1st Advantage MortgageAllegheny County households have a median income of $78,548 and median rent of $1,153 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Allegheny County at a glance
- How much Allegheny County households make
- Employment and commuting in Allegheny County
- What it costs to live in Allegheny County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Allegheny County
- Allegheny County next to its neighbors
- More Allegheny County figures
- Reading the Allegheny County data as a borrower
- Room for a loan payment in Allegheny County
- Checking a lender's license in Pennsylvania
- A Allegheny County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Allegheny County at a glance
With an estimated 1,238,177 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Allegheny County ranks 2nd of 67 in Pennsylvania for population. Packed into 730 square miles, that is close to 1,696 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Pittsburgh, PA metropolitan area. Pittsburgh is the biggest of its 104 Census places, at roughly 304,759 people (25% of the county total).
How much Allegheny County households make
Half of Allegheny County households take in less than $78,548 a year and half take in more, about the same as the Pennsylvania median of $77,971.
| Yearly household income | Allegheny County | Gap to Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.5% | +0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.9% | -1.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.8% | -0.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.7% | +0.9 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 40% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 11.5%, the same as the state's 11.7%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Allegheny County median.
Employment and commuting in Allegheny County
The biggest employer of Allegheny County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 29% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (14%). Compared with Pennsylvania, the county leans toward professional and administrative services (14% against 11%). The survey's unemployment rate for Allegheny County averages 5.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Allegheny County share | +/- vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.8% | +2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.3% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 9.2% | +2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.5% | -3.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Allegheny County
A typical Allegheny County rental runs $1,153 a month including utilities, which is 5% below Pennsylvania. 46% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. Home values center on $227,600, or 2.9 years of median income. The ownership rate is 65%. Median construction year: 1957.
| Measure | Allegheny County | Pennsylvania | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,153/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $227,600 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.7% | 3.5% | n/a |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Allegheny County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 104 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 67% of Allegheny County residents live in one of the 104. Incomes vary by place: $243,625 at the median in Fox Chapel, $34,219 in McKeesport. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Allegheny County community.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | city | 304,759 | $65,742 | $1,261 | 2 mi |
| Bethel Park | municipality | 32,881 | $107,090 | $1,311 | 11 mi |
| Monroeville | municipality | 28,295 | $79,218 | $1,175 | 12 mi |
| Plum | borough | 26,723 | $98,705 | $1,177 | 12 mi |
| Allison Park | CDP | 22,045 | $113,822 | $1,222 | 7 mi |
| Baldwin | borough | 21,057 | $80,983 | $1,066 | 6 mi |
| West Mifflin | borough | 19,190 | $76,563 | $780 | 9 mi |
| McKeesport | city | 17,380 | $34,219 | $848 | 11 mi |
| Franklin Park | borough | 15,235 | $176,875 | $2,330 | 10 mi |
| Whitehall | borough | 14,811 | $89,404 | $915 | 8 mi |
| Wilkinsburg | borough | 14,027 | $46,416 | $1,025 | 6 mi |
| Carnot-Moon | CDP | 13,534 | $100,714 | $1,214 | 13 mi |
| Jefferson Hills | borough | 12,317 | $116,064 | $1,355 | 12 mi |
| Munhall | borough | 10,548 | $52,517 | $780 | 7 mi |
Allegheny County next to its neighbors
Washington County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Brooke County, is 34 miles off. Income ranges from $54,316 in Brooke County to $89,843 in Butler County; 2 of these neighbors top Allegheny County's median. Some neighbors are in West Virginia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Allegheny County resident follows Pennsylvania rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny County | - | $78,548 | $1,153/mo | 65% |
| Washington County, PA | 23 mi | $78,958 | $949/mo | 76% |
| Beaver County, PA | 24 mi | $71,089 | $890/mo | 75% |
| Westmoreland County, PA | 29 mi | $74,109 | $879/mo | 78% |
| Butler County, PA | 31 mi | $89,843 | $1,041/mo | 77% |
| Hancock County, WV | 31 mi | $61,466 | $771/mo | 74% |
| Brooke County, WV | 34 mi | $54,316 | $645/mo | 75% |
More Allegheny County figures
Degree holders: 46% of adults over 25. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Allegheny County | Pennsylvania statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 45.8% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.3% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.8% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 11.9% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 21.1% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.5% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Allegheny County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.5% |
| 60+ min | 5.6% |
Reading the Allegheny County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Allegheny County borrowers.
- Rent squeeze. 46% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Consolidating cards in Allegheny County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Allegheny County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Room for a loan payment in Allegheny County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Allegheny County's medians:
- $6,546 a month: gross income for a household at the Allegheny County median
- 18% goes to median rent ($1,153)
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,138 a month
- $1,793: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checking a lender's license in Pennsylvania
Consumer lenders serving Allegheny County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Pennsylvania that is the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Pennsylvania guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Allegheny County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Allegheny County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Pennsylvania license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
City guides inside Allegheny County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Allegheny County?
$78,548 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,971 for Pennsylvania. It ranks 17th of 67 in the state.
How much is rent in Allegheny County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,153 a month; 46% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Allegheny County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Pittsburgh, Bethel Park, Monroeville, Plum, Allison Park and 99 more.
Are Allegheny County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Allegheny County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Pennsylvania it is the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities.