1st Advantage MortgageThe median Westmoreland County household earns $74,109, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Who lives in Westmoreland County
- Paychecks and income spread in Westmoreland County
- The Westmoreland County job picture
- Rent, home values and ownership in Westmoreland County
- The communities that make up Westmoreland County
- How Westmoreland County compares with nearby counties
- A Westmoreland County household budget, worked through
- Local borrowing considerations for Westmoreland County
- Who lives in Westmoreland County, in numbers
- Lender oversight for Westmoreland County
- Steps before you apply in Westmoreland County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Westmoreland County
Roughly 352,500 residents live in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, 11th by population among the state's 67 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 1,028 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 343 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Pittsburgh, PA metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 63 places in the county (43 incorporated, 20 census-designated); the largest is Murrysville, with about 20,817 residents, or 6% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Westmoreland County
The median household income in Westmoreland County is $74,109; statewide it is $77,971, so Westmoreland County runs 5% below Pennsylvania as a whole. In the state ranking that is 24th of 67.
| Household income | Westmoreland County | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.2% | +1.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.5% | +1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.2% | +0.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.1% | -2.7 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 36% have six-figure incomes. 10.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.7%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.454 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Westmoreland County median.
The Westmoreland County job picture
The biggest employer of Westmoreland County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 14% locally and 11% for Pennsylvania. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.8% in Westmoreland County. 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home.
| Where residents work | Westmoreland County | Difference from Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.9% | -1.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.4% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.8% | -1.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 6.8% | +0.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Rent, home values and ownership in Westmoreland County
Renters in Westmoreland County pay a median of $879 a month, 27% below the Pennsylvania figure of $1,209. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 40% of renter households here. With a median value of $203,500, a typical Westmoreland County house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 78% of homes.
| Home costs | Westmoreland County | Pennsylvania | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $879/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $203,500 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.1% | 3.5% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
The communities that make up Westmoreland County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 63 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 45% of Westmoreland County residents live in one of the 63. Incomes vary by place: $138,583 at the median in Manor, $45,417 in Arnold. Median rent ranges from $635 in Derry to $1,587 in Murrysville. None of the 63 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murrysville | municipality | 20,817 | $121,823 | $1,587 | 14 mi |
| Greensburg | city | 14,741 | $64,914 | $839 | 4 mi |
| New Kensington | city | 12,011 | $49,063 | $751 | 24 mi |
| Lower Burrell | city | 11,633 | $84,602 | $911 | 23 mi |
| Jeannette | city | 8,657 | $49,188 | $863 | 8 mi |
| Latrobe | borough | 7,977 | $56,318 | $750 | 4 mi |
| Monessen | city | 6,780 | $52,889 | $733 | 25 mi |
| Vandergrift | borough | 5,011 | $50,901 | $794 | 21 mi |
| Arnold | city | 4,704 | $45,417 | $846 | 24 mi |
| Level Green | CDP | 4,409 | $101,602 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Scottdale | borough | 4,363 | $55,423 | $689 | 16 mi |
| Mount Pleasant | borough | 4,199 | $51,820 | $721 | 12 mi |
| Irwin | borough | 3,831 | $59,963 | $1,002 | 12 mi |
| Manor | borough | 3,538 | $138,583 | n/a | 11 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
How Westmoreland County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Westmoreland County's, from 29 to 42 miles away. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Westmoreland County; Allegheny County is highest at $78,548 and Fayette County lowest at $58,236.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westmoreland County | - | $74,109 | $879/mo | 78% |
| Fayette County, PA | 29 mi | $58,236 | $793/mo | 72% |
| Allegheny County, PA | 29 mi | $78,548 | $1,153/mo | 65% |
| Indiana County, PA | 31 mi | $60,208 | $800/mo | 72% |
| Somerset County, PA | 32 mi | $61,446 | $753/mo | 80% |
| Armstrong County, PA | 35 mi | $65,008 | $785/mo | 79% |
| Cambria County, PA | 42 mi | $58,418 | $739/mo | 76% |
A Westmoreland County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Westmoreland County's medians:
- Start: $6,176 gross per month ($74,109 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $879, takes 14% of that
- $1,591: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Westmoreland County's.
Local borrowing considerations for Westmoreland County
What the Westmoreland County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Fixed incomes. Westmoreland County's median age is 47.2. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Who lives in Westmoreland County, in numbers
College graduates make up 33% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 3.0%, against 5.6% for Pennsylvania.
| Measure | Westmoreland County | Pennsylvania statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.8% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.5% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.0% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.2% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.3% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Westmoreland County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.4% |
| 60+ min | 8.6% |
Lender oversight for Westmoreland County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Westmoreland County borrowers answers to the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Pennsylvania state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Westmoreland County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Pennsylvania guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Westmoreland County earn?
The median is $74,109; 36% earn $100,000 or more and 23% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Westmoreland County?
$879 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Westmoreland County?
By population: Murrysville, Greensburg, New Kensington, Lower Burrell, Jeannette. The county has 63 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Westmoreland County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Westmoreland County?
Start with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.