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Cost of living, pay and housing

40.51° N · 80.08° W · GEOID 4205504

Ben Avon

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania · part of the Pittsburgh, PA metro

Limited data population under 5,000

PennsylvaniaBen Avon, PABen AvonBen Avon

The short answer

Ben Avon is home to 1,919 people. Median household income is $102,869 a year and median rent is $1,393 a month, 16.2% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $344,700, about 3.4x annual median household income.

Median gross rent
$1,393
2% above the median place
Median household income
$102,869
28% above the median place
Median home value
$344,700
8% above the median place
Unemployment
3.9%
21% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Ben Avon

  • Half the homes were built before 1938, older housing than in 97% of the 2,479 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 271 Pennsylvania places.
  • 2% of residents were born outside the US, fewer than in 96% of places its size.
  • The population has fallen 5% since 2020, a steeper drop than in 95% of places its size.
  • 31% of workers mostly work from home, more than in 94% of places its size.
  • Between the 2019 and 2024 surveys, rent rose 7.1% a year while household income rose 2.2%, so rent outran pay by more than in 88% of places its size.

Rent is light relative to pay, but the county has a FEMA natural hazard risk score of 98 out of 100. Budget for insurance before counting the savings.

Many people here skip the commute entirely: 31% work from home, which keeps total commuting time lower than in 88% of places.

01

Moving to Ben Avon

Allegheny County loses about 7.1 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in32,390
Moved out39,397
Net−7,007

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Westmoreland County, PA2,7763,762−986
Washington County, PA2,0193,265−1,246
Butler County, PA1,7132,910−1,197
Beaver County, PA1,2101,833−623
Cook County, IL318421−103
New York County, NY410

Within Pennsylvania, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within PennsylvaniaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$73K
Leavers$91K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Allegheny County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
4.6% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 2.3% from another state. County figure.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Allegheny County report $72,800 a year in income on average; those leaving, $90,900, so leavers earn more than newcomers.
Income you would need
$55,700 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,393 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $2,336 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $344,700.
Getting to work
23 minutes each way on average; 30.9% work from home; 4.7% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
Wauwatosa, WI matches it on character. Compare the two
Net movers per 1,000 people8
-7.1
below the median place (median -0.6)
Income of households moving out8
$90,895
29% above the median place
Moved here in the past year1
4.6%
19% below the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureBen AvonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year1County figure4.6%19% below
Moved from another state1County figure2.3%14% above
Net movers per 1,000 people8County figure-7.1below (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in8County figure$72,8103% above
Income of households moving out8County figure$90,89529% above
02

What it costs to live here

Median year built is 1938, 2% below the median place.

Ben Avon16.2%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$55,720
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
16.2%
21% below the median place
Home price to income
3.4x
12% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
16%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$86,900
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Ben Avon, $1,393 a month, and local prices for everything else (99.3 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Ben Avon, but easier on the budget

Close matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income.

PlaceRent to incomeMore left a year
Rockford, MI12.4% vs 16.2%$9,600Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Ben Avon.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Ben Avon? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Median year built1
1938
2% below the median place
Renters paying 30%+1
39.6%
22% below the median place
Property tax rate1
1.6%
78% above the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureBen AvonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,3932% above
Rent to income116.2%21% below
Property tax rate11.6%78% above
Home price to income13.4x12% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure94.76% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,38914% below
HUD area median income4County figure$110,4003% above
Property tax paid (median)1$5,59371% above
Median home value1$344,7008% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure3.2%0% above
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure40.0%22% below
Homeownership169.0%4% above
Renters paying 30%+139.6%22% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$2,33625% above
Vacant homes1County figure10.1%42% above
Median year built119382% below
03

Work and pay

Works from home is 30.9%, 148% above the median place.

Works from home1
30.9%
148% above the median place
Commutes by transit1
4.7%
above the median place (median 0.8%)
Income per person1
$55,561
39% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Unemployment3.9% −21%
Poverty rate7.2% −33%
Median household income$102,869 +28%
Mean commute23 min −8%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureBen AvonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$102,86928% above
Income per person1$55,56139% above
Unemployment13.9%21% below
Average annual pay6County figure$81,25323% above
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure3.8%3% above
Jobs6County figure670,169345% above
Poverty rate17.2%33% below
Mean commute123 min8% below
Works from home130.9%148% above
Commutes by transit14.7%above (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

High school or higher is 99.2%, 7% above the median place.

