City profile · Pennsylvania · Census ACS 2023

McKeesport, PA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for McKeesport - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

17,520
Residents
$31,854
Median income
$69,800
Median home
$1,299
Median rent (state)

McKeesport - the verdict

McKeesport ranks in the 3rd percentile for household income and the 6th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

3rd
percentile, household income
2nd
percentile, home value
45th
percentile, median rent
6th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: McKeesport, PA

McKeesport is a small town in Pennsylvania, home to 17,520 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. McKeesport households earn a median of $31,854 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 30.8%. McKeesport's housing stock carries a median value of $69,800, and the median resident age is 40.5 years. About 12.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 47.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits). McKeesport's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 4258.6 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts McKeesport's yearly average temperature at 51.7°F with 42.4 inches of precipitation per year.

Pennsylvania tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Pennsylvania at 97.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,299 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $260 across Pennsylvania, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. The average commute for McKeesport workers runs 25.0 minutes, with 67.3% driving alone and 9.5% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 98.1 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

17,520 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Pennsylvania

Median Household Income

$31,854 /yr

Poverty 30.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Pennsylvania average

How does McKeesport compare to other US cities?

McKeesport measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 3% higher than other cities
Home value 2% pricier than other cities
Median rent 45% pricier than other cities
Safety 6% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Pennsylvania, McKeesport ranks #398 of 402 Pennsylvania cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below McKeesport's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Pennsylvania, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

3rdIncome percentile
6thSafety percentile

3rd percentile nationally for median household income · 6th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

McKeesport's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

McKeesport's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 29 Avg. percentile National median
McKeesport's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How McKeesport's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$69,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 98% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. McKeesport $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - McKeesport, PA McKeesport, PA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not McKeesport, PA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution McKeesport, PA median $31,854/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
McKeesport, PA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for McKeesport, PA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 12.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 30.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
17,520
Median Income
$31,854
Median Home Value
$69,800
Median Age
40.5
Poverty Rate
30.8%
Labor force participation
47.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
12.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
4258.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
1693.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2564.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
51.7°F
Annual Precipitation
42.4"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
16,500 residents17,000 residents17,500 residents18,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 17,700 residents 16,907 residents ▼ -4.5%
McKeesport's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
25.0 minutes
Drive Alone
67.3%
Carpool
8.6%
Public Transit
9.5%
Walk
3.8%
Work from Home
9.5%
Other
1.3%

Based on 6,253 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Pennsylvania - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$88
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$52
avg/month
Total Utilities
$260
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Pennsylvania state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Pennsylvania state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county McKeesport sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,299/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
98.1 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Pennsylvania

Colonial Park
18,125 people
Johnstown
18,245 people
Fullerton
16,729 people
Hanover
16,483 people
Lansdale
18,865 people
Hermitage
16,132 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to McKeesport's 17,520 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Takoma Park, MD
17,522 people
Wahiawa, HI
17,515 people
Streetsboro, OH
17,514 people
Spanish Springs, NV
17,512 people
Camano, WA
17,535 people
Graham, NC
17,537 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to McKeesport's $31,854 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Wiscon, FL
$31,850 median income
Pangburn, AR
$31,842 median income
Sanders, AZ
$31,838 median income
Columbus, KY
$31,875 median income
Whitesburg, KY
$31,875 median income
Casas Adobes, NM
$31,875 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - McKeesport, PA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition McKeesport, PA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 47.6% 38.5% 9.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.3% White 47.6% Black or African American 38.5% Asian 1.1% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.7% Two or more races 9.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How McKeesport compares to nearby Pennsylvania cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
McKeesport (this city) 17,520 $31,854
Colonial Park 18,125 $69,804
Johnstown 18,245 $34,784
Fullerton 16,729 $63,357
Census ACS 5-year FIPS PA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about McKeesport, PA?

What is the population of McKeesport, PA? +

17,520 people live in McKeesport, PA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in McKeesport, PA? +

McKeesport households earn a median of $31,854 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in McKeesport? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for McKeesport; the closest available measure is the Pennsylvania state average, a cost of living index of 97.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Pennsylvania vary by metro area.

Is McKeesport, PA safe? +

McKeesport has a total crime rate of 4258.6 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in McKeesport, PA? +

A typical home in McKeesport is worth $69,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in McKeesport? +

McKeesport has an average annual temperature of 51.7°F, 42.4 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.