County population in 2012: 363,395 (75% urban, 25% rural); it was 369,993 in 2000 County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 69,527 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 48,199 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 116,847 Renter-occupied apartments: 35,924 (it was 32,966 in 2000)
% of renters here:
22%
State:
30%
Land area: 1025 sq. mi. Water area: 10.9 sq. mi.
Population density: 355 people per square mile
(high).
Mar. 2012 cost of living index in Westmoreland County: 91.9 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
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Industries providing employment: Professional,scientific,management,administrative,and waste management services (26.9%), Educational,health and social services (20.6%), Manufacturing (11.1%).
Estimated median household income in 2009: $47,418 ($37,106 in 1999)
This county:
$47418
Pennsylvania:
$49520
Median contract rent in 2009 for apartments: $438 (lower quartile is $347, upper quartile is $539)
This county:
$438
State:
$597
Estimated median house or condo value in 2009: $124,600 (it was $87,600 in 2000)
Westmoreland County:
$124,600
Pennsylvania:
$164,700
Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $81,600 - $193,200
Mean price in 2009:
Detached houses: $190,748
Here:
$190,748
State:
$223,477
Townhouses or other attached units: $161,007
Here:
$161,007
State:
$164,518
In 2-unit structures: $117,445
Here:
$117,445
State:
$166,566
In 3-to-4-unit structures: $194,656
Here:
$194,656
State:
$223,507
In 5-or-more-unit structures: $108,639
Here:
$108,639
State:
$225,726
Mobile homes: $82,680
Here:
$82,680
State:
$35,442
Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $1,162 Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $420
Institutionalized population: 4,032
Health of residents in Westmoreland County based on CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Questionnaires from 2003 to 2009:
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) is 3.5. This is worse than average. 68.6% of residents exercised in the past month. This is less than average. 49.2% of residents smoked 100+ cigarettes in their lives. This is about average. 99.0% of adult residents drank alcohol in the past 30 days. This is more than average. 67.9% of residents visited a dentist within the past year. This is about average. Average weight of males is 201 pounds. This is more than average. Average weight of females is 156 pounds. This is about average.
Single-family new house construction building permits:
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2009: $1,966 (1.5%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2009: $1,679 (1.5%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2009: 10.3%
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2009: 10.3%
Westmoreland County:
10.3%
Pennsylvania:
12.5%
Median age of residents in 2010: 45 years old
(Males: 43 years old, Females: 46 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 45 years old, Black residents: 32 years old, American Indian residents: 39 years old, Asian residents: 36 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 25 years old, Other race residents: 24 years old)
Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
8.6%
Whole state:
11.0%
Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
3.4%
Whole state:
5.1%
Area name: Pittsburgh, PA HUD Metro FMR Area Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Westmoreland County is $601 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $719 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $894 a month.
Notable locations in this county outside city limits:
Notable locations in Westmoreland County: McKean (A), Glencairn (B), Speedwell (C), Mellons (D), Rectors Mill (E), Bluestone (F), Grove Run (G), Laurel Mountain Ski Resort (H), Ridgeview Golf Course (I), Eastgate Shopping Plaza (J), Bakers (K), Norvelt Golf Course (L), Champion Lakes Golf Course (M), Statlers Par 3 Golf Course (N), Valley Green Golf Course (O), Lakelawn Park Golf Course (P), Manor Valley Golf Course (Q), Cloverleaf Golf Course (R), Willowbrook Golf Course (S), Cedarbrook Golf Course (T). Display/hide their locations on the map
Shopping Centers: Greengate Mall (1), Westmoreland Mall (2), Hempfield Plaza Shopping Center (3), North Huntingdon Square Shopping Center (4). Display/hide their locations on the map