High school or higher1
99.2%
7% above the median place
Population change since 20207
-5.0%
below the median place (median 1.1%)
Born abroad1
1.6%
82% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Bachelor's or higher64.1% 2.0×
No health insurance3.6% −44%
Household size2.4 −4%
Homes with broadband93.0% +1%
Median age39.1 +0%
All 9 people measures
MeasureBen AvonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population11,9196646th largest
Population change since 20207-5.0%below (median 1.1%)
Median age139.10% above
Bachelor's or higher164.1%100% above
High school or higher199.2%7% above
Household size12.44% below
Born abroad11.6%82% below
No health insurance13.6%44% below
Homes with broadband193.0%1% above
05

Life in Ben Avon

275 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 11 of them National Historic Landmarks.

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents0.0 −100%
Playgrounds per 10k0.0 −100%
Grocery stores per 10k0.0 −100%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k5.2 −53%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails1 km −75%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi26.4 125.7×

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars26.2 +26%
Shops32.1 +6%
Arts, recreation and fitness5.4 +32%
Doctors' offices and clinics26.5 +31%
Child care centers3.2 +39%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Public schools12
276
above the median place (median 9)
Public school students12
141,392
above the median place (median 4,897)
Restaurants and bars per 10k9
26.2
26% above the median place
All 16 schools and local life measures
MeasureBen AvonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12County figure276above (median 9)
Public school students12County figure141,392above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher12County figure13.115% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k9County figure26.226% above
Shops per 10k9County figure32.16% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k9County figure5.432% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k9County figure26.531% above
Child care centers per 10k9County figure3.239% above
Parks per 10k100.0below (median 10.2)
Playgrounds per 10k100.0below (median 9.4)
Grocery stores per 10k100.0below (median 2.1)
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k105.253% below
Libraries per 10k100.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails100.575% below
Transit stops per sq mi1026.4above (median 0.2)
National Register listings11County figure275above (median 13)
06

Safety, weather and risk

Natural hazard risk is 98.1, 6% above the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Ben Avon. Larger places are fetched first.

Natural hazard risk14
98.1
6% above the median place
Good air days15
46.0%
33% below the median place
Median air quality index15
52
21% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureBen AvonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high13County figure84°F4% below
January average low13County figure21°F16% below
Average temperature13County figure52°F6% below
Annual precipitation13County figure41.2 in6% below
Natural hazard risk14County figure98.16% above
Hurricane risk14County figure75.97% above
Tornado risk14County figure91.212% above
Wildfire risk14County figure60.41% below
Heat wave risk14County figure94.35% above
Median air quality index15County figure5221% above
Good air days15County figure46.0%33% below
08

Ben Avon in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 17% of the median income in 2030, up from 16% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,393/mo (2024)$1,800/mo$1,480 to $2,200/mo+4.4%
Median household income$102,869 (2024)$128,500$108,500 to $152,000+3.8%
Median home value$344,700 (2024)$495,000$359,000 to $682,000+6.2%
Population1,824 (2025)1,7901,720 to 1,870−0.4%

The median home would be worth 3.8 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.4 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Ben Avon

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Wauwatosa, WI$1,438$101,138Compare
Farmington, MI$1,340$97,750Compare
Manchester, MO$1,322$97,801Compare
Overland Park, KS$1,515$104,834Compare
Overland Park, KSManchester, MOFarmington, MIWauwatosa, WIBen Avon, PABen AvonWauwatosaFarmingtonManchesterOverland ParkBen AvonWauwatosaFarmingtonManchesterOverland Park

Common questions

Is Ben Avon a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Half the homes were built before 1938, older housing than in 97% of the 2,479 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 271 Pennsylvania places. 2% of residents were born outside the US, fewer than in 96% of places its size. On cost, space and class size it scores 76 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Ben Avon expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 16.2% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $344,700.

What salary do you need to live in Ben Avon?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $55,720 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Ben Avon?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Wauwatosa, WI, Farmington, MI, Manchester, MO and Overland Park, KS.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  8. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  9. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  10. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  13. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  14. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  15. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Ben Avon with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Ben Avon itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/ben-avon-pennsylvania

Citytistics. “Ben Avon, Pennsylvania.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/ben-avon-pennsylvania/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.