The Town FilesMcKeesport, Pennsylvania
City in Allegheny County · population 17,727 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $72,700
- Household income
- $34,219
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 41.0
McKeesport is a city of 17,727 people in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $72,700, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 92% of Pennsylvania towns, better transit than 89% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 87% of Pennsylvania towns.
How McKeesport 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 McKeesport is worth $72,700, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $34,219, which is more affordable than 86% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $848 a month. 50.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | McKeesport | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $72,700 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $848 | $996 |
| Median household income | $34,219 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 50.9% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1947 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in McKeesport
| People | McKeesport | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.0% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in McKeesport
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 25.0 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
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McKeesport since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 3, 1963 about 2.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 131 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 21, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 107 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 McKeesport itself the ACS puts it at 11.5%.
Public schools in McKeesport
10 public schools with 4,565 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKeesport Area SHS | 9-12 | 1,051 | 17.2 |
| Francis McClure El Sch | K-5 | 696 | 13.9 |
| Twin Rivers El Sch | K-5 | 672 | 11.4 |
| Founders Hall Middle Sch | 6-8 | 636 | 9.5 |
| South Allegheny HS | 9-12 | 472 | 16.3 |
| South Allegheny MS | 6-8 | 334 | 13.9 |
| Propel CS-McKeesport (charter) | K-8 | 311 | 12.4 |
| Mt Vernon El Sch | 3-5 | 199 | 13.3 |
| Greenock El Sch | K-2 | 194 | 12.9 |
| McKeesport Area Technology Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near McKeesport
- Port Vue, PA1.6 mi · 3,680 people · home $82,500
- Duquesne, PA2.2 mi · 5,254 people · home $63,800
- Glassport, PA2.4 mi · 4,475 people · home $82,700
- White Oak, PA2.6 mi · 7,630 people · home $162,200
- North Versailles, PA3.0 mi · 10,074 people · home $111,300
- West Mifflin, PA3.4 mi · 19,589 people · home $151,600
- Clairton, PA3.9 mi · 6,181 people · home $66,500
- North Braddock, PA4.2 mi · 4,320 people · home $66,100
McKeesport questions
Is McKeesport, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McKeesport scores better for retirees than 3% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 9%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in McKeesport?
The median owner-occupied home in McKeesport is valued at $72,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,219, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $848 a month.
What is the weather like in McKeesport?
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 25.0 inches of snow.
Does McKeesport get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McKeesport 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)