Churches in Westmoreland County include: Allegheny Church (A), Long Run Church (B), Saint Stephens Byzantine Catholic Church (C), Hillside Church (D), Poke Run Church (E), Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church (F), Mount Olive Church (G), Bell Memorial Church (H), Luxor Church (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Cemeteries: Unity Cemetery (1), Valley Cemetery (2), Vandergrift Cemetery (3), Westview Cemetery (4), Bethel Cemetery (5), Bethesda Cemetery (6), Temple Emanuel Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map
Lakes and reservoirs: Griff Lake (A), Roadman Lakes (B), Ice Pond (C), Clover Leaf Lake (D), McMurrays Lake (E), Echo Lake (F), Lake Dom (G), Tombers Lake (H). Display/hide their locations on the map
Streams, rivers, and creeks: Sherrick Run (A), Harbridge Run (B), Speers Run (C), Hypocrite Creek (D), Keffer Run (E), Union Run (F), Jacobs Creek (G), Jacks Run (H), Twomile Run (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Parks in Westmoreland County include: Oakford Park (1), Ridilla Athletic Fields (2), Ross Mountain (3), Old Hannastown Historical Park (4), Conemaugh Lake National Recreation Area (5), Bushy Run Battlefield State Park (6), Vandergrift Park (7), State Game Lands Number 296 (8), Fort Hand Historical Marker (9). Display/hide their locations on the map
Current college students: 14,834 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 85.6% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 20.2%
Number of foreign born residents: 5,277 (63% naturalized citizens)
Westmoreland County:
1.4%
Whole state:
4.1%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 939
1990 to 1994: 442
1985 to 1989: 340
1980 to 1984: 309
1975 to 1979: 381
1970 to 1974: 401
1970 to 1974: 454
1965 to 1969: 2,011
Mean travel time to work (commute): 25.4 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 64.2%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 119,786
One, attached: 5,461
Two: 7,179
3 or 4: 4,845
5 to 9: 3,790
10 to 19: 2,655
20 or more: 5,014
Mobile homes: 12,282
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 46
Housing units in Westmoreland County with a mortgage: 56,322 (5,544 second mortgage, 10,641 home equity loan, 381 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 42,417
Here:
57.0% with mortgage
State:
62.2% with mortgage
Religion statistics:
Percentage of population affiliated with a religious congregations: 64.19%
Here
64.2%
USA
50.2%
Total adherents: 237,503 Total congregations: 419
Adherents
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregations
Name
Catholic Church
United Methodist Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Presbyterian Church (USA)
United Church of Christ
Adherents
131,608 (55.4%)
28,966 (12.2%)
23,518 (9.9%)
15,370 (6.5%)
4,931 (2.1%)
Congregations
68 (16.2%)
76 (18.1%)
50 (11.9%)
45 (10.7%)
25 (6.0%)
Name
Christian and Missionary Alliance
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Jewish
American Baptist Churches in the USA
Other
Adherents
3,039 (1.3%)
2,702 (1.1%)
2,700 (1.1%)
2,232 (0.9%)
22,437 (9.4%)
Congregations
12 (2.9%)
10 (2.4%)
3 (0.7%)
12 (2.9%)
118 (28.2%)
Source: Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Average size of farms: 112 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $26,211 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $212.93 The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 23.70% The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 55.88% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $25,784 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 48.67% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 0.39% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $45,928 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 92.02% Average age of principal farm operators: 56 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 16.72 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 25.05% Corn for grain: 14599 harvested acres All wheat for grain: 2335 harvested acres Soybeans for beans: 6118 harvested acres Vegetables: 1,081 harvested acres Land in orchards: 171 acres
Tornado activity:
Westmoreland County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is above Pennsylvania state average. It is 2.0 times above overall U.S. average. Tornadoes in this county have caused one fatality and 91 injuries recorded between 1950 and 2004. On 6/2/1998, a category 1 (max. wind speeds 73-112 mph) tornado injured 50 people and caused $13 million in damages.
