28 / 100

Allegheny County, PA

RANK #712 / 1001 NAT  ·  #41 / 44 PA  ·  POP 1,238,177

1YR FORECAST: -0.5%

5YR OUTLOOK: +25%

#38 Most Undervalued
Our model projects Allegheny County's housing market at -0.5% over the next year, underperforming most U.S. counties.

[01] Why Allegheny County?

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, is defined by its distinctive landscape where the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers converge in Pittsburgh, the county seat. This area, known for its many bridges, offers a mix of urban amenities and natural beauty. Towns like Mount Lebanon Township and Franklin Park are noted for their quality of life. The county boasts an extensive park system, with over 12,000 acres across nine regional parks, providing opportunities for hiking, biking, and various year-round activities. Commuting throughout the county is facilitated by the Port Authority of Allegheny County's bus and light rail system.

Life in Allegheny County offers access to highly rated public schools, including districts like North Allegheny and Mt. Lebanon. The economy has diversified from its industrial past, with significant activity in education, healthcare, technology, and manufacturing. Recent economic developments include investments in advanced manufacturing and energy storage, alongside initiatives to strengthen local business districts. The county continues to attract residents seeking a blend of urban accessibility and outdoor recreation.

MARKET PROFILE

Idiosyncratic Markets

Allegheny County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +0.7% YoY, population -0.2%, wages +3.8%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.

See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
5.2x

Below national median (11.3x)

Home Prices
+0.7%

Well below national median

Climate & Terrain
0.5

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
12x

Below national median (15x)

Housing is fairly valued at 5.2x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Top Employers

  1. 1
    UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) Healthcare
    50,000+
  2. 2
    Highmark Health Healthcare
    25,000+
  3. 3
    Allegheny Health Network Healthcare
    10,000+
  4. 4
    University of Pittsburgh Education
  5. 5
    Giant Eagle Inc. Retail
  6. 6
    PNC Bank NA Finance
  7. 7
    Federal Government Government
    5,000+
  8. 8
    Carnegie Mellon University Education
  9. 9
    Allegheny County Government
  10. 10
    State Government Government

Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Allegheny County U.S. National

Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
1,238,177
-0.19% YoY
Median Household Income
$78,548
Median Home Value
$227,600
+0.69% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,153
Average Annual Pay
$81,257
+3.8% YoY
Employment
669,998
-0.1% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3451
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
1.77%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
45.8%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$282,000
Days on Market
50
Moderate pace
Months of Supply
3.8
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
98.7%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
31.8%
Listings w/ Price Drops
23.8%
Building Permits (2025)
3,191
Single-Family Permits
1,260

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Crime & Safety

D
SAFETY
GRADE
Homicide Rate
8.6
per 100K · nat avg 6.3
Firearm Fatalities
14.6
per 100K · nat avg 14.8
Injury Deaths
108.4
per 100K · nat avg 76.3
vs National Average
Above national avg
based on homicide rate

Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →

[06] Air Quality

C
AIR QUALITY
GRADE
Median AQI (3yr)
56.3
Moderate
Good Air Days
34%
368 of 1,095 days
Unhealthy+ Days (3yr)
35
Includes 1 Very Unhealthy
Primary Pollutant
PM2.5
Fine particulate matter
Yearly Trend
2021
57
2022
56
2023
56
Median AQI · lower is better

Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →

[07] Capital Investment

$1,702M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Allegheny Energy Center Natural Gas Power Plant
Invenergy
$639M Proposed
Hyperscale Data Center (Springdale)
Allegheny DC Property Co. (Davidson Kempner)
$500M Planned
Eos Energy Battery Manufacturing Expansion & HQ Relocation
Eos Energy Enterprises
$353M Under Construction
2025 Capital Budget - Infrastructure & Capital Improvement Projects
Allegheny County
$131M Under Construction
Allegheny Ridge Wind Repowering
Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE)
$80M Under Construction

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[08] Score Breakdown

Population Growth -0.2% 14 percentile
Income Growth +2.8% 52 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.4% 21 percentile
Home Price Change +0.7% 35 percentile
Rent Growth +4.1% 69 percentile
Price/Rent 12x 83 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.

[09] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Allegheny County, PA a good place to move to?

At 28/100, Allegheny County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $78,548 combined with job growth of -0.1% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.

Is Allegheny County affordable?

Housing in Allegheny County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $227,600 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.35, with rents averaging $1,153/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.

Is Allegheny County growing or shrinking?

Population and employment in Allegheny County are both close to flat — population -0.2% YoY and jobs -0.1%. Home values shifted +0.7% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.

Are many people relocating to Allegheny County?

Not particularly — 1.77% of Allegheny County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.

[10] Similar Counties by Size & Score

Lehigh County, PA 29 Bucks County, PA 27 Armstrong County, PA 26 Delaware County, PA 31 Montgomery County, PA 31 Washington County, PA 32 Fresno County, CA 28 Oakland County, MI 29