Median Income
$56,594
household / year
Median Home Value
$140,000
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,025
gross / month
Cost of Living
94
national avg = 100

Is Swissvale, PA a Good Place to Live?

Swissvale is a small town of 8,588 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $56,594 and a 6.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Swissvale stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.

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

All Swissvale 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: 94.4

Swissvale's overall cost of living index is 94.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Swissvale costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric Swissvale, PA National Avg
Median Home Value $140,000 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,025 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 48.3% 65.9%
Median Household Income $56,594 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Swissvale's violent crime rate is 317.5 per 100,000 residents — 16% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
317.5 /100k
Property Crime
1917.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Swissvale is served primarily by Environmental CS at Frick Park. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Swissvale, PA National Avg
School District Environmental CS at Frick Park —
Elementary Schools N/A —
Middle Schools N/A —
High Schools N/A —
Student/Teacher Ratio 11.1:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 40.7% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 97.8% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Swissvale sees average highs of 37.6°F in January and 84.0°F in July, with 40.6 inches of annual precipitation and 25.0 inches of snow per year.

MetricSwissvale, PA
Average High — January37.6°F
Average High — July84.0°F
Annual Precipitation40.6"
Annual Snowfall25.0"

Demographics

MetricSwissvale, PANational Avg
Population8,588—
Median Age37.138.9
Unemployment Rate6.6%3.7%
Avg Commute Time28.3 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)57.8%59.3%
Black or African American31.5%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino3.3%18.9%
Asian3.4%6.3%
Under 1817.2%22.2%
65 and over16.8%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Rankin, PA 0 mi Edgewood, PA 1 mi Braddock Hills, PA 1 mi Whitaker, PA 1 mi Homestead, PA 2 mi

ZIP Codes in Swissvale

Swissvale, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

15218

Swissvale vs Other Cities

Swissvale, PA vs Rankin, PA Swissvale, PA vs Edgewood, PA Swissvale, PA vs Braddock Hills, PA Swissvale, PA vs Whitaker, PA Swissvale, PA vs Homestead, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Swissvale's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Swissvale roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $140,000 and median rent is $1,025/month.
Swissvale's violent crime rate is 317.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1917.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Swissvale are operated by Environmental CS at Frick Park. The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.1:1. 40.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Swissvale, PA has a population of 8,588, a median household income of $56,594, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%. 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.
Swissvale averages 37.6°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.6 inches with about 25.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Swissvale, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 15218.
The population of Swissvale, Pennsylvania is 8,588 with a median age of 37.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Swissvale: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $140,000, median household income $56,594, crime index 87 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Swissvale side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.