At the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers, McKeesport has a rich industrial history dating back to the late 19th century. National Tube Works opened its doors in 1872 along the shores of the Monongahela River, eventually becoming a subsidiary of the United States Steel Corporation in 1901. This resulted in record-breaking growth in the first half of the 20th century as McKeesport became the fastest-growing municipality in the country and produced more steel pipes than any other city in the world. Its population peaked at around 55,355 in 1940, but the city underwent rapid deindustrialization and depopulation in the 1970s and ‘80s as the steel industry declined. McKeesport also faced hardship in 1976 when a fire started in the Famous Department Store, spreading through downtown and causing over $5 million in damage. While some businesses never reopened their doors after the Famous Fire, others continue to serve the resilient community today as McKeesport looks to a future like many other Rust Belt cities before.
Today, the place where steel mills once stood tall along the shores of the Monongahela River is occupied by the 133-acre Industrial Center of McKeesport. The business park features eight companies that employ more than 200 people, with plans to keep expanding. The city is also home to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which employs over 100,000 people across its award-winning hospitals and outpatient centers, making it the largest employer in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area. Despite attempts to revitalize McKeesport’s industrial centers, the city’s population continues to decrease by just over 1% each year, with its population estimated to be just over 17,100 as of 2023. This trend is consistent across the Mon Valley, which refers to a group of Rust Belt municipalities that border the Monongahela River and are working to rebuild after deindustrialization. “The Mon Valley is going to come back,” says Chris Ivory, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty with more than 35 years of experience in the industry.
McKeesport is situated at the convergence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers.
National Tube is a huge part of the history of McKeesport.
UPMC McKeesport is a pillar of the McKeesport area.
McKeesport Hospital sits downtown and serves many people in the McKeesport area.
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Home prices are less than half of the national median
Most homes in McKeesport were built from the turn of the 20th century through the mid-1900s to accommodate its growing population. While the city features a variety of architectural styles, two-story cottages and American Foursquares are the norm. Split-level and ranch-style homes are more common in the city's southern half and typically sit further apart on quarter-acre lots. With the median price of single-family homes hovering at just over $100,000, McKeesport tends to be more affordable than the rest of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area. “Homes are priced fairly similar to areas around it, but it’s more affordable than Pittsburgh, which makes it a popular option for city commuters,” Ivory says. According to the National Association of Realtors, the median sales price for single-family homes in the Pittsburgh Metro Area was just under $240,000 in the third quarter of 2024, meaning that home prices in McKeesport are about 82% lower than they are across the rest of the metro area. Home prices are also less than half of the national median, which sits at just below $419,000 as of the third quarter of 2024.
Classic American Foursquare homes a found all around and line the streets of McKeesport.
Cottage style homes can be found throughout the McKeesport area.
McKeesport Foursquare homes often feature front yards and a small driveway.
This Colonial Style home in McKeesport features columns on the front porch.
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McKeesport Area School District and nearby private schools
The McKeesport Area School District earns an overall grade of C-plus from Niche and has a student-teacher ratio of 13-to-1. The district consists of two elementary schools, a middle school and a high school, all of which receive a C or C-plus from Niche. Private school options include B-rated Serra Catholic High School, which has been serving the community since 1961.
The 52-acre Penn State Greater Allegheny campus is located between McKeesport and White Oak Borough. As a commonwealth campus of Pennsylvania State University, it offers various associate and baccalaureate degree programs. The college has a total enrollment of just under 400, and Penn State’s 2+2 program allows students to begin their studies at PSUGA before transferring to another campus to finish their degree.
McKeesport Area High School helps prepare students for their future.
Once a Tiger always a Tiger at Founder's Hall Middle School in McKeesport.
Twin Rivers Elementary School is the beginning of your Tiger adventure in McKeesport.
Serra Catholic High School is the best kept secret in McKeesport.
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Renziehausen Park, McKees Point Marina and riverfront trails
With small playgrounds and neighborhood parks scattered throughout McKeesport, Renziehausen Park stands out as the city’s largest green space. Locally known as Renzie, the park covers 205 acres and has various sports courts, ballfields and a playground. It also features amenities like the Renzie Spray Ground, the Renzie Park Senior Center and Lake Emilie, a popular fishing spot for bass, trout and catfish. The Garden Club of McKeesport manages the Renziehausen Park Rose Garden and Arboretum, which includes an herb garden, butterfly garden and more than 1,800 roses, making it the second-largest rose garden in the state. The park also hosts the annual McKeesport’s Summer Concert Series, which features weekly performances at the Lions Bandshell.
Waterfront attractions include McKees Point Marina, which sits along the shores of the Youghiogheny River and offers over 200 boat slips, a fishing pier and a small café known for its all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. Smaller trails like McKee’s Point Trail run parallel to the waterfront and connect with the Greater Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile rail trail between Pittsburgh and Cumberland, Maryland. The section of the GAP in McKeesport, known as the Steel Valley Trail, travels past the former National Tube Works plant before crossing over the Monongahela River. Residents also have access to the Carnegie Library of McKeesport and the Eden Park Roller Rink. Houses of Worships include First United Methodist Church, which has been serving the community for over a century and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an example of Late Gothic Revival architecture.
