The Town FilesPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
City in Allegheny County · population 302,971 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $205,800
- Household income
- $65,742
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 33.6
Pittsburgh is a city of 302,971 people in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $205,800, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, better for young professionals than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 98% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh is worth $205,800, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $65,742, which is more affordable than 39% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,261 a month. 47.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pittsburgh | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $205,800 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,261 | $996 |
| Median household income | $65,742 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 47.7% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1942 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Pittsburgh
| People | Pittsburgh | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.6 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.5% | — |
| Work from home | 22.4% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 89.0% |
Weather in Pittsburgh
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 22.3°F. About 41.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.2 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pittsburgh since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 3, 1963 about 9.7 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 125 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 20, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 146 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 14, 1984.
Severe weather in Allegheny County since 1996
Allegheny County has been included in 18 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 |
| October 1, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4149: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| April 16, 2010 | Snowstorm | DR-1898: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Allegheny County
Allegheny County had 670,637 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $78,297 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Pittsburgh itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Pittsburgh
145 public schools with 68,671 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin SHS | 7-12 | 2,019 | 18.0 |
| Mt Lebanon SHS | 9-12 | 1,789 | 15.0 |
| North Hills HS | 9-12 | 1,433 | 13.8 |
| J.E. Harrison Education Ctr | 3-6 | 1,409 | 16.6 |
| Upper Saint Clair HS | 9-12 | 1,301 | 13.7 |
| Pittsburgh Allderdice HS | 9-12 | 1,294 | 13.6 |
| Fox Chapel Area HS | 9-12 | 1,280 | 13.6 |
| Penn Hills El Sch | K-5 | 1,238 | 13.3 |
| Shaler Area HS | 9-12 | 1,174 | 11.5 |
| Penn Hills SHS | 9-12 | 1,090 | 19.5 |
| North Hills MS | 6-8 | 1,075 | 14.1 |
| Environmental CS at Frick Park (charter) | K-12 | 1,029 | 10.2 |
Towns near Pittsburgh
- Mount Oliver, PA2.0 mi · 3,394 people · home $96,900
- Millvale, PA2.9 mi · 3,376 people · home $124,100
- Reserve, PA3.2 mi · 3,255 people · home $209,700
- Etna, PA4.1 mi · 3,437 people · home $135,800
- Homestead, PA4.1 mi · 2,884 people · home $83,900
- Baldwin, PA4.4 mi · 21,510 people · home $208,400
- Green Tree, PA4.4 mi · 4,941 people · home $251,900
- Dormont, PA4.5 mi · 8,244 people · home $221,800
Pittsburgh questions
Is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pittsburgh scores better for retirees than 8% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 4%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.6).
How much does a house cost in Pittsburgh?
The median owner-occupied home in Pittsburgh is valued at $205,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,742, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,261 a month.
What is the weather like in Pittsburgh?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 22.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.3 inches of precipitation a year and 29.2 inches of snow.
Does Pittsburgh get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pittsburgh since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 3, 1963. 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)