The Town FilesMonessen, Pennsylvania
City in Westmoreland County · population 6,876 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $95,900
- Household income
- $52,889
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 44.9
Monessen is a city of 6,876 people in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $95,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 84% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 82% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Monessen ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Monessen is worth $95,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $52,889, which is more affordable than 93% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $733 a month. 73.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Monessen | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $95,900 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $733 | $996 |
| Median household income | $52,889 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 73.0% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Monessen
| People | Monessen | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.2% | 89.0% |
Weather in Monessen
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 21.3°F. About 40.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.3 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monessen since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 11, 2024 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on November 27, 2022.
Severe weather in Westmoreland County since 1996
Westmoreland County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| April 16, 2010 | Snowstorm | DR-1898: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County had 129,350 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,519 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Monessen itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Monessen
3 public schools with 656 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monessen El Ctr | PK-5 | 325 | 12.5 |
| Monessen SHS | 9-12 | 179 | 11.9 |
| Monessen MS | 6-8 | 152 | 10.1 |
Towns near Monessen
- Charleroi, PA1.3 mi · 4,234 people · home $52,800
- Donora, PA2.2 mi · 4,569 people · home $62,300
- Carroll, PA3.0 mi · 5,380 people · home $189,300
- Monongahela, PA3.4 mi · 4,159 people · home $114,300
- Rostraver, PA4.4 mi · 11,393 people · home $228,300
- Fallowfield, PA4.5 mi · 4,099 people · home $163,900
- Washington, PA4.7 mi · 3,894 people · home $135,200
- Forward, PA5.7 mi · 3,070 people · home $166,000
Monessen questions
Is Monessen, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Monessen scores better for retirees than 19% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 23%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.9).
How much does a house cost in Monessen?
The median owner-occupied home in Monessen is valued at $95,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,889, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $733 a month.
What is the weather like in Monessen?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 21.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.9 inches of precipitation a year and 10.3 inches of snow.
Does Monessen get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monessen since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 11, 2024. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)