North from Stewarts, 1875
Trafford’s story
122 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,959 in 1910, 3,317 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1875 and 4 maps from 1904 on.
- 1904Trafford is settled
TraffordPA
A town of 3,211, settled in 1904. Public schools that outperform most of Pennsylvania.
Trash day: Thursday5 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Canadian2006 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
3,211
2025 Census estimate · −3.3% since 2020
Typical home
$245K
+2.2% in a year
Household income
$66K
median
Median age
37.4
years
Jobs based here
748
A commuter town
TownGrade
A+
#68 of 1032 in PA
Is Trafford a good place to live?
Trafford is one of the best-graded places in America: an A+, ranked 68th of 1032 in Pennsylvania. Its schools rank ahead of 98% of Pennsylvania towns, it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 90% of U.S. towns, and 7% of its land is conserved. Its lowest mark, a B, is in health. Trafford’s median age is 37.4 years, where Pennsylvania’s towns sit at 43.2 years and U.S. towns at 40.5 years.
What makes Trafford stand out
Where Trafford beats most towns.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Trafford for work
Where Trafford’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
748jobs based in Trafford
3%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Trafford grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Trafford is from typical.
SchoolsA+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 12.7 of 20; 6.4% of households have no carAOpen →Jobs & incomeB+Open →SafetyB+Open →Cost of livingBOpen →HealthForbes Hospital 2.9 miles awayBOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trailAOpen →History2 notable people born hereC+Open →Civic life1.4 library visits per resident; 3.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 80 attractions →Fallingwater and 57 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Trafford. Close and well known come first.
Big draw36 mi MuseumFallingwater
Big draw14 mi Stadium & arenaAcrisure Stadium
6 mi Theme parkKennywood
14 mi LandmarkFort Duquesne
14 mi Stadium & arenaPNC Park
13 mi Stadium & arenaPPG Paints ArenaSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Fallingwater: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · Acrisure Stadium: Fo2grfr, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Kennywood: Ski2007 of English Wikipedia, Public domain · Fort Duquesne: Sébastien Paquin, CC BY-SA 3.0 · PNC Park: alpineinc, CC BY 2.0 · PPG Paints Arena: Jleedev, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Trafford: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Trafford, and how to reach them.
PowerDuquesne Light23.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWilkinsburg-Penn Jt Water Auth2 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpThursdayTown’s haulerTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Pennsylvania you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereWestmoreland County Board of ElectionsWestmoreland County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Feb 2025
ZIP code1508515085 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Trafford.
Trafford pairs an A+ overall with homes cheaper than the Pennsylvania norm, pairs an A+ for schools with modest home prices and is healthier than towns with similar incomes.
SchoolsA+
Trafford earns an A+ for schools
Its A+ for schools comes with a B for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $245K. Its A+ ranks #12 of the 1,037 Pennsylvania towns we grade for schools.
Its public schools are run by Penn-Trafford SD. Its two schools are below.
98%of PA districts it outscoresA+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trafford MSLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 354 | B+ |
| Trafford El SchTop results in townGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 196 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
With 0.5 jobs for every working resident, most of Trafford’s workers commute out
Jobs based here grew from 485 in 2013 to 748.
Most working residents leave Trafford for work: only 3% work in town. Jobs based in Trafford grew to 748 in 2023, 263 more than in 2013. The median household income in Trafford is $66,000.
3%work in town
| Trafford | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $66,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 3% | 6.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Trafford3%
Pittsburgh26%
Monroeville8%
North Huntingdon Township5%
Penn Township3%
11 mi
median commute distance
748
jobs based in Trafford
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 90% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SafetyB+
Less crime per resident in Trafford than in 67% of U.S. towns
Trafford’s violent crime rate is 2.2 per 1,000 residents. Pennsylvania has less reported crime than most states, so among its own towns Trafford sits closer to the middle. Trafford’s property crime rate is 3.4 per 1,000 residents.
67%of U.S. towns report more crimeB+Safety Grade
| Trafford | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.2 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.4 per 1,000 residents | 5.7 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Trafford2.2
Pennsylvania2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Trafford3.4
Pennsylvania13.6
U.S.15.5
67th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
44th
percentile among PA towns
7
violent crimes reported in 2025
11
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Trafford
Trafford has chilly winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 22° and about 25 inches of snow falls in a winter.
25″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter24–40°
Spring39–62°
Summer60–82°
Fall43–64°
Nov 10
typical first frost
Apr 5
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthB
On CDC estimates, Trafford is healthier than 61% of U.S. towns
Against the 10,062 U.S. towns with household incomes like Trafford’s, it is healthier than 82%, so its B isn’t only a matter of income. Its widest gap with Pennsylvania is tooth loss: 9.2% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 14.5% statewide.
