Poverty and living standards in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: official figures
20.1% of residents of Pittsburgh (56,395 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 124th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; Pennsylvania: 11.7%).
How many children live in poverty in Pittsburgh?
30.8% of children under 18 in Pittsburgh lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (13,495 children), 70th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; Pennsylvania: 15.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Pittsburgh?
By age, the poverty rate in Pittsburgh was 30.8% for children under 6 and 15.6% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Pittsburgh live in deep poverty?
31,025 people in Pittsburgh, 11.0% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 79th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Pittsburgh are cost-burdened?
48.4% of renting households in Pittsburgh spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (32,738 households), 221st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; Pennsylvania: 48.2%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Pittsburgh spend half their income on rent?
25.2% of renting households in Pittsburgh spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 347th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Pittsburgh compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Pittsburgh ranks 124 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 121 | St. Cloud | 20.2% |
| 122 | Lansing | 20.1% |
| 123 | Fresno | 20.1% |
| 124 | Pittsburgh | 20.1% |
| 125 | Augusta | 20.1% |
| 126 | McAllen | 20.0% |
| 127 | Houston | 19.9% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Pittsburgh ranks 70 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 67 | New Haven | 31.2% |
| 68 | Dothan | 31.1% |
| 69 | Elkhart | 31.0% |
| 70 | Pittsburgh | 30.8% |
| 71 | Brownsville | 30.7% |
| 72 | Rockford | 30.6% |
| 73 | Union City | 30.5% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Pittsburgh ranks 79 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 76 | Gulfport | 11.1% |
| 77 | Lorain | 11.1% |
| 78 | New Orleans | 11.1% |
| 79 | Pittsburgh | 11.0% |
| 80 | North Little Rock | 11.0% |
| 81 | Provo | 11.0% |
| 82 | Harlingen | 11.0% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Pittsburgh ranks 603 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 600 | Durham | 48.5% |
| 601 | Elkhart | 48.5% |
| 602 | McKinney | 48.4% |
| 603 | Pittsburgh | 48.4% |
| 604 | Pleasanton | 48.4% |
| 605 | Methuen | 48.4% |
| 606 | Millcreek | 48.4% |
More on Pittsburgh: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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