Earthquake activity:
Westmoreland County-area historical earthquake activity is significantly below Pennsylvania state average. It is 100% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 9/25/1998 at 19:52:52, a magnitude 5.2 (4.8 MB, 4.3 MS, 5.2 LG, 4.5 MW, Depth: 3.1 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 91.6 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
Pennsylvania Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms, Incident Period: February 5, 2010 to February 11, 2010, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1898): April 16, 2010, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1898, Natural disaster type: Snowstorm, Winter Storm
Pennsylvania Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 1, 2005, Emergency Declared (EM-3235): September 10, 2005, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3235, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Pennsylvania Tropical Depression Ivan, Incident Period: September 17, 2004 to October 1, 2004, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1557): September 19, 2004, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1557, Natural disaster type: Tropical Depression
Pennsylvania Snowstorm, Incident Period: February 14, 2003 to February 19, 2003, Emergency Declared (EM-3180): March 14, 2003, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3180, Natural disaster type: Snowstorm
Pennsylvania Flooding, Incident Period: January 19, 1996 to February 1, 1996, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1093): January 21, 1996, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1093, Natural disaster type: Flood
Pennsylvania Blizzard, Incident Period: January 6, 1996 to January 12, 1996, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1085): January 13, 1996, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1085, Natural disaster type: Blizzard
Pennsylvania Winter Storm, Severe Storm, Incident Period: January 4, 1994 to February 25, 1994, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1015): March 10, 1994, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1015, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm, Storm
Pennsylvania Severe Snowfall and Winter Storm, Incident Period: March 13, 1993 to March 17, 1993, Emergency Declared (EM-3105): March 16, 1993, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3105, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm, Snowfall
Pennsylvania SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, Incident Period: July 21, 1977, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-537): July 21, 1977, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-537, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Pennsylvania Snowstorms, Incident Period: January 29, 1977, Emergency Declared (EM-3026): January 29, 1977, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3026, Natural disaster type: Snowstorm
2 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.
The number of natural disasters in Westmoreland County (12) is near the US average (12). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 8 Emergencies Declared: 4
Causes of natural disasters: Snowstorms: 3, Floods: 2, Winter Storms: 2, Flood: 1, Snowfall: 1, Storm: 1, Winter Storm: 1, Blizzard: 1, Hurricane: 1, Storm: 1, Tropical Depression: 1, Tropical Storm: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Other management occupations except farmers and farm managers (6%)
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (6%)
Other production occupations including supervisors (5%)
Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (5%)
Metal workers and plastic workers (4%)
Laborers and material movers, hand (4%)
Other sales and related workers including supervisors (4%)
Secretaries and administrative assistants (8%)
Registered nurses (6%)
Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (5%)
Other sales and related workers including supervisors (5%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (4%)
Other management occupations except farmers and farm managers (4%)
Health technologists and technicians (4%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Italy (15%)
United Kingdom (9%)
Germany (7%)
Canada (6%)
Japan (6%)
India (5%)
Poland (4%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Westmoreland County (%):
German (24%)
Italian (18%)
Irish (10%)
Polish (9%)
English (7%)
Slovak (5%)
United States or American (5%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 139,872 (85%)
Carpooled: 14,364 (9%)
Bus or trolley bus: 1,363 (1%)
Subway or elevated: 19 (0%)
Railroad: 7 (0%)
Ferryboat: 10 (0%)
Taxi: 165 (0%)
Motorcycle: 76 (0%)
Bicycle: 104 (0%)
Walked: 4,854 (3%)
Other means: 712 (0%)
Worked at home: 3,659 (2%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders
People in group quarters in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in 2000:
3,046 people in nursing homes
1,671 people in college dormitories (includes college quarters off campus)
875 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
834 people in state prisons
418 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
324 people in mental (psychiatric) hospitals or wards
267 people in religious group quarters
243 people in homes for the mentally retarded
192 people in other group homes
132 people in other nonhousehold living situations
89 people in halfway houses
83 people in other types of correctional institutions
82 people in training schools for juvenile delinquents
47 people in agriculture workers' dormitories on farms
46 people in hospitals/wards and hospices for chronically ill
43 people in homes for the mentally ill
34 people in homes for abused, dependent, and neglected children
25 people in other hospitals or wards for chronically ill
21 people in hospices or homes for chronically ill
21 people in schools, hospitals, or wards for the mentally retarded
16 people in orthopedic wards and institutions for the physically handicapped
16 people in short-term care, detention or diagnostic centers for delinquent children
11 people in homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse
6 people in hospitals or wards for drug/alcohol abuse
People in group quarters in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in 2010:
2,659 people in college/university student housing
2,131 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
978 people in state prisons
535 people in group homes intended for adults
489 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
302 people in other noninstitutional facilities
245 people in workers’ group living quarters and job corps centers
166 people in residential treatment centers for adults
133 people in mental (psychiatric) hospitals and psychiatric units in other hospitals
94 people in residential treatment centers for juveniles (non-correctional)
77 people in correctional residential facilities
75 people in correctional facilities intended for juveniles
43 people in group homes for juveniles (non-correctional)
23 people in emergency and transitional shelters (with sleeping facilities) for people experiencing homelessness
12 people in in-patient hospice facilities
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $51,149.
