The Town FilesTarentum, Pennsylvania
Borough in Allegheny County · population 4,352 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $84,300
- Household income
- $45,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 42.3
Tarentum is a borough of 4,352 people in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $84,300, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more of a college town than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 93% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 93% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Tarentum 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 Tarentum is worth $84,300, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $45,167, which is more affordable than 91% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $803 a month. 71.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tarentum | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $84,300 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $803 | $996 |
| Median household income | $45,167 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 71.9% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Tarentum
| People | Tarentum | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.4% | 89.0% |
Weather in Tarentum
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 20.5°F. About 42.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 117 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tarentum since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 3, 1980 about 3.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 100 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 21, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 57 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 20, 2017.
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 Tarentum itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Public schools in Tarentum
2 public schools with 960 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highlands El Sch | 1-4 | 585 | 13.0 |
| Curtisville Pri Ctr | K-2 | 375 | 13.9 |
Towns near Tarentum
- Brackenridge, PA1.1 mi · 3,240 people · home $94,800
- Arnold, PA1.8 mi · 4,772 people · home $86,400
- New Kensington, PA2.2 mi · 12,170 people · home $142,000
- Lower Burrell, PA2.6 mi · 11,758 people · home $198,600
- Harrison, PA3.2 mi · 10,157 people · home $154,400
- Springdale, PA4.5 mi · 3,400 people · home $153,900
- West Deer, PA6.0 mi · 12,262 people · home $244,100
- Harmar, PA6.2 mi · 3,133 people · home $206,200
Tarentum questions
Is Tarentum, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tarentum scores better for retirees than 9% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 7%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Tarentum?
The median owner-occupied home in Tarentum is valued at $84,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,167, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $803 a month.
What is the weather like in Tarentum?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 20.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.2 inches of precipitation a year and 27.6 inches of snow.
Does Tarentum get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tarentum since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 3, 1980. 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)