The Town FilesElizabeth, Pennsylvania
Township in Allegheny County · population 12,982 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,000
- Household income
- $80,589
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 48.2
Elizabeth is a township of 12,982 people in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $167,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of Pennsylvania towns, better for families than 76% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 74% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth is worth $167,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $80,589, which is more affordable than 86% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,070 a month. 88.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elizabeth | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,000 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,070 | $996 |
| Median household income | $80,589 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 88.6% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Elizabeth
| People | Elizabeth | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.2 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 30.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in Elizabeth
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 20.5°F. About 42.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.4 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elizabeth since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 3, 1963 about 4.9 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 135 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 21, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 81 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 14, 1984.
Severe weather in Allegheny County since 1996
Allegheny County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 1, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4149: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| April 16, 2010 | Snowstorm | DR-1898: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Allegheny County
Allegheny County had 670,637 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $78,297 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Elizabeth itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Elizabeth
2 public schools with 841 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Forward MS | 6-8 | 541 | 12.9 |
| Central El Sch | K-5 | 300 | 13.6 |
Towns near Elizabeth
- Clairton, PA4.2 mi · 6,181 people · home $66,500
- Sewickley, PA4.6 mi · 5,647 people · home $191,800
- West Newton, PA4.8 mi · 2,665 people · home $131,200
- White Oak, PA5.1 mi · 7,630 people · home $162,200
- Forward, PA5.3 mi · 3,070 people · home $166,000
- McKeesport, PA5.3 mi · 17,727 people · home $72,700
- Glassport, PA5.4 mi · 4,475 people · home $82,700
- Port Vue, PA5.7 mi · 3,680 people · home $82,500
Elizabeth questions
Is Elizabeth, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elizabeth scores better for retirees than 74% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 61%. 22.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.2).
How much does a house cost in Elizabeth?
The median owner-occupied home in Elizabeth is valued at $167,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,589, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,070 a month.
What is the weather like in Elizabeth?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 20.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.4 inches of precipitation a year and 21.4 inches of snow.
Does Elizabeth get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elizabeth since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 3, 1963. 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)