Pittsburgh is one of the best U.S. cities to raise a family.
But with over 90 neighborhoods, picking the best Pittsburgh neighborhood for your family can be a daunting task, especially if you’re a new family moving to Steel City.
In this post, we’ll explore some of the best neighborhoods in Pittsburgh for families, taking into account factors like affordability, safety, quality of local schools, accessibility to amenities, and family-friendly attractions.
Hopefully, this will make it easier for you to decide where to raise your family in Pittsburgh.
1. Regent Square
We believe this neighborhood located in the eastern part of Pittsburgh is the best neighborhood for families to live in.
This opinion is shared by many including the popular neighborhoods review platform, Niche, which ranks Regent Square as the #1 Best Neighborhood to Raise a Family in Pittsburgh, and the #2 Best Neighborhood to Live in Pittsburgh.
What makes Regent Square an excellent neighborhood for families is that it has many top-rated public schools, including Allderdice High School, Pittsburgh Capa 6-12, Pittsburgh Science & Technology Academy, and Environmental Charter School.
Shady Side Academy, Winchester Thurston School, The Ellis School, Central Catholic High School, and Oakland Catholic High School are a few of the highly regarded private schools in the area.
Regent Square also has a good B+ crime and safety rating on Niche, making it one of Pittsburgh’s safest neighborhoods.
Additionally, the neighborhood borders Frick Park, Pittsburgh’s largest park, which is a great place to take the kids for enjoyable outdoor activities like picnics, nature hikes, and biking.
There is also a vibrant homeowners association in Regent Square that regularly organizes entertaining family events like the yearly Run Around the Square, Regent Square Yard Sale, Spooky Saturday, and seasonal light displays to foster family ties.
Finally, Regent Square is a relatively walkable neighborhood, making it easier to access playgrounds, libraries, restaurants, movie theaters, coffee shops, bowling alleys, etc.
The median home price in Regent Square in February 2023 was $344.9K, and the median rent was $1,139.
2. Point Breeze
This neighborhood eclipsed Regent Square to be recognized as the #1 Best Neighborhood to Live in Pittsburgh by Niche.
The primarily residential neighborhood, which is situated on Pittsburgh’s east end, has also been recognized as the #1 Best Neighborhood to Buy a House in Pittsburgh and #2 Best Neighborhood to Raise a Family in Pittsburgh.
Note that Niche’s rankings, which give you a realistic idea of what it is like to live in a particular neighborhood, are based on 100M+ survey responses and reviews from parents, students, and locals, as well as dozens of publicly available data from the FBI, US Census, Department of Education, etc.
Point Breeze checks all the boxes a person with a family would want in a place to live.
You would have access to many great school options if you lived here, including Allderdice High School, Shady Side Academy, Pittsburgh Colfax K-8, Environmental Charter School, and Sterrett Classical Academy.
Point Breeze also has many fun and engaging activities for the kids. For example, your children will love running around in the Point Breeze parks, including Frick Park, Mellon Park, and Westinghouse Park, locating items at the Point Breeze Scavenger Hunt, or performing bike stunts at the Wheel Mill, an indoor bike park.
It is also safer than most Pittsburgh neighborhoods, with fewer cases of robbery, violent crimes, burglaries, and auto theft, and the community at Point Breeze is very friendly, with regular events held for residents and their neighbors to socialize.
Point Breeze homes are more expensive than those in Regent Square, with a median property value of $542K in February 2023 and a median rent for a two-bedroom house of $1,473 in March 2023.
3. Squirrel Hill North
Squirrel Hill North, which is about 10 minutes from Downtown Pittsburgh, is a lovely neighborhood with well-kept homes and a warm, diverse community.
Chatham University and Carnegie Mellon University call it home, while the University of Pittsburgh’s campus is close by. This makes Squirrel Hill perfect for households with children who are either about to finish high school or are considering their college options.
Squirrel Hill North, like Regent Square and Point Breeze, has several parks nearby, including Frick Park and Schenley Park, where you and your family may go to escape the city noise.
According to recent data, Squirrel Hill North has a low crime rate, with 258 burglaries per 100,000 residents annually, compared to the national average of 500. The number of robberies per 100,0000 residents was 14 compared to the 136 robberies nationally.
Squirrel Hill North public schools are highly rated and it has several museums nearby, including the Carnegie Museum of Art and the American Jewish Museum, which give your kids further learning opportunities.
With an average home price of $663,703 and an average rental price of $2,618, it is one of Pittsburgh’s most expensive neighborhoods to buy or rent a home.
4. Mount Lebanon Township
Mt. Lebanon Township is situated in Pittsburgh’s South Hills suburbs, which is 14 miles from the city center.
The neighborhood’s public schools, which include Mt. Lebanon Senior High School, Hoover Elementary School, Jefferson Middle School, Markham Elementary School, and Foster Elementary School, are among the best in Pennsylvania.
We like that schools in Mount Lebanon Township are accessible on foot.
Additionally, it is home to many performing arts centers, cultural institutions, parks, sports facilities, a golf course, an ice center, a swim center, a hiking trail, and many other amenities that will provide your family with plenty of things to do.
Mt. Lebanon’s business district of Uptown, Beverly Road, and Washington Road is also packed with family-friendly and fine dining establishments where you can enjoy a meal or drink with your family.
The median home value in Mount Lebanon is $306,100, and median rent is $979, which is less than the $1,163 national average.
5. Highland Park
This Pittsburgh neighborhood has a median property value of $402,037 and a median rental price for a three-bedroom house of $2,100.
It is located in the northeastern part of Steel City and is known for its stunning Victorian homes, friendly community, easy access to the outdoors, and excellent schools.
A 380-acre park, also known as Highland Park, is situated in the neighborhood, and it offers plenty of recreational amenities for families, including hiking and biking trails, a swimming pool, volleyball and tennis courts, a playground, and picnic areas. The Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, one of only six major zoo and aquarium combinations in the US, is also located at Highland Park and is a well-liked family attraction.
It is a safe neighborhood with a low crime rate and offers a variety of family-friendly multi-cuisine restaurants in addition to all the outdoor activities.
HomeBuyers of Pittsburgh: The #1 Professional Home Buyer
If you have any questions about living in Pittsburgh and the local real estate market, please contact Homebuyers of Pittsburgh at 412-444-8914 or email [email protected].
We are a cash home-buying company with 10+ years of experience buying and selling properties in Pittsburgh. We would be pleased to offer you advice on the best Pittsburgh neighborhoods to live in and assist you in finding a property in your desired area.
If you’re selling your home to move to your dream neighborhood, we can also buy it from you quickly and at a fair price, helping you escape the stress of selling a house and providing you with the cash you need to more comfortably settle into your new home.
Contact us today to talk about how we can collaborate to support your real estate objectives.