10 or fewer of this county's residents relocated from other counties between 2005 and 2006.1,000 average adjusted gross income)
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
10 or fewer of this county's residents relocated from other counties in Pennsylvania.
10 or fewer of this county's residents relocated from other states.
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
4.00% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($37,782 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
4.00%
Pennsylvania average:
5.08%
0.02% of residents moved to foreign countries ($191 average AGI)
Westmoreland County:
0.02%
Pennsylvania average:
0.05%
2.48% relocated to other counties in Pennsylvania ($21,531 average AGI)
1.50% relocated to other states ($16,060 average AGI)
Westmoreland County:
1.50%
Pennsylvania average:
2.30%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 10.8 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 9.3
Births per 1000 population in Westmoreland County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 11.2 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 11.9
Deaths per 1000 population in Westmoreland County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 6.8 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 5.9
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Westmoreland County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 72,357 (64,385 aged, 7,972 disabled) Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 8% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 6%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 1.36 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 10642.87 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 231.920 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 32952.59
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 903.610 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1230.300 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 16.86
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 51.33 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 84.59
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 11.15 Beer, wine & liquor stores per 100,000 population in 2005: 1
Homicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 22.2. This is less than state average.
Mechanisms of homicide:
Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
Firearm - 12.5
Other - 9.7
Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 128.7. This is more than state average.
Mechanisms of suicide:
Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
Firearm - 77.6
Suffocation - 25.7
Poisoning - 15.6
Other - 9.7
Household type by relationship:
Households: 357,207
In family households: 296,906 (76,114 male householders, 25,814 female householders)
80,185 spouses, 96,130 children (90,127 natural, 2,082 adopted, 3,921 stepchildren), 4,952 grandchildren, 2,072 brothers or sisters, 2,711 parents, 1,557 other relatives, 5,774 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 60,301 (22,908 male householders (18,817 living alone)), 28,814 female householders (25,703 living alone)), 8,579 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 7,962 (4,032 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 50,437 2-persons, 23,845 3-persons, 17,989 4-persons, 6,751 5-persons, 2,051 6-persons, 855 7-or-more-persons.
96.3% of residents of Westmoreland County speak English at home.
1.0% of residents speak Spanish at home (64% speak English very well, 17% speak English well, 18% speak English not well, 1% don't speak English at all).
2.2% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (75% speak English very well, 15% speak English well, 9% speak English not well, 1% don't speak English at all).
0.4% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (52% speak English very well, 27% speak English well, 21% speak English not well, 1% don't speak English at all).
0.1% of residents speak other language at home (76% speak English very well, 17% speak English well, 5% speak English not well, 2% don't speak English at all).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $2,319,713,000 ($6292 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $92,263,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $1,072,910,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $721,199,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $6,503,000 Federal grants: $370,354,000 Federal procurement contracts: $67,291,000 ($42,645,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $81,455,000 ($15,204,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $2,141,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $97,827,000 Federal Government insurance: $103,263,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 18,030
Here:
49 per 1000 residents
State:
61 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 22,964
Here:
62 per 1000 residents
State:
54 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +467
Here:
+1 per 1000 residents
State:
+8 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: +2,450
Here:
+7 per 1000 residents
State:
-2 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Westmoreland County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 40.41 millions of gallons per day (2% from ground, 98% from surface)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
6.2
State:
6.4
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.4
State:
4.2
Year house built
2005 or later: 1,968
2000 to 2004: 6,808
1990 to 1999: 15,310
1980 to 1989: 14,479
1970 to 1979: 23,876
1960 to 1969: 20,559
1950 to 1959: 26,641
1940 to 1949: 14,164
1939 or earlier: 42,533
Rooms in houses/apartments in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
70% of Westmoreland County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 63% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 71% lived in Pennsylvania.
Westmoreland County:
70.3%
State average:
64.4%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 329522
Northeast: 7498
Midwest: 10035
South: 12817
West: 3438
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $69,600
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 1%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 1%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit:
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Westmoreland County
45.0 years
40.0 years
(48.9%)
(51.1%)
, Armstrong County 
, Cambria County 
, Fayette County 
, Indiana County 
, Somerset County 
, Washington County 
.
