The Town FilesBelle Vernon, Pennsylvania
Borough in Fayette County · population 1,024 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $138,400
- Household income
- $41,154
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 44.9
Belle Vernon is a borough of 1,024 people in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $138,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks hipper than 84% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 73% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 72% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Belle Vernon ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Belle Vernon is worth $138,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $41,154, which is more affordable than 25% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $711 a month. 35.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Belle Vernon | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $138,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $711 | $996 |
| Median household income | $41,154 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 35.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Belle Vernon
| People | Belle Vernon | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.6% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 89.0% |
Weather in Belle Vernon
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 21.3°F. About 40.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.3 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belle Vernon since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 6, 2026 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on November 27, 2022.
Severe weather in Fayette County since 1996
Fayette County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 1, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4149: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Fayette County
Fayette County had 37,892 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,069 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Belle Vernon itself the ACS puts it at 10.4%.
Public schools in Belle Vernon
4 public schools with 2,412 students, about 16.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belle Vernon Area HS | 9-12 | 749 | 17.4 |
| Marion El Sch | K-6 | 662 | 17.0 |
| Rostraver El Sch | K-6 | 654 | 18.2 |
| Belle Vernon Area MS | 7-8 | 347 | 13.3 |
Towns near Belle Vernon
- North Belle Vernon, PA0.6 mi · 1,873 people · home $118,600
- Lynnwood-Pricedale, PA0.7 mi · 2,074 people · home $197,400
- Speers, PA1.0 mi · 1,088 people · home $158,400
- Fairhope, PA1.4 mi · 1,146 people · home $128,500
- Fayette City, PA2.0 mi · 502 people · home $76,400
- Charleroi, PA2.2 mi · 4,234 people · home $52,800
- Monessen, PA2.3 mi · 6,876 people · home $95,900
- Washington, PA2.6 mi · 3,894 people · home $135,200
Belle Vernon questions
Is Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Belle Vernon scores better for retirees than 73% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 47%. 27.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.9).
How much does a house cost in Belle Vernon?
The median owner-occupied home in Belle Vernon is valued at $138,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,154, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $711 a month.
What is the weather like in Belle Vernon?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 21.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.9 inches of precipitation a year and 10.3 inches of snow.
Does Belle Vernon get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belle Vernon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 6, 2026. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)