The Aluminum City reinvents itself as a Corridor of Innovation
On the east side of the Allegheny River, New Kensington has a long industrial history dating back to the late 19th century. The Burrell Improvement Co. purchased the land that would eventually become New Kensington in 1890, using a grid pattern to lay out the city with avenues and streets that were reminiscent of Pittsburgh. Industrial powerhouses like Alcoa opened their doors along the riverfront in 1891, and New Kensington grew into a manufacturing hub known as the Aluminum City. This heyday wouldn’t last forever, though, as the city underwent rapid deindustrialization and depopulation in the 1970s and ‘80s after major employers like Alcoa moved away. Today, New Kensington is home to just under 12,000 people and is working to bring jobs back to the community with the growth of the New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park. The city is also hoping to revitalize its historic downtown, transforming boarded-up storefronts into a “Corridor of Innovation” with the help of Penn State New Kensington. “It’s a friendly community where everyone knows their neighbors,” says Janet Ryan, the broker and owner of Century 21 American Heritage Realty. “You know who you can go to for help.”
On the east side of the Allegheny River, New Kensington has an industrial history from 19th-c.
There are plenty of food options to choose from at Fridays on Fifth.
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Home prices less than half the national median
Homebuyers in New Kensington will find a variety of housing styles and options. Foursquares and two-story cottages are the norm around downtown, while ranch-style and bi-level homes are more common on the outskirts of town. The median price of single-family homes is $165,000, less than half the national median of about $419,000. Homes also tend to be more affordable than in the rest of the Pittsburgh metro area, where the median price of single-family homes is just under $240,000. There are also several townhouse and condo developments farther from the city center, and townhouses typically sell for around $168,000. Residents who live in the western half of town alongside the Allegheny River may be required to purchase flood insurance.
New Kensington is also home to Aluminum City Terrace, a housing development built in the 1940s to accommodate the city’s growing workforce during WWII. With 35 buildings and 250 units, it began functioning as a co-op in 1948 and remains standing today as a prime example of wartime housing.
In New Kensington, the median price of single-family homes is $165,000.
In New Kensington the American Foursquares have covered porches, which is great for sunny days.
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The New Kensington Downtown Historic District and a local arts scene
Noted for its architectural diversity, the New Kensington Downtown Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and protects the town’s original business district around Fourth and Fifth Avenues. It continues to serve as the city’s center for shopping and dining and features a handful of boutiques, cafés and breweries. Downtown is also undergoing revitalization thanks to a 10-year plan developed by Olde Town Overhaul, a local business development group that works to restore traditional Main Street communities. The New Kensington Downtown Partnership supports the city’s local businesses with monthly Fridays on Fifth, an annual Shop Small Crawl and a seasonal farmers market set to begin in 2025.
In addition to shopping and dining, downtown hosts a growing arts scene. Preserving Record Shop has brought new life to one of New Kensington’s old churches, and its basement doubles as a performance venue known as Preserving Underground. The New Kensington Arts Center highlights local talent, and the Art in the Alley project received a $23,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County in 2024 to continue adding murals to the downtown streetscape.
New Kensington Downtown Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Yinzpired is located in New Kensington's original business district around Fourth and Fifth Ave.
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Pittsburgh commutes, WCTA bus service and riverfront manufacturing park
The Westmoreland County Transit Authority offers local bus service, with stops concentrated around downtown and the New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park, but residents typically rely on their cars to get around. Pittsburgh is about a 20-mile drive away, and commuters can access the Steel City via the C.L. Schmitt Bridge and Pennsylvania Route 28. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the average travel time to work in New Kensington is 25 minutes. For air travel, Pittsburgh International Airport is about 38 miles away.
While New Kensington is no longer known as the Aluminum City, the New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park has brought hundreds of jobs back to the city’s industrial waterfront. The facility is anchored by Re:Build Manufacturing and received $6 million of state grants in 2024 to continue expanding its industrial operations.
New Kensington public and Pittsburgh private schools
The New Kensington-Arnold School District earns an overall grade of C-minus from Niche and has an average student-teacher ratio of 13-to-1. It consists of an early childhood education center, a lower elementary school, an upper elementary school and a junior/senior high school, all of which receive a C-minus or higher from Niche. Nearby private school options include The Kiski School, a college-preparatory boarding school less than 20 miles from New Kensington. Kiski serves ninth through 12th grade, and Niche ranks it as the best private high school in Westmoreland County. Penn State New Kensington, a commonwealth campus of Pennsylvania State University, is about 5 miles from town and offers a variety of baccalaureate and associate degree programs.
Martin Elementary School is part of The NEw Kensington-Arnold School District.
The Kiski School, a college-preparatory boarding school less than 20 miles from New Kensington.
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Memorial Park, indoor ice arena and a small marina on the Allegheny River
New Kensington experiences all four seasons, with humid summers and snowy winters that are typical across the Pittsburgh Metro Area. According to the Trust for Public Land, 35% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. Memorial Park is a popular spot for outdoor recreation and features a playground, various athletic facilities and several picnic pavilions. The park also contains a memorial to local Veterans, with an M5 anti-tank gun from the U.S. Army and an F-80 fighter plane used by the U.S. Air Force. New Kensington is home to the Pittsburgh Ice Arena, an indoor facility with two NHL-sized ice rinks that are open year-round. The city takes advantage of its proximity to the Allegheny River with the New Kensington Hunter’s and Fisherman’s Club and The Lighthouse Marina. Organizations like the Peoples Library and Valley Points Family YMCA support the community with recreational and educational programming for all ages.
F-80 fighter plane used by the U.S. Air Force is located in Memorial Park.
Riverside Park is located at the banks of Allegheny River.
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Festivities include The Annual City of New Kensington Christmas Parade
New Kensington hosts a variety of events to celebrate the area. Band Blast brings live music, food trucks and local vendors to Memorial Park. A local favorite for over a decade, the daylong concert doubles as a fundraiser for the park’s ongoing preservation. In December, a festive tree lighting lights up downtown before residents gather at the New Kensington Fire Department for the Mayor’s Annual Holiday Dinner. The annual City of New Kensington Christmas Parade takes place the following day and spreads even more holiday cheer throughout downtown as festive floats, local marching bands and more make their way down Fourth and Fifth avenues.
There is always live music at Fridays on Fifth in New Kensington.
Sing along to the tones at the Live Music at Voodoo Brewery event.
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Crime rates and a decrease in the number of property-related crimes
While the city’s overall CAP Index crime score is on par with the national average of 4, the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer shows that property-crime rates rank above national figures. However, the number of property crimes reported to the New Kensington Police Department decreased by nearly 10% between 2020 and 2024. The same data shows that violent crime rates remain consistently below national figures.
Janet joined the Agency in 1985 as a Broker/Manager. She had record setting sales for the newly named CENTURY 21 Stein-Lasher Agency and she purchased the business in 1992. The small neighborhood realty office took a new direction. While maintaining its small town values of personal customer service, the business grew to offer over 70 real estate agents in three offices around the region.
My accomplishments in the industry include the prestigious REALTOR* of the Year award for the Greater Allegheny Kiski Area, President of the Board of REALTORS* for the Greater Allegheny Kiski Area and I was chosen by Governor Tom Ridge in 2000 one of "Best 50" Pennsylvania's top Businesswomen.
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