Median Income
$61,364
household / year
Median Home Value
$140,100
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$725
gross / month
Cost of Living
92
national avg = 100

Is St. Marys, PA a Good Place to Live?

St. Marys is a small city of 12,691 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $61,364 and a 9.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: St. Marys stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether St. Marys is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All St. Marys city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.3

St. Marys's overall cost of living index is 92.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in St. Marys costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric St. Marys, PA National Avg
Median Home Value $140,100 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $725 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 76.1% 65.9%
Median Household Income $61,364 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for St. Marys is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

St. Marys is served primarily by Saint Marys Area SD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric St. Marys, PA National Avg
School District Saint Marys Area SD —
Elementary Schools 2 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.6:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 19.6% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 93.8% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

St. Marys sees average highs of 30.5°F in January and 78.5°F in July, with 45.0 inches of annual precipitation and 66.0 inches of snow per year.

MetricSt. Marys, PA
Average High — January30.5°F
Average High — July78.5°F
Annual Precipitation45.0"
Annual Snowfall66.0"

Demographics

MetricSt. Marys, PANational Avg
Population12,691—
Median Age50.538.9
Unemployment Rate9.1%3.7%
Avg Commute Time12.5 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)94.6%59.3%
Black or African American1.3%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino3.3%18.9%
Asian0.4%6.3%
Under 1817.3%22.2%
65 and over25.9%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in St. Marys

St. Marys, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

St. Marys vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

St. Marys's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes St. Marys roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $140,100 and median rent is $725/month.
Crime data for St. Marys is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.
Public schools in St. Marys are operated by Saint Marys Area SD. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 19.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
St. Marys, PA has a population of 12,691, a median household income of $61,364, and an unemployment rate of 9.1%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
St. Marys averages 30.5°F in January and 78.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.0 inches with about 66.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
St. Marys, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 15857.
The population of St. Marys, Pennsylvania is 12,691 with a median age of 50.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in St. Marys: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $140,100, median household income $61,364, schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare St. Marys side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.