Trafford beats the Pennsylvania average on 1 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 40% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Trafford.
61%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Trafford | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 38% | 36% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 16% | 14% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 18% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 34% | 35% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
1 better25 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Trafford | PA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 9.2% | 14.5% |
Forbes Hospital
2.9 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
55th
percentile among PA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade B
Homes in Trafford are worth about $245K, by Zillow’s estimate
Trafford grades A+ overall with a typical home of about $245K, below the Pennsylvania typical value; only 34 of the 112 Pennsylvania towns graded A− or better can say that. 74.9% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 48.2% across Pennsylvania.
The typical Trafford home is worth about $245,000, up 2.2% in a year, 15% below the Pennsylvania typical home.
$245KZillow home value
| Trafford | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,022 a month | $1,116 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 75% | 78% | 73% |
Typical home value
Trafford$245K
Pennsylvania$287K
+2.2%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
7.2%conserved
| Trafford | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.6 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 7.2% | 8.2% | 4.3% |
7.2%
conserved · 67 of 920 acres
0.9 mi
of trails · 0.6 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. B-Y Park | 0.5 mi | 14 |
| 2. Westmoreland Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Who lives here
An age mix much like Pennsylvania’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Pennsylvania average. 16% of Trafford residents are 65 or older. Trafford has lost 3.3% of its people since 2020, down to 3,211 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
37.4median age · PA 40.9
| Trafford | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 16% | 21% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 23% | 20% | 22% |
TraffordPennsylvaniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
17%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma10%
High school28%
Some college17%
Associate’s16%
Bachelor’s20%
Graduate9%
Women and men · all residents
57% women, 43% men
About 76 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±5.2 points). Across Pennsylvania, 50.7% of residents are women.
| Trafford | PA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 13.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.2% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.4% | 9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 16.8% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11% | 11.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.8% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 11.8% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 4.6% | 8.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 10.2% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 27.6% | 32.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 17.1% | 15.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 16.3% | 8.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 19.6% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 9.2% | 14.3% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 3,200, single groups can be off by several points
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−
Trafford faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 50% of U.S. communities. Since 1985, 11 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Trafford.
50risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland flooding
11
paid flood claims since 1985
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Trafford
20pages on Trafford
The big questions
SchoolsA+Beat 98% of PA districts · 2 schoolsSafetyB+2.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than PA on 1 of 26 CDC measuresCost of livingB$245K typical home · up 2.2% in a yearWork & commuteB+$66K median household income · 748 jobs hereNatural hazardsB−FEMA risk higher than 50% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
15 within 15 miles of the center of Trafford
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater AlleghenyUniversity or college · Public · McKeesport4.6 mi$14,408 in-state tuitionPittsburgh Institute of AeronauticsCommunity college · Private nonprofit · West Mifflin9.2 mi$18,730 tuitionWestmoreland County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Youngwood14.5 mi$6,018 in-state tuition
About 9 of every 100 Trafford residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.
About Trafford
Borough in Pennsylvania, US
Trafford is a borough in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Located near Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania, the borough lies primarily in Westmoreland County; only a small portion extends into Allegheny County. It was incorporated in 1904 from the northernmost corner of North Huntingdon Township, and was named by George Westinghouse for Trafford near Manchester, England. Westinghouse purchased the land in 1902, and the Trafford Foundry began operations on October 3, 1903. The population was 3,317 at the 2020 census. Of this, 3,113 were in Westmoreland County, and only 61 were in Allegheny County.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1904
- Area
- 1.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 859 ft
- ZIP code
- 15085
Trafford’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with Trafford.
MonroevilleNorth Huntingdon TownshipLevel GreenPenn TownshipNorth Versailles TownshipTrafford
How the neighbors grade
| Town | PA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trafford | #68 | A+ | B | B+ | A+ | B |
| Monroeville | #636 | B | C+ | C | B− | A− |
| North Huntingdon Township | #13 | A+ | B+ | A− | A+ | A− |
| Level Green | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Penn Township | #44 | A+ | C | A+ | A+ | B+ |
| North Versailles Township | #791 | C+ | B+ | B− | C− | C− |
Level Green isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Trafford with a neighbor →
Questions about Trafford
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Trafford, PA a good place to live?
Yes, by almost any measure. Trafford grades A+ overall, better than 97% of U.S. towns and #68 of 1032 in Pennsylvania. It grades B for health, B+ for safety and A+ for schools.
Is Trafford, PA safe?
Yes, by national standards. Pennsylvania has less crime than most states, so among its own towns Trafford sits nearer the middle.
Is Trafford, PA expensive?
That is 3.2 years of the area's median household income ($75,762 across the Pittsburgh, PA metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.
What is Trafford, PA known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Sonny Vaccaro and William L. Crawford.