The Town FilesSouth Fayette, Pennsylvania
Township in Allegheny County · population 18,358 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $340,700
- Household income
- $124,112
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 41.3
South Fayette is a township of 18,358 people in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $340,700, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more upscale than 95% of Pennsylvania towns, better for families than 82% of Pennsylvania towns, better for young professionals than 82% of Pennsylvania towns.
How South Fayette 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 South Fayette is worth $340,700, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $124,112, which is more affordable than 59% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,203 a month. 81.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Fayette | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $340,700 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,203 | $996 |
| Median household income | $124,112 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.7% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in South Fayette
| People | South Fayette | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.6% | — |
| Work from home | 24.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 27.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in South Fayette
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 21.4°F. About 39.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 114 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Fayette 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 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 21, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 99 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 25, 2024.
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 South Fayette itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Towns near South Fayette
- Collier, PA3.2 mi · 8,935 people · home $342,900
- Cecil-Bishop, PA3.7 mi · 2,730 people · home $305,500
- Bridgeville, PA3.8 mi · 4,804 people · home $166,400
- Cecil, PA4.0 mi · 14,609 people · home $347,000
- North Fayette, PA4.2 mi · 16,167 people · home $278,600
- Scott, PA5.4 mi · 17,649 people · home $226,500
- Carnegie, PA5.5 mi · 8,134 people · home $171,500
- Muse, PA5.6 mi · 2,525 people · home $340,300
South Fayette questions
Is South Fayette, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Fayette scores better for retirees than 59% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 34%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.3).
How much does a house cost in South Fayette?
The median owner-occupied home in South Fayette is valued at $340,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $124,112, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,203 a month.
What is the weather like in South Fayette?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 21.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.6 inches of precipitation a year and 44.1 inches of snow.
Does South Fayette get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Fayette 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)