The Town FilesNew Kensington, Pennsylvania
City in Westmoreland County · population 12,170 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $142,000
- Household income
- $49,063
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 48.6
New Kensington is a city of 12,170 people in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $142,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 88% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 86% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 78% of Pennsylvania towns.
How New Kensington 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 New Kensington is worth $142,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $49,063, which is more affordable than 48% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $751 a month. 58.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Kensington | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $142,000 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $751 | $996 |
| Median household income | $49,063 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 58.5% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in New Kensington
| People | New Kensington | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.6 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.0% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 16.5% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.2% | 89.0% |
Weather in New Kensington
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 20.5°F. About 42.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 117 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Kensington since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 3, 1980 about 4.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 20, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 57 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 20, 2017.
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 New Kensington itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in New Kensington
3 public schools with 1,056 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley JSHS | 7-12 | 885 | 15.0 |
| Martin Sch | PK-K | 165 | 15.0 |
| Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center | 9-12 | 6 | 0.4 |
Towns near New Kensington
- Arnold, PA0.8 mi · 4,772 people · home $86,400
- Lower Burrell, PA2.0 mi · 11,758 people · home $198,600
- Tarentum, PA2.2 mi · 4,352 people · home $84,300
- Brackenridge, PA2.5 mi · 3,240 people · home $94,800
- Springdale, PA2.6 mi · 3,400 people · home $153,900
- Harrison, PA4.8 mi · 10,157 people · home $154,400
- Plum, PA4.9 mi · 27,144 people · home $227,600
- Harmar, PA5.3 mi · 3,133 people · home $206,200
New Kensington questions
Is New Kensington, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Kensington scores better for retirees than 19% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 17%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.6).
How much does a house cost in New Kensington?
The median owner-occupied home in New Kensington is valued at $142,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,063, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $751 a month.
What is the weather like in New Kensington?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 20.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.2 inches of precipitation a year and 27.1 inches of snow.
Does New Kensington get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Kensington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 3, 1980. 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)