The Town FilesMcCandless, Pennsylvania
Township in Allegheny County · population 29,698 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $350,100
- Household income
- $110,858
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 42.7
McCandless is a township of 29,698 people in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $350,100, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for young professionals than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, more upscale than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, more of a college town than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
How McCandless 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 McCandless is worth $350,100, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $110,858, which is more affordable than 33% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,326 a month. 71.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | McCandless | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $350,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,326 | $996 |
| Median household income | $110,858 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 71.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in McCandless
| People | McCandless | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.8% | — |
| Work from home | 26.0% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 89.0% |
Weather in McCandless
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 20.5°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 107 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McCandless since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 4, 1975 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 20, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 108 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 McCandless itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in McCandless
1 public school with 2,697 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Allegheny HS | 9-12 | 2,697 | 14.4 |
Towns near McCandless
- Allison Park, PA3.5 mi · 21,864 people · home $346,900
- Ross, PA3.7 mi · 33,567 people · home $268,900
- Hampton, PA3.9 mi · 18,479 people · home $371,100
- Franklin Park, PA3.9 mi · 15,479 people · home $485,600
- Glenshaw, PA3.9 mi · 8,945 people · home $249,500
- West View, PA4.2 mi · 6,685 people · home $227,100
- Ohio, PA4.3 mi · 7,178 people · home $474,600
- Pine, PA4.6 mi · 14,691 people · home $579,700
McCandless questions
Is McCandless, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McCandless scores better for retirees than 84% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 18%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in McCandless?
The median owner-occupied home in McCandless is valued at $350,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $110,858, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,326 a month.
What is the weather like in McCandless?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 20.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 29.6 inches of snow.
Does McCandless get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McCandless since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 4, 1975. 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)