The Pittsburgh metro area: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland counties · Population 2,439,940 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of the Pittsburgh area: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in the Pittsburgh area
Household size in the Pittsburgh area
| Period | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.37 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.35 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.29 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.30 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in the Pittsburgh area are small: just 2.30 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has edged down from 2.37 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. The Pittsburgh area has the smallest households of any large metro area.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the Pittsburgh area
| Period | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.5 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.0 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.7 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.9 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.4 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
The Pittsburgh area skews older than the country: its median age is 43.9, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.5, in line with the national trend. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only four are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the Pittsburgh area
| Period | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in twelve households in the Pittsburgh area (8.8%), below the national share of 11.6%. Few large metro areas have a lower share of single-parent households: only four of 100.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the Pittsburgh area
Renters in the Pittsburgh area
| Period | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.5% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.9% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.3% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.3% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in the Pittsburgh area own their homes; 29.3% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 44.6% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the north. The renter share is up 0.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the Pittsburgh area
| Period | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.5% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.0% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in the Pittsburgh area as nationally: 10.0%, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 0.7 points, as it has nationally. The Pittsburgh area has a higher vacancy rate than the great majority of large metro areas.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the Pittsburgh area
| Period | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1960 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in the Pittsburgh area is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1964, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1960 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the center. Only four of the 100 large U.S. metro areas have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the Pittsburgh area
| Period | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $720 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $801 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $922 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,162 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$442 | +$494 | +$606 |
The median renter in the Pittsburgh area pays $1,162 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $442 a month since 2006–10, up 61%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 28.6% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the west and lowest in the northeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the Pittsburgh area
Bachelor's degrees in the Pittsburgh area
| Period | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.5% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.7% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.2% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.0% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.5 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in the Pittsburgh area than nationally: 39.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 9.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the northeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the Pittsburgh area
| Period | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.8% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.3% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.8% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.0% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in the Pittsburgh area: 95.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Few large metro areas have a higher share of high school graduates: only three of 100.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the Pittsburgh area
| Period | Pittsburgh area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.9% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in the Pittsburgh area is close to the national rate: 5.0% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 1.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the Pittsburgh area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh area (all) | 2.30 | 43.9 | 8.8% | 29.3% | 10.0% | 1964 | $1,162 | 39.0% | 95.0% | 5.0% |
| Greensburg | 2.20 | 45.7 | 5.9% | 24.0% | 7.4% | 1970 | $966 | 40.4% | 96.3% | 4.0% |
| New Castle | 2.31 | 45.7 | 12.1% | 28.1% | 10.1% | 1957 | $989 | 23.0% | 92.3% | 6.7% |
| Butler | 2.28 | 45.0 | 7.7% | 27.6% | 9.5% | 1963 | $882 | 26.0% | 94.9% | 5.1% |
| Washington | 2.23 | 44.3 | 9.5% | 34.3% | 10.9% | 1967 | $1,029 | 25.9% | 92.3% | 5.2% |
| Irwin | 2.42 | 46.0 | 7.1% | 15.1% | 5.4% | 1972 | $1,185 | 42.0% | 97.3% | 4.1% |
| Canonsburg | 2.47 | 42.8 | 5.7% | 21.4% | 7.2% | 1982 | $1,491 | 51.1% | 97.0% | 4.1% |
| Bethel Park | 2.25 | 48.3 | 4.9% | 23.4% | 6.9% | 1965 | $1,344 | 53.8% | 97.6% | 2.9% |
| Coraopolis | 2.39 | 46.6 | 5.0% | 22.6% | 5.3% | 1974 | $1,344 | 46.5% | 95.7% | 2.7% |
| Aliquippa | 2.21 | 46.7 | 10.3% | 26.2% | 11.5% | 1961 | $1,062 | 29.9% | 95.4% | 4.7% |
| Monroeville | 2.24 | 45.3 | 7.7% | 31.6% | 9.8% | 1966 | $1,361 | 45.8% | 97.2% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Kansas City area · Cincinnati area · Las Vegas area · Austin area · Sacramento area · San Antonio area · Charlotte area · Orlando area · St. Louis area · Baltimore area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the Pittsburgh area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.