Census-designated place · Pennsylvania
Lawson Heights, Pennsylvania
Lawson Heights, census-designated place, in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Lawson Heights had 2,090 residents in the 2020 Census, a full count; the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,213 (±409). GEOID 4242032.
Residents, 2020 Census
2,090
Census count or controlled total
ACS 2020-2024 estimate: 2,213 ±409
Median household income
$64,929
±$26,410 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $77,971
Median home value
$175,200
±$39,390 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $254,500
Median gross rent
$909
±$157 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $1,209
Where is Lawson Heights and what county is it in?
Lawson Heights is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It covers 1.5 square miles of land, 1,366 residents per square mile in 2020.
Lawson Heights is in the Pittsburgh, PA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 8 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Lawson Heights lies entirely within Unity Township, a township with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Lawson Heights, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 2,090 residents in Lawson Heights, a full count rather than a sample. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a sample, estimates 2,213 (±409).
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Lawson Heights is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Lawson Heights | Westmoreland County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,213 ±409 | 352,500 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,182 ±273 | 154,979 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 1.87 ±0.24 | 2.23 | −0.74 |
| Housing units | 1,182 ±273 | 168,812 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Lawson Heights?
The median resident of Lawson Heights is 53.3 years old; 9.5% are under 18 and 29.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 97.7%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 1.1%.
| Measure | Lawson Heights | Westmoreland County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.3 ±12.1 | 47.2 | +16.8 |
| Under 18 years | 9.5% ±4.9 pts | 18.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 29.6% ±9.7 pts | 24.3% | – |
| Male | 44.7% ±8.7 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.9% ±1.4 pts | 1.6% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 97.7% ±2.1 pts | 91.4% | +5.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.9 pts | 1.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±1.2 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.8% ±1.2 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.1% ±5.4 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.5% ±4.6 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 15.0% ±5.4 pts | 15.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 3.0% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 98.5% ±1.6 pts | 95.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 34.6% ±9.6 pts | 32.8% | +14.5 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.9% ±6.8 pts | 11.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 93.8% ±4.9 pts | 92.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.7% ±2.5 pts | 1.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Lawson Heights earn?
Half of Lawson Heights's 1,182 households earn less than $64,929 a year (±$26,410), against $74,109 in Westmoreland County and $77,971 in Pennsylvania. In 2015-2019 the median was $94,500 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $29,571 after inflation.
| Measure | Lawson Heights | Westmoreland County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,929 ±$26,410 | $74,109 | −$29,571 |
| Mean household income | $82,618 ±$15,051 | $97,695 | – |
| Per capita income | $44,306 ±$6,340 | $43,509 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.8% ±6.3 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 4.8% ±9.1 pts | 14.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 2.8% ±2.8 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 91.7% ±6.9 pts | 92.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.4% ±15.2 pts | 88.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Lawson Heights?
Owners occupy 78.4% of Lawson Heights's occupied homes and renters 21.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $175,200 by its owner (±$39,390). The median renter pays $909 a month including utilities, and 32.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Lawson Heights | Westmoreland County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $175,200 ±$39,390 | $203,500 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $909 ±$157 | $879 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 32.9% ±20.9 pts | 32.7% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,772 ±$592 | $1,452 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 78.4% ±8.6 pts | 78.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 21.6% ±8.6 pts | 21.6% | – |
| Housing units | 1,182 ±273 | 168,812 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±3.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±11.9 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 86.7% ±6.3 pts | 76.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.6% ±0.9 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±2.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.7% ±2.8 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.7% ±4.5 pts | 19.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.4% ±6.5 pts | 6.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Lawson Heights work and get to work?
89.5% of Lawson Heights's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 21.9 minutes.
| Measure | Lawson Heights | Westmoreland County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 59.1% ±9.6 pts | 60.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5% ±5.6 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 89.5% ±7.4 pts | 77.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 0.0% ±2.8 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±2.8 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 2.3% ±3.7 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.5% ±6.3 pts | 13.3% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.9 min ±5.7 | 26.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Lawson Heights?
1 census tract lies mostly in Lawson Heights (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 8074.04Westmoreland County | 5,366 | $66,094 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Lawson Heights) · Census block assignment files
How does Lawson Heights compare with other places in Pennsylvania?
Lawson Heights ranks 1,565th of 2,136 places in Pennsylvania with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 1,326th | 2,159 |
| Residents per square mile | 830th | 2,159 |
| Median household income | 1,565th | 2,136 |
| Per capita income | 712th | 2,157 |
| Median home value | 1,492nd | 2,146 |
| Median gross rent | 1,308th | 1,963 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 606th | 2,129 |
| Median age | 179th | 2,157 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,197th | 2,149 |
| Travel time to work | 1,683rd | 2,156 |
Lawson Heights's figures with every place in Pennsylvania (CSV)
Every place in Pennsylvania, sortable · Compare Lawson Heights with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Lawson Heights?
26 of the 57 figures for Lawson Heights on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Lawson Heights are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.