The Town FilesSwissvale, Pennsylvania
Borough in Allegheny County · population 8,624 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $147,000
- Household income
- $60,341
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 38.1
Swissvale is a borough of 8,624 people in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $147,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks hipper than 100% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 99% of Pennsylvania towns, better for young professionals than 98% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Swissvale 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 Swissvale is worth $147,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $60,341, which is more affordable than 75% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,136 a month. 48.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Swissvale | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $147,000 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,136 | $996 |
| Median household income | $60,341 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 48.9% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1941 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Swissvale
| People | Swissvale | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.0% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.2% | — |
| Work from home | 25.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 89.0% |
Weather in Swissvale
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 21.5°F. About 40.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.0 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 92 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swissvale since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 3, 1963 about 6.9 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 109 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 Swissvale itself the ACS puts it at 8%.
Public schools in Swissvale
1 public school with 616 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dickson Prep STEAM Academy | 6-8 | 616 | 12.3 |
Towns near Swissvale
- Edgewood, PA0.8 mi · 3,145 people · home $327,400
- Homestead, PA1.5 mi · 2,884 people · home $83,900
- Forest Hills, PA1.7 mi · 6,429 people · home $200,700
- Wilkinsburg, PA1.8 mi · 14,349 people · home $155,500
- Munhall, PA2.0 mi · 10,774 people · home $132,100
- North Braddock, PA2.1 mi · 4,320 people · home $66,100
- Churchill, PA2.7 mi · 3,157 people · home $234,800
- Wilkins, PA3.3 mi · 6,350 people · home $174,700
Swissvale questions
Is Swissvale, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Swissvale scores better for retirees than 21% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 2%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in Swissvale?
The median owner-occupied home in Swissvale is valued at $147,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,341, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,136 a month.
What is the weather like in Swissvale?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 21.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.6 inches of precipitation a year and 25.0 inches of snow.
Does Swissvale get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swissvale 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)