 3 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Jackson Township.
2risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
3
paid flood claims since 1983
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsB+
Nearly a third of Jackson Township is conserved land
Its 9,533 conserved acres are a larger share of the town than in 91% of Pennsylvania towns.
34 miles of trail in 8 parks and preserves. Jackson Township’s trail density is 0.7 miles per square mile.
#322for trails in PA
31.3%
conserved · 9,533 of 30,467 acres
34 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Rager Mountain Division | 22.9 mi | 4,952 |
| 2. State Game Lands Number 79 | 3.9 mi | 4,523 |
| 3. Leidy Lane Park | 0.3 mi | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthC−
For health, Jackson Township earns a C−
20% of adults smoke cigarettes in Jackson Township. Jackson Township beats the Pennsylvania average on 0 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 12. 16% of adults report frequent physical distress in Jackson Township.
25%healthier than U.S. townsC−Health Grade
| Jackson Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 16% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 14% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 24% | 25% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 11% | 12% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
0 better14 too close to call12 worse
| What stands out | Jackson Township | PA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 10.5% | 7.7% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9.6% | 7.4% |
| More uninsured adults | 7.4% | 5.8% |
Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
9.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
12th
percentile among PA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
Most of Jackson Township’s workers commute out: the town has 0.3 jobs for each of them
Most working residents leave Jackson Township for work: only 5% work in town. Since 2013, Jackson Township has added 92 jobs, to 555 in 2023. 6.9% of Jackson Township workers work from home.
5%work in town
| Jackson Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 31 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 12% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.4% | 6.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Jackson Township5%
Johnstown11%
Cambria Township10%
Richland Township9%
Ebensburg4%
12 mi
median commute distance
555
jobs based in Jackson Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 39% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Jackson Township
The Ebensburg Sewage Plt weather station, 8 miles away, records that 80 inches of snow fall in a normal winter, more than in 95% of U.S. towns. The Ebensburg Sewage Plt weather station, 8 miles away, records that about 2 days a year reach 90°, fewer than in 95% of U.S. towns.
Jackson Township has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 80° and January nights drop to 18°.
80″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter20–36°
Spring36–58°
Summer57–78°
Fall40–60°
Oct 2
typical first frost
May 17
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Older than Pennsylvania overall
People 65 and older are 24% of residents (20% statewide). Jackson Township has lost 3.9% of its people since 2020, down to 4,076 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 28% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 35% across Pennsylvania.
49.3median age · PA 40.9
| Jackson Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.3 years | 43.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 25% | 21% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 20% | 20% | 22% |
Jackson TownshipPennsylvaniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
18%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma4%
High school41%
Some college15%
Associate’s13%
Bachelor’s19%
Graduate9%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.5 points. Across Pennsylvania, 50.7% of residents are women.
| Jackson Township | PA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 11.2% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.4% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 3.7% | 9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 14.9% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 7.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.9% | 11.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 18% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 16.7% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7.7% | 8.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 40.5% | 32.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 14.9% | 15.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 13% | 8.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 18.8% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 8.8% | 14.3% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 4,100, single groups can be off by several points
Nearby attractions
All 67 attractions →Flight 93 National Memorial and 18 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Jackson Township. Close and well known come first.
Big draw24 mi National MemorialFlight 93 National Memorial286K visitors a year
8 mi DamSouth Fork Dam
4 mi National Historic SiteAllegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site163K visitors a year25 mi Theme parkIdlewild and Soak Zone
24 mi MuseumFort Ligonier
8 mi National MemorialJohnstown Flood National Memorial75K visitors a yearSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Flight 93 National Memorial: James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0 · South Fork Dam: Ernest Walter Histed, Public domain · Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site: Matthew A. Lynn; Original uploader was Mosamiazaz at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Fort Ligonier: The original uploader was Mind meal at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.0 · Johnstown Flood National Memorial: David Brossard, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Jackson Township
19pages on Jackson Township
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
5 within 15 miles of the center of Jackson Township
Commonwealth Technical InstituteCommunity college · Private nonprofit · Johnstown10.1 mi$7,714 tuitionUniversity of Pittsburgh-JohnstownUniversity or college · Public · Johnstown11.8 mi$14,906 in-state tuitionPennsylvania Highlands Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Johnstown11.9 mi$7,110 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Jackson Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.
About Jackson Township
Township in Pennsylvania, US
Jackson Township is an American township which is located in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. The population was 4,392 at the time of the 2010 census, down from 4,925 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 48 sq mi
Jackson Township’s neighbors
9 towns share a border with Jackson Township.
Blacklick TownshipTwin RocksNanty-GloVintondaleMundys CornerCroyle TownshipCambria TownshipWest Taylor TownshipEast Wheatfield TownshipJackson Township
How the neighbors grade
| Town | PA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Township | #74 | A+ | A | A+ | A− | C− |
| Blacklick Township | — | — | A− | — | C | C+ |
| Twin Rocks | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nanty-Glo | — | — | A+ | A+ | C | D− |
| Vintondale | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mundys Corner | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Croyle Township | — | — | A− | — | A− | C+ |
| Cambria Township | #378 | A− | B | B+ | A− | B− |
Blacklick Township, Nanty-Glo and Croyle Township have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Blacklick Township and Croyle Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Twin Rocks, Vintondale and Mundys Corner aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Jackson Township with a neighbor →
Questions about Jackson Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Jackson Township, PA a good place to live?
Yes, by almost any measure. Jackson Township grades A+ overall, better than 97% of U.S. towns and #74 of 1032 in Pennsylvania. It grades C− for health, A+ for safety and A− for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Jackson Township, PA expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.