Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0New Kensington spent less per resident in 2022 than 88% of similar cities
New Kensington’s city government spent $8.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $708 per resident.
What stands out about how New Kensington is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$708 per resident in 2022: less than 88% of them
New Kensington’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($708 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 43 Pennsylvania cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $997, and the middle half spent $824–$1,266. New Kensington spent less than 88% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($983,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Pennsylvania cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; New Kensington itself left out).
About $708 per resident a year, or $1.94 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 30%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
New Kensington reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $2,233 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.57% of the home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at New Kensington’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to New Kensington’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in New Kensington →
Who’s in charge in New Kensington
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
New Kensington’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on newkensingtononline.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 254 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (12,188).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
New Kensington-Arnold School District
New Kensington’s K–12 school district, shared with Arnold. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $18,477 per pupil, $11,744 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Pennsylvania districts overall: 55% local, 37% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
New Kensington’s votes are counted by county
Pennsylvania reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for New Kensington alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Westmoreland County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican63.8%135,008 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat35.4%74,904 votesOthers: 0.7% (1,538 votes).
Most votes in Westmoreland County: Donald J Trump
Pennsylvania: Trump 50.4%, Harris 48.7%
100% of New Kensington lies in Westmoreland County. Every 2024 race in Westmoreland County is on the county’s page.
Westmoreland County’s 2024 results →Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for New Kensington.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: newkensingtononline.com ↗
- 2Pennsylvania HouseState representatives
- 3Pennsylvania SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Pennsylvania
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How New Kensington compares with the towns next door
New Kensington spent $708 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $834 to $1,221. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Tarentum | $834 | $1,691 |
| East Deer Township | $842 | $1,620 |
| Springdale Township | $912 | $2,445 |
| Lower Burrell | $933 | $3,395 |
| Arnold | $1,221 | $1,673 |
| New Kensington | $708 | $2,233 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach New Kensington’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about New Kensington’s government
How much does New Kensington spend per resident?
About $708 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $708 was less than 88% of 43 Pennsylvania cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in New Kensington?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,233 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.57% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see newkensingtononline.com.
Who runs New Kensington’s government?
See newkensingtononline.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for New Kensington yet.
How did New Kensington vote in 2024?
Pennsylvania counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for New Kensington alone. Westmoreland County, where 100% of New Kensington lies, voted Trump 63.8%, Harris 35.4% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for New Kensington?
48 full-time and 20 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $300,609 (about $3.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents New Kensington in the state legislature?
State Senate District 41 (Joe Pittman) and State House District 55 (Jill Cooper). The House district also covers 14 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about New Kensington’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →