Compare towns
Ross vs Spring vs Shaler
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Pennsylvania.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ross has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
Spring has the most expensive homes ($287k median).
Shaler has the most homeowners (87%).
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 | Ross | Spring | Shaler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,939Highest |
28,601 |
27,538Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest PA: +2.4% |
+4.7% PA: +2.4% |
-2.2%Lowest PA: +2.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±1.5 4% above PA |
42.2±2.3Lowest 3% above PA |
46±2.6Highest 12% above PA |
| Shaler and Ross are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±1.7 PA: 20.4% |
19.8%±2Highest PA: 20.4% |
17%±2Lowest PA: 20.4% |
| Spring and Ross are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±2 PA: 19.5% |
19.4%±1.8Lowest PA: 19.5% |
24.6%±2.5Highest PA: 19.5% |
| Shaler and Ross are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3%Highest PA: 35.2% |
44.5% PA: 35.2% |
41.7%Lowest PA: 35.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.1 PA: 6.1% |
7.8%±1.1Highest PA: 6.1% |
3.7%±1.1Lowest PA: 6.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,642±$3kLowest 19% above PA |
$94,837±$10k 22% above PA |
$95,654±$6kHighest 23% above PA |
| Shaler and Spring are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,900±$9k 6% above PA |
$286,900±$11kHighest 13% above PA |
$245,500±$6kLowest 4% below PA |
| Spring and Ross are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,278±$58 6% above PA |
$1,416±$95Highest 17% above PA |
$1,226±$114Lowest about the PA average |
| Spring and Ross are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,662Lowest 11% above PA |
$4,603Highest 39% above PA |
$4,053 22% above PA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43%±8 PA: 48.2% |
49.3%±13Highest PA: 48.2% |
37.7%±10Lowest PA: 48.2% |
| Spring and Ross are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Highest PA: 11.7% |
5.1%Lowest PA: 11.7% |
6.4% PA: 11.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.1%Lowest PA: 69.3% |
75.3% PA: 69.3% |
87%Highest PA: 69.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 1 yr newer than PA |
1975Highest 10 yrs newer than PA |
1961Lowest 4 yrs older than PA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below PA |
24 minHighest 10% below PA |
23 minLowest 12% below PA |
| Work from home | 25.4%±3.6Highest PA: 15.6% |
14.9%±2.2Lowest PA: 15.6% |
17.6%±2.6 PA: 15.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #78 of 764 in PA | #365 of 764 in PA | #366 of 764 in PA |
| School district | North Hills SD | Wilson SD | Shaler Area SD |
| High school in town | North Hills HS | Wilson HS | Shaler Area HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7 |
16.1Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.