THE DIRTBID REGIONAL MODEL · PENNSYLVANIA
Sitework in Pennsylvania on the same Richmond Metro = 1.00 scale as the rest of DirtBid: 17 cost regions and 67 counties, each with a soil-risk rating from USDA and USGS data. Philadelphia Metro runs highest at 1.03×; Johnstown Metro lowest at 0.80×.
Pennsylvania multipliers and county ratings are planning-level: built from federal price and soil data, and not yet checked against local bids or a local estimator.
Dominant ground: Manor, Reaville, Glenelg
5 counties in this region. 1 of 5 rate high for water table. 1 of 5 rate high for dewatering. Highest risk score: Bucks County (5 of 10).
Counties: Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia County
Dominant ground: Gilpin, Dormont, Culleoka
8 counties in this region. 3 of 8 rate high for shallow rock. 2 of 8 rate high for water table. Highest risk score: Armstrong County (5 of 10).
Counties: Allegheny County, Armstrong County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Lawrence County, Washington County, Westmoreland County
Dominant ground: Hazleton, Weikert, Cookport
34 counties in this region. 16 of 34 rate high for water table. 16 of 34 rate high for dewatering. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 3 of the 34. Highest risk score: Mercer County (6 of 10).
Counties: Bedford County, Bradford County, Cameron County, Clarion County, Clearfield County, Clinton County, Columbia County, Crawford County, Elk County, Forest County, Fulton County, Greene County, Huntingdon County, Indiana County, Jefferson County, Juniata County, McKean County, Mercer County, Mifflin County, Monroe County, Montour County, Northumberland County, Pike County, Potter County, Schuylkill County, Snyder County, Somerset County, Sullivan County, Susquehanna County, Tioga County, Union County, Venango County, Warren County, Wayne County
Dominant ground: Berks, Washington, Gladstone
3 counties in this region. 1 of 3 rate high for shallow rock. Highest risk score: Carbon County (4 of 10).
Counties: Carbon County, Lehigh County, Northampton County
Dominant ground: Berks, Hazleton, Calvin
3 counties in this region. 1 of 3 rate high for shallow rock. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 1 of the 3. Highest risk score: Cumberland County (5 of 10).
Counties: Cumberland County, Dauphin County, Perry County
Dominant ground: Oquaga, Wellsboro, Morris
3 counties in this region. 3 of 3 rate high for water table. 2 of 3 rate high for dewatering. Highest risk score: Lackawanna County (5 of 10).
Counties: Lackawanna County, Luzerne County, Wyoming County
Dominant ground: Hagerstown, Duffield, Manor
1 county in this region. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of it. Highest risk score: Lancaster County (5 of 10).
Counties: Lancaster County
Dominant ground: Chester, Mt. Airy, Penn
1 county in this region. Highest risk score: York County (4 of 10).
Counties: York County
Dominant ground: Berks, Gladstone, Duffield
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for shallow rock. Highest risk score: Berks County (4 of 10).
Counties: Berks County
Dominant ground: Venango, Mill, Mardin
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. 1 of 1 rate high for undercut. Highest risk score: Erie County (6 of 10).
Counties: Erie County
Dominant ground: Hazleton, Laidig, Hagerstown
1 county in this region. Highest risk score: Centre County (4 of 10).
Counties: Centre County
Dominant ground: Hagerstown, Weikert, Sideling
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for shallow rock. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of it. Highest risk score: Franklin County (5 of 10).
Counties: Franklin County
Dominant ground: Berks, Hagerstown, Duffield
1 county in this region. Highest risk score: Lebanon County (4 of 10).
Counties: Lebanon County
Dominant ground: Cookport, Gilpin, Laidig
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. 1 of 1 rate high for dewatering. Highest risk score: Cambria County (5 of 10). This multiplier sits outside the range the model was tested on, so treat it as rougher.
Counties: Cambria County
Dominant ground: Laidig, Hublersburg, Hazleton
1 county in this region. Highest risk score: Blair County (4 of 10).
Counties: Blair County
Dominant ground: Oquaga, Dekalb, Lordstown
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for shallow rock. Highest risk score: Lycoming County (4 of 10).
Counties: Lycoming County
Dominant ground: Penn, Highfield, Abbottstown
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. 1 of 1 rate high for dewatering. Highest risk score: Adams County (5 of 10).
Counties: Adams County
FAQ
From USDA soil survey data, the most common across the state: water table (25 of 67 counties rate high), dewatering (24 of 67 counties rate high), shallow rock (17 of 67 counties rate high). A parcel can differ from its county, so read the survey for your exact site.
From the Commerce Department's Regional Price Parities, on the same Richmond Metro = 1.00 scale as Virginia. Across 29 reviewed regions that method missed by about 0.03 on average. They have not been checked against executed bids in Pennsylvania, so use them for planning, not a final bid.
They are screening ratings from federal soil and geology data, not a local estimator's review and not a geotechnical report. Tested against 511 reviewed counties, they land within one level most of the time, and exact matches are less common. Get borings before you price a real site.
Soil Report
A $350 DirtBid AI Soil Report reads the official USDA survey for your exact parcel, flags the hazards above, and prices the risk — before you buy land or sign a contract.