Cost of Living in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Allegheny County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Allegheny County ranks #2,544 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 19%)
Sourced county brief
Allegheny County Median Monthly Owner Costs Recorded at $1,178
Median selected monthly owner costs in Allegheny County were estimated at $1,178 during the 2020-2024 ACS period. This value is $168 above the Pennsylvania unweighted county mean of $1,010. For renter households, the median gross rent was $1,153, which is higher than the state unweighted county mean of $991. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) from ACS table B25071 was 28.3%. This canonical rent-to-income percentage differs from the Pennsylvania unweighted county mean of 27.7% by 0.6 percentage points. The median home value in the county was $227,600, while the state unweighted county mean was $212,079. Additionally, the median income for renter-occupied households was recorded at $46,532. These figures represent a snapshot of housing costs and income within the designated five-year window. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Allegheny County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.3% of renter household income in Allegheny County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,153 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,178. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $46,120 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Pennsylvania unweighted mean of county median rents is $991 per month. Allegheny County's $1,153 median is 16.4% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Allegheny County
Rent Burden
17.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,833
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.0%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Allegheny County
Median home value is $227,600. Estimated monthly cost: $1,817 vs. your max of $1,833.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania?
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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