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City Housing Verdict

Clairton, PA

Manageable

Your dollar goes further in Clairton, PA — everyday costs run about 22% below the national average (Cost Index: 78). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued at $151,765, well under the $303,400 US median. The local median household income of $39,884 tends to stretch further here than in most parts of the country.

Clairton looks comparatively manageable for household relocation, with 28% rent burden, 3.8x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 50. Use the assumptions below to test whether your own budget still stays in the safe range.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Clairton.

Monthly Housing
$932/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
28%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$1,892/mo
After housing and debt · $631/person
Rent vs Buy
Renting is the lower-pressure baseline
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 43%
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Cost Index
78
Affordable
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$151,765
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $59,100
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$932/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$39,884
National: $78,538
Population
6,105
Purchasing Power
65
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
50 / 100
50% below average
Rent Index
69 / 100
31% below average
Goods & Groceries
101 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
108 / 100
Typical utility costs
Healthcare & Services
98 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
78
Affordable · 22% below average

Clairton Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $151,765 and Pennsylvania's property tax rate of 1.58%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$39,884
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
28%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
3.8x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Clairton looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Clairton, PA

Est. Annual Property Tax
$2,398
Monthly Impact
$200
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
1.58%
National avg: ~1.00%

Pennsylvania Place Tax Context

Tax TypePennsylvaniaNational Avg
Property Tax Rate1.58%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate3.07%~5.0%
State Sales Tax6.34%~5.0%

Compare Clairton to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Clairton, PA
78
69
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Clairton, PA: 50
Rent Prices
69

FAQ: Living in Clairton

Is Clairton, PA an affordable place to live?+

Yes — everyday expenses in Clairton run about 22% below the US average (Cost Index: 78). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $151,765, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is typically around $932, versus $1,348 nationally.

How does Clairton fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $932, while local median household income is $39,884. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 28% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Clairton, PA?+

Pennsylvania has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 3.07%. The effective property tax rate is 1.58%. On a home worth $151,765, that translates to roughly $2,398 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 6.34% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Clairton, PA?+

The typical monthly rent in Clairton is around $932. That's roughly 31% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $151,765, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Clairton, PA?+

The median home in Clairton is valued at $151,765. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $767/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 60% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Clairton?+

Grocery prices in Clairton are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 101, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are about typical (index: 108). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Clairton, PA like to live in?+

Clairton is a small town with a population of about 6,105. The median age of residents is 40.5, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 29.9%, above the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Pennsylvania

If Clairton feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Pennsylvania

Use these city pages when you want to compare Clairton against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly