Below Average CostNear National AverageWilkinsburg Borough SD
Wilkinsburg municipal building and library · User:Nyttend / Public domainFrank Conrad radio station 8XK 1920 · T. R. Kennedy Jr. / Public domainWilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, from Homewood Cemetery, 01 · Cbaile19 / CC0Temperance song hand book · Creator: Woman's Christian Temperance Union (Wilkinsburg, Pa.). / Public domain
Wilkinsburg is a small city of 14,340 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $46,013
and a 8.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Wilkinsburg stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Wilkinsburg is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Wilkinsburg 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
Wilkinsburg's overall cost of living index is 94.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Wilkinsburg costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Wilkinsburg, PA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$127,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$925
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
30.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$46,013
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Wilkinsburg's violent crime rate is 586.3 per 100,000 residents
— 54% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
586.3 /100k
Property Crime
2440.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Wilkinsburg is served primarily by Wilkinsburg Borough SD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Wilkinsburg, PA
National Avg
School District
Wilkinsburg Borough SD
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
38.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Wilkinsburg 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.
Wilkinsburg's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Wilkinsburg roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $127,400 and median rent is $925/month.
Wilkinsburg's violent crime rate is 586.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2440.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Wilkinsburg are operated by Wilkinsburg Borough SD.
The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.5:1. 38.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Wilkinsburg, PA has a population of 14,340, a median household income of $46,013, and an unemployment rate of 8.5%.
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.
Wilkinsburg 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).
Wilkinsburg, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 15221.
The population of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania is 14,340 with a median age of 44.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Wilkinsburg: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $127,400, median household income $46,013, crime index 139 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wilkinsburg side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
