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Living in
New Kensington.
About
Life in New Kensington
New Kensington is a community of 12,072 people in Pennsylvania. The median household income is $49,063, median rent runs about $751 per month, and median home values are around $142,000. Unemployment is low at 4.2%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
New Kensington at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
48.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.0%
Foreign-Born
1.3%
Broadband Internet
86.2%
of households
Population Growth
-3.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.3% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in New Kensington: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In New Kensington, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (46.5%), and 0.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.0%
of residents
65 and Older
22.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
21.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
43.8%
of households
Married Couples
30.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.93
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 38% below PA average
Rent, home values, and income in New Kensington
In New Kensington, rent runs 38% below the PA average, and home values are 44% below the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
30.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
94.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,233
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1952
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $177,267 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for PA
Unemployment in New Kensington
Unemployment in Westmoreland County, which includes New Kensington, is close to the PA average.
Unemployment rate
New Kensington: Westmoreland County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Westmoreland County (county-wide) · Annual averages
New Kensington is about 3% of Westmoreland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What New Kensington Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.1 min avg
How New Kensington residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In New Kensington, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 25 mi
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
Medium hub4.8M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 16% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in New Kensington runs 16% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
381
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,557.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
New Kensington Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 29 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Westmoreland County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Westmoreland County, which includes New Kensington, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 29 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $292,000 |
| 2024 | 35 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.8M |
| 2023 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $192,000 |
| 2022 | 34 | Winter Weather | $2.0M |
| 2021 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $384,000 |
| 2020 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $722,000 |
| 2019 | 41 | Thunderstorm Wind | $362,000 |
| 2018 | 41 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.6M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Westmoreland County, county-wide
New Kensington is about 3% of Westmoreland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Westmoreland County, which includes New Kensington, is typically good — 283 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
283
per year
Moderate Days
78
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Westmoreland County, county-wide
New Kensington is about 3% of Westmoreland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
New Kensington has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.2"
Annual Snowfall
25.0"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
117
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
156
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 21°F | 3.12" |
| Feb | 40°F | 21°F | 2.79" |
| Mar | 50°F | 27°F | 3.27" |
| Apr | 63°F | 38°F | 3.58" |
| May | 72°F | 50°F | 3.90" |
| Jun | 80°F | 59°F | 4.34" |
| Jul | 83°F | 63°F | 4.26" |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 3.55" |
| Sep | 76°F | 55°F | 3.99" |
| Oct | 64°F | 43°F | 3.09" |
| Nov | 52°F | 33°F | 3.09" |
| Dec | 41°F | 26°F | 3.26" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in New Kensington
Uninsured
4.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside New Kensington's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Allegheny Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.3 mi away · Natrona
Upmc East
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.2 mi away · Monroeville
Upmc St Margaret
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.5 mi away · Pittsburgh
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in New Kensington
New Kensington's student/teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 22.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near New Kensington (within 15 miles)
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
13.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 20,370 students · in-state tuition $22,736 · 83% graduate · median earnings $73,113 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,304 students · in-state tuition $68,776 · 92% graduate · median earnings $125,257 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,348 students · in-state tuition $37,132 · 57% graduate · median earnings $56,397 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,232 students · in-state tuition $45,986 · 71% graduate · median earnings $61,561 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 751 students · in-state tuition $35,684 · 63% graduate · median earnings $57,999 (10 yrs after entry)
Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Inc
12.1 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 351 students · 61% graduate · median earnings $55,419 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Fort Necessity National Battlefield, 53 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for New Kensington
New Kensington has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Necessity National Battlefield (53 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Necessity National Battlefield
National Battlefield
53 mi awayJohnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
54 mi awayFriendship Hill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
56 mi awayFlight 93 National Memorial
National Memorial
57 mi awayAllegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
National Historic Site
63 mi awayFirst Ladies National Historic Site
National Historic Site
86 mi awayPublic Libraries in New Kensington
Peoples Library
880 Barnes St, New Kensington
Cities Near New Kensington
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to New Kensington?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
New Kensington FAQ
Is New Kensington, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
New Kensington's median rent is $751/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $49,063/year. Median home value is $142,000.
Is New Kensington, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
New Kensington's violent crime rate was 381 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2557 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in New Kensington, Pennsylvania?⌄
Westmoreland County, which includes New Kensington, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in New Kensington, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in New Kensington is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $751/month and median household income is $49,063/year. The median home value is $142,000. About 30% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in New Kensington, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in New Kensington is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from