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Cost of living, pay and housing

40.47° N · 80.06° W · GEOID 4246264

McKees Rocks

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

Computed by Citytistics from 13 public sources · Data bundle checked 2026-11-14 · How we calculate

PennsylvaniaMcKees Rocks, PAMcKees RocksMcKees Rocks

The short answer

McKees Rocks is home to 5,786 people. Median household income is $41,131 a year and median rent is $1,081 a month, 31.5% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). That is above the usual 30% line for cost burden. The median home is valued at $75,600, about 1.8x annual median household income.

What sets McKees Rocks apart is how tight household budgets are. After the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $28,400 a year, less than in 98% of places its size. Also notable: Rent run 44% above what its fundamentals predict in the same metro area.

10OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Weak

McKees Rocks scores better than 10% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 259th of 271 in Pennsylvania.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%51
Economy 20%4
Safety 20%12
Amenities 15%54
Education 10%2
Commute 10%83
Growth 5%49
Median gross rent
$1,081
21% below the median place
Median household income
$41,131
49% below the median place
Median home value
$75,600
76% below the median place
Unemployment
10.2%
108% above 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 McKees Rocks

  • HousingHomeowners pay a median of about 2.5% of home value a year in property tax, more than in 96% of the 2,266 places under 10,000 people we track.
  • HousingThe median home costs 1.8 years of the median household's income, fewer than in 97% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.
  • Value for moneyHome values are about 26% lower than we would expect for a place with these incomes, education levels, housing age and household types in the same metro area. That can mean good value, or drawbacks these figures do not capture, such as crime, schools or location. Experimental
01

Moving to McKees Rocks

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
Philadelphia County, PA410475−65
Cook County, IL318421−103
Santa Clara County, CA422
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
$43,200 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,081 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,118 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $75,600.
Getting to work
19 minutes each way on average; 9.9% work from home; 5.4% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
Lewistown, PA matches it on character for less of your income. 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
MeasureMcKees RocksAmong 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

The median rent takes 31.5% of the median household's income, a bigger share than in 96% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.

McKees Rocks31.5%
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
$43,240
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
31.5%
54% above the median place
Home price to income
1.8x
52% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
32%
over the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$28,200
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in McKees Rocks, $1,081 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 McKees Rocks, but easier on the budget

Places that match McKees Rocks on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Lewistown, PA9423.8% vs 31.5%n/aCompare
Clinton, MA9221.4% vs 31.5%$34,000Compare
Center Line, MI9217.3% vs 31.5%$16,200Compare
Webster, MA9122.5% vs 31.5%$20,900Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in McKees Rocks.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to McKees Rocks? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Median home value1
$75,600
76% below the median place
Property tax rate1
2.5%
171% above the median place
Median year built1
1949
1% below the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureMcKees RocksAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,08121% below
Rent to income131.5%54% above
Property tax rate12.5%171% above
Home price to income11.8x52% 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$1,86743% below
Median home value1$75,60076% below
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure3.2%0% above
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure40.0%22% below
Homeownership141.4%38% below
Renters paying 30%+155.4%10% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,11840% below
Vacant homes118.5%162% above
Median year built119491% below
03

Work and pay

Poverty rate is 32.1%, 198% above the median place.

Poverty rate1
32.1%
198% above the median place
Median household income1
$41,131
49% below the median place
Unemployment1
10.2%
108% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Income per person$23,538 −41%
Commutes by transit5.4% 6.3×
Mean commute19 min −22%
Works from home9.9% −20%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureMcKees RocksAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$41,13149% below
Income per person1$23,53841% below
Unemployment110.2%108% above
Average annual pay6County figure$81,25323% above
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure3.8%3% above
Jobs6County figure670,169345% above
Poverty rate132.1%198% above
Mean commute119 min22% below
Works from home19.9%20% below
Commutes by transit15.4%above (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Bachelor's or higher is 9.1%, 72% below the median place.

Bachelor's or higher1
9.1%
72% below the median place
Population change since 20207
-4.9%
below the median place (median 1.1%)
Homes with broadband1
83.1%
10% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Household size2.1 −15%
High school or higher94.9% +3%
Median age40.9 +5%
All 9 people measures
MeasureMcKees RocksAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population15,7866091st largest
Population change since 20207-4.9%below (median 1.1%)
Median age140.95% above
Bachelor's or higher19.1%72% below
High school or higher194.9%3% above
Household size12.115% below
Born abroad1County figure6.6%25% below
No health insurance1County figure3.8%41% below
Homes with broadband183.1%10% below
05

Life in McKees Rocks

The nearest National Park Service site is Friendship Hill, about 48 miles away.

