City profile · Pennsylvania · Census ACS 2023

New Kensington, PA

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

12,072
Residents
$49,644
Median income
$132,400
Median home
$1,299
Median rent (state)

New Kensington - the verdict

New Kensington ranks in the 19th percentile for household income and the 17th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

19th
percentile, household income
21st
percentile, home value
45th
percentile, median rent
17th
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: New Kensington, PA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 12,072 residents in New Kensington, a small town within Pennsylvania. New Kensington households earn a median of $49,644 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 6.7%. New Kensington's housing stock carries a median value of $132,400, and the median resident age is 49.5 years. About 20.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 54.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 1 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity). New Kensington's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 2856.7 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Pennsylvania tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 97.6 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,299 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Pennsylvania's average monthly utility costs around $260 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 98.1 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

12,072 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Pennsylvania

Median Household Income

$49,644 /yr

Poverty 6.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Pennsylvania average

How does New Kensington compare to other US cities?

Here's how New Kensington stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 19% higher than other cities
Home value 21% pricier than other cities
Median rent 45% pricier than other cities
Safety 17% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Pennsylvania alone, New Kensington ranks #378 of 402 Pennsylvania cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

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 New Kensington'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.

19thIncome percentile
17thSafety percentile

19th percentile nationally for median household income · 17th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

New Kensington's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

New Kensington'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 34 Avg. percentile National median
New Kensington'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 New Kensington's home value compares nationally

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

$132,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 79% 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%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. New Kensington $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 - New Kensington, PA New Kensington, PA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not New Kensington, 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 New Kensington, PA median $49,644/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%
New Kensington, 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 New Kensington, PA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.4%

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

Population
12,072
Median Income
$49,644
Median Home Value
$132,400
Median Age
49.5
Poverty Rate
6.7%
Labor force participation
54.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2856.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
456.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2400.3
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.

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
11,600 residents11,800 residents12,000 residents12,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 12,129 residents 11,759 residents ▼ -3.1%
New Kensington's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 2
2021 1
2022 0
2023 0
2024 1

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
72.8%
Carpool
13.2%
Public Transit
1.2%
Walk
1.8%
Work from Home
10.3%
Other
0.7%

Based on 5,558 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 New Kensington 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

Yeadon
12,091 people
Elizabethtown
11,857 people
Mountain Top
11,856 people
Jefferson Hills
12,313 people
Emmaus
11,727 people
Lower Burrell
11,659 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to New Kensington's 12,072 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Commerce, CA
12,072 people
Key Largo, FL
12,069 people
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
12,067 people
Moss Point, MS
12,066 people
Finneytown, OH
12,079 people
Minnehaha, WA
12,080 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to New Kensington's $49,644 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Middletown, MO
$49,643 median income
Donalds, SC
$49,643 median income
Menominee, MI
$49,646 median income
Claycomo, MO
$49,649 median income
Woodson Terrace, MO
$49,650 median income
Okeene, OK
$49,650 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - New Kensington, 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 New Kensington, PA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 82.2% 12.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.6% White 82.2% Black or African American 12.6% Asian 0.6% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 4.0% 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 New Kensington 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
New Kensington (this city) 12,072 $49,644
Yeadon 12,091 $57,336
Elizabethtown 11,857 $67,770
Mountain Top 11,856 $105,286
Census ACS 5-year FIPS PA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about New Kensington, PA?

What is the population of New Kensington, PA? +

New Kensington, PA has a population of 12,072 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in New Kensington, PA? +

In New Kensington, the typical household earns $49,644 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in New Kensington? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for New Kensington; 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 New Kensington, PA safe? +

New Kensington has a total crime rate of 2856.7 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 New Kensington, PA? +

A typical home in New Kensington is worth $132,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, 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.