Enjoy Lake Emily in Renziehausen Park, known as “Renzie” to McKeesport residents.
Enjoy time outside at Versailles Coursin Parklet in McKeesport.
The Great Allegheny Passage joins with McKees Point Trail for great biking in McKeesport.
The First United Methodist Church in McKeesport is a Historic Landmark.
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Events include a cultural festival and tree-decorating competition
The city hosts various events throughout the year that bring the community together. Popular festivities include International Village, an annual cultural heritage festival that celebrates the city’s diverse community with food, music and dance from around the world. The event takes place each August and brings more than 20,000 people to Renziehausen Park over three days. In December, the Festival of Trees celebrates the start of the holiday season with a tree-decorating competition that highlights the creativity of local businesses, schools and community groups. The annual Salute to Santa parade also spreads holiday cheer throughout McKeesport, while the Renzie Rib Fest closes out the McKeesport’s Summer Concert Series with barbeque, live music and a car cruise in the park. Good Neighbor Day celebrates downtown McKeesport with a street festival along 5th Avenue, with local vendors, food trucks and community groups lining the thoroughfare.
The McKeesport International Village is an ethnic heritage festival with food, music and dance.
The big guy himself is at the end of the Salute To Santa Parade in McKeesport.
The McKeesport International Village was founded in 1960 and is a three day celebration.
Meet up with old friends at the Festival Of Trees at Renziehausen Park in McKeesport.
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Downtown McKeesport, local restaurants and theater group
Before the Famous Fire of 1976, 5th Avenue was a vibrant commercial corridor known as downtown McKeesport. While many of its storefronts are now vacant, local businesses like Minerva Bakery and the McKeesport Beer Barrel continue to serve the community. There are more shops and restaurants along Pennsylvania Route 148, also known as Walnut Street. Rite Aid, Dollar General and Aldi offer essentials. The wood-paneled bar at Hoot’s Again is a go-to spot for drinks and pub grub, while Tillie’s Restaurant is known for its homemade Italian food. For dessert, Christy Park Cones has a walk-up ice cream window.
The arts scene in McKeesport revolves around local groups like the McKeesport Little Theater, which attracts over 5,000 people each year with its plays and musicals. The nonprofit group also offers educational programming for middle and high schoolers through the McKeesport Little Theater Juniors program from September through June. In Renzie Park, the McKeesport Regional History and Heritage Center documents the history of the Mon Valley with seven rooms of historic artifacts and memorabilia. Visitors can learn more about the region through the museum's living history tours and lectures.
The staff at Tillie's Restaurant work on classic Italian entrees in McKeesport.
The McKeesport Little Theater is in the heart of the McKeesport Cultural District.
Head to Hoot's Again on Walnut Street in McKeesport for great food and atmosphere.
Learn about the history of the region at the McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center.
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Mobility plan, Pittsburgh commutes and PRT bus service
Some of McKeesport’s residential streets lack sidewalks, and the city earns an overall Walk Score of 41 out of 100. The Walk Bike Ride McKeesport Mobility Plan, unveiled in April 2024, aims to improve pedestrian infrastructure along busy corridors like Lysle Boulevard, Jenny Lind Street and Versailles Avenue. As of late 2024, work on the project had not yet begun, although the plan proposes pedestrian and cyclist safety as a priority over the next several years.
The main thoroughfares in McKeesport are Pennsylvania routes 148 and 48, both of which give residents access to U.S. Route 30. Pittsburgh is about a 15-mile drive across the Monongahela River, while Pittsburgh International Airport is around 30 miles from McKeesport. Pittsburgh Regional Transit provides local bus service throughout McKeesport, and the McKeesport Transportation Center has a park-and-ride lot.
Four-season climate, flood risk and high crime rates
Residents should expect to see all four seasons, with summer temperatures climbing into the 80s and winter temperatures dropping into the low 20s. The city sees an average of around 38 inches of rain each year, with the wettest months being May, June and July. Due to its proximity to the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers, low-lying areas in McKeesport have been historically susceptible to flooding during periods of heavy rainfall. In the 1980s, the city collaborated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete a flood protection project that has prevented major floods in the area, although homes near the water remain at risk of smaller-scale flood events.
According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, crime rates are above average in McKeesport. The city’s violent crime rate is about 19% higher than the national rate, while the property-related crime rate is 37% higher. A 2019 study from the National Council for Home Safety and Security ranks McKeesport as the fourth-most dangerous city in the United States.
Written By
Sally Stimpson
Photography Contributed By
Alan Battles
Video By
GL Moses
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in McKeesport, PA sell after 84 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in McKeesport, PA over the last 12 months is $90,500, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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