Founded or incorporated in 1892. 275 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 11 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents10.4 +2%
Playgrounds per 10k34.6 3.7×
Grocery stores per 10k1.7 −18%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k22.5 2.0×
Libraries per 10k1.7 +99%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi5.7 27.0×

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.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Friendship Hill 48 miles
  • Fort Necessity National Battlefield 52 miles
  • Flight 93 National Memorial 67 miles

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 schools14
4
56% below the median place
Public school students14
2,208
55% below the median place
Nearest National Park Service site11
48.3
57% above the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureMcKees RocksAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools14456% below
Public school students142,20855% below
Students per teacher1414.56% 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 10k1010.42% above
Playgrounds per 10k1034.6267% above
Grocery stores per 10k101.718% below
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k1022.5102% above
Libraries per 10k101.799% above
Named paths and bike trails100.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi105.7above (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1148.357% above
National Park Service sites within 60 miles1120% above
National Register listings12County figure275above (median 13)
06

Safety, weather and risk

Violent crime per 100k is 408, 113% above the median place.

Violent crime per 100k
408
113% above the median place
Property crime per 100k
4,059
235% above the median place
Months reported
12 of 12
by the city police department to the FBI

Counts only offenses reported by the city police department. Sheriff, state and campus police are not included, and some departments do not report to the FBI at all, so compare with care.

Natural hazard risk16
98.1
6% above the median place
Good air days17
46.0%
33% below the median place
Median air quality index17
52
21% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureMcKees RocksAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high15County figure84°F4% below
January average low15County figure21°F16% below
Average temperature15County figure52°F6% below
Annual precipitation15County figure41.2 in6% below
Natural hazard risk16County figure98.16% above
Hurricane risk16County figure75.97% above
Tornado risk16County figure91.212% above
Wildfire risk16County figure60.41% below
Heat wave risk16County figure94.35% above
Median air quality index17County figure5221% above
Good air days17County figure46.0%33% below
08

McKees Rocks in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 32% of the median income in 2030, up from 32% 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. On projected 2030 affordability, McKees Rocks does better than 50% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 45%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,081/mo (2024)$1,410/mo$1,160 to $1,720/mo+4.5%
Median household income$41,131 (2024)$52,500$44,500 to $62,500+4.2%
Median home value$75,600 (2024)$108,000$78,000 to $149,000+6.1%
Population5,624 (2025)5,5205,300 to 5,760−0.4%

The median home would be worth 2.1 years of the median income in 2030, against 1.8 now.

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

09

Places like McKees Rocks

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

PlaceRentIncome
Jennings, MO$961$38,984Compare
Buena Vista, MI$906$41,999Compare
Albion, NY$881$41,581Compare
Robstown, TX$956$34,436Compare
Robstown, TXAlbion, NYBuena Vista, MIJennings, MOMcKees Rocks, PAMcKees RocksJenningsBuena VistaAlbionRobstownMcKees RocksJenningsBuena VistaAlbionRobstown

Places built like McKees Rocks

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how McKees Rocks performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
McKees Rocks, PA31.5%9.4%/yr-4.9%
Duquesne, PA20.1%8.2%/yr-4.5%Compare
New Brighton, PA17.0%7.2%/yr-2.8%Compare
Salem, NJ33.3%9.2%/yr1.9%Compare
Lewistown, PA23.8%2.5%/yr-2.1%Compare
Uniontown, PA26.2%0.2%/yr-5.7%Compare
Connellsville, PA17.9%5.5%/yr-6.3%Compare

Common questions

Is McKees Rocks a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 10 out of 100, better than 10% of the places we rate and 259th of 271 in Pennsylvania. Homeowners pay a median of about 2.5% of home value a year in property tax, more than in 96% of the 2,266 places under 10,000 people we track. The median home costs 1.8 years of the median household's income, fewer than in 97% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 11 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is McKees Rocks expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 31.5% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $75,600.

What salary do you need to live in McKees Rocks?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $43,240 a year. Work it out from your current city.

Is McKees Rocks safe?

There were 408 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents, against 192 in the typical place.

What places are similar to McKees Rocks?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Jennings, MO, Buena Vista, MI, Albion, NY and Robstown, TX.

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 Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  12. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  13. Crime Data Explorer · Federal Bureau of Investigation · 2025 data
  14. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  15. 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
  16. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  17. 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 McKees Rocks with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for McKees Rocks itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/mckees-rocks-pennsylvania

Citytistics. “McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/mckees-rocks-pennsylvania/

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