Compare towns
Plum vs Spring vs Unity vs Monroeville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Pennsylvania.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plum has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Spring has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 48).
Monroeville has the most renters (31.3% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Plum | Spring | Unity | Monroeville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,723 |
28,601Highest |
21,419Lowest |
28,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% PA: +2.4% |
+4.7%Highest PA: +2.4% |
-4.4%Lowest PA: +2.4% |
+0.9% PA: +2.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±1.6 9% above PA |
42.2±2.3Lowest 3% above PA |
48±1.4Highest 17% above PA |
44±1.7 8% above PA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±2.4Highest PA: 20.4% |
19.8%±2 PA: 20.4% |
17.6%±2Lowest PA: 20.4% |
18.4%±2.3 PA: 20.4% |
| Plum and Spring are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2 PA: 19.5% |
19.4%±1.8Lowest PA: 19.5% |
25.4%±2.5Highest PA: 19.5% |
23.2%±1.8 PA: 19.5% |
| Unity and Monroeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45% PA: 35.2% |
44.5% PA: 35.2% |
41.2%Lowest PA: 35.2% |
46.4%Highest PA: 35.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.1Lowest PA: 6.1% |
7.8%±1.1 PA: 6.1% |
9.1%±1Highest PA: 6.1% |
4.7%±1.2 PA: 6.1% |
| Unity and Spring are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,705±$4kHighest 27% above PA |
$94,837±$10k 22% above PA |
$75,448±$6kLowest 3% below PA |
$79,218±$4k about the PA average |
| Plum and Spring are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,600±$7k 11% below PA |
$286,900±$11kHighest 13% above PA |
$245,400±$14k 4% below PA |
$209,800±$8kLowest 18% below PA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$55 about the PA average |
$1,416±$95Highest 17% above PA |
$986±$74Lowest 18% below PA |
$1,175±$33 about the PA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 19% above PA |
$4,603Highest 39% above PA |
$3,113Lowest 6% below PA |
$3,185 4% below PA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±8.8 PA: 48.2% |
49.3%±13Highest PA: 48.2% |
33.3%±9.6Lowest PA: 48.2% |
48.4%±9.4 PA: 48.2% |
| Spring and Monroeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest PA: 11.7% |
5.1% PA: 11.7% |
11.2%Highest PA: 11.7% |
10.7% PA: 11.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% PA: 69.3% |
75.3% PA: 69.3% |
82%Highest PA: 69.3% |
68.7%Lowest PA: 69.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 7 yrs newer than PA |
1975Highest 10 yrs newer than PA |
1973 8 yrs newer than PA |
1968Lowest 3 yrs newer than PA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above PA |
24 min 10% below PA |
23 minLowest 11% below PA |
25 min 5% below PA |
| Work from home | 23.7%±2.8 PA: 15.6% |
14.9%±2.2 PA: 15.6% |
11.8%±2.7Lowest PA: 15.6% |
24.9%±4.2Highest PA: 15.6% |
| Monroeville and Plum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #340 of 764 in PA | #365 of 764 in PA | #415 of 764 in PA | #174 of 764 in PA |
| School district | Plum Borough SD | Wilson SD | Dr Robert Ketterer CS Inc · Greater Latrobe SD | Spectrum CS · Gateway SD |
| High school in town | Plum SHS | Wilson HS | Greater Latrobe SHS | Gateway SHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.5Highest |
16.1 |
16.9 |
14.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
PA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.