Argyle Street houses in, 2015
Petrolia’s story
154 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,186 in 1880, 179 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2015 and 3 maps from 1907 on.
- 1872Petrolia is settled
PetroliaPA
A town of 171, settled in 1872.
Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
Population
171
2025 Census estimate · −4.5% since 2020
Typical home
$153K
−12.2% in a year
Household income
$56K
median
Median age
50.0
years
Jobs based here
271
A job hub
Is Petrolia a good place to live?
Only 3 of the 1,036 Pennsylvania towns we compare have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Petrolia. Petrolia has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Petrolia stand out
Where Petrolia beats most towns.
Small town
171 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Petrolia: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Petrolia, and how to reach them.
PowerCentral Electric Coop16.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterPetroleum Valley Rwa water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Petrolia’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 hereButler County Board of ElectionsButler County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code1605016050 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 Petrolia.
Work & commute
With 3.2 jobs for every working resident, Petrolia draws in 270 commuters
Most working residents leave Petrolia for work: only 1% work in town. Petrolia’s average trip to work is 35 minutes, where Pennsylvania’s towns sit at 26 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. Since 2013, Petrolia has lost 232 jobs, to 271 in 2023.
1%work in town
| Petrolia | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 35 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $56,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.2% | 6.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Petrolia1%
Pittsburgh13%
Butler Township12%
Jefferson Township6%
Chicora5%
20 mi
median commute distance
271
jobs based in Petrolia
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Housing
A typical Petrolia home is worth about $153K
The typical Petrolia home is worth about $153,000, down 12.2% in a year, 47% below the Pennsylvania typical home. Petrolia’s median rent is $953 a month, below both Pennsylvania’s towns ($1,115 a month) and U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). 68% of Petrolia households own their home.
$153KZillow home value
| Petrolia | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 68% | 78% | 73% |
| Median rent | $953 a month | $1,115 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Petrolia$153K
Pennsylvania$287K
−12.2%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
In Petrolia, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Petrolia has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Petrolia’s July high is 83°F.
35″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–37°
Spring36–60°
Summer57–81°
Fall41–62°
Oct 14
typical first frost
May 7
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Petrolia is
Petrolia beats the Pennsylvania average on 0 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 22% of adults smoke cigarettes in Petrolia.
| Petrolia | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 17% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 14% | 14% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 36% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 19% | 19% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
0 better17 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Petrolia | PA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 10.8% | 7.7% |
| More smokers | 22% | 15.8% |
| More adults in frequent physical distress | 16.4% | 13.2% |
Independence Health System Butler Memorial Hospita
14.2 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Petrolia
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 60% of U.S. communities. Since 1980, 4 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Petrolia.
40risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland flooding
4
paid flood claims since 1980
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Petrolia
16pages on Petrolia
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Petrolia; the nearest are
Butler County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Butler16.7 mi$5,910 in-state tuitionSlippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaUniversity or college · Public · Slippery Rock17.4 mi$10,568 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Petrolia residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.
A job hub
Every workday, about 270 people come to Petrolia for work
Where Petrolia’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
271jobs based in Petrolia
1%of working residents work in town
20 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Petrolia
Borough in Pennsylvania, US
Petrolia is a borough in Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, Petrolia had a population of 179.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1872
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,178 ft
- ZIP code
- 16050
Questions about Petrolia
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Petrolia, PA a good place to live?
Petrolia has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.