Pittsburgh is a large city with 90 neighborhoods, which can make it difficult to know the best place for you to buy or rent a home in the Steel City.
If you’re finding it hard to decide which area in Pittsburgh to settle down in, here are the best neighborhoods in Pittsburgh to live in based on livability factors like affordability, commute time, school quality, safety, community feel, and much more.
1. Squirrel Hill
This is Pittsburgh’s largest neighborhood and it’s split into two sections, Squirrel Hill North, with a population of 11,500+, and Squirrel Hill South, with 14,500+ residents.
It’s also the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in the city, situated in the heart of two of Pittsburgh’s biggest parks, Frick and Schenley Parks, which makes it lovely and gives you access to acres of green space for enjoying outdoor activities.
It’s also a short commute because Squirrel Hill is a 10-minute drive to Downtown Pittsburgh.
The neighborhood’s business district has 280+ businesses that employ 2900+ people, and it has two main streets, Forbes and Murray avenues, where you can do anything from shopping to watching the latest movie or enjoying an after-work drink with friends.
It’s one of the best neighborhoods in Pittsburgh to live in because it has some of the city’s top schools and is safer than 80% of the communities in Steel City.
But buying or renting a property here is expensive. Squirrel Hill South has a median home price of $361,282 and a median rent of $1,223, whereas Squirrel Hill North has a median home price of $514,210 and a median rent of $1,706.
The south features a significant concentration of duplexes with single-family homes and apartment complexes that are popular with renters, while the north side is primarily made up of huge Victorian mansions and apartments.
Because of its top-rated public schools and welcoming community, I recommend Squirrel Hill if you’ve got a family.
Its proximity to Carnegie Mellon University and Chatham University also make Squirrel Hill North a fantastic spot for college students and staff to live. The neighborhood may also appeal to young professionals due to the abundance of employment opportunities and lively nightlife.
2. Shadyside
The neighborhood of Shadyside, which is 15 minutes from Downtown Pittsburgh, is home to about 14,000 people.
Numerous amenities are available to inhabitants, including a variety of coffee shops, fine dining establishments, hip bars, top-notch schools, fitness studios, and green areas. The neighborhood also has a diversified population, which includes young families, professionals who work downtown, and students attending nearby colleges.
The majority of its streets are lined with trees, and Walnut Street, which contains big-name businesses including the Apple store, Gap, Banana Republic and Rolex, is its most well-known attraction.
Apartment complexes, condos, single-family homes, and townhouses are among the housing options; in September 2022, the average sale price of a property in Shadyside was $369,000. Over 70% of residents rent their homes, and the median monthly rent is $1,276.
Similar to Squirrel Hill, it has good security and a lively nightlife. You can navigate around Shadyside without a car, which is another reason it’s a fantastic area to reside.
Most places in the neighborhood are easily accessible on foot, and several public transportation options link to other Pittsburgh neighborhoods.
Shadyside boasts over 50 dog-friendly shops, so if you’ve got a dog you’ll like it here.
3. Mount Washington
One of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Pittsburgh is Mt. Washington. The nicest thing about this location, which is only 8 minutes from downtown, is the breathtaking city panoramas it offers.
The best city views can be seen along Grandview Avenue, which has numerous lookout locations.
The neighborhood is also an affordable place to live. Single-family high-end homes along Grandview Avenue might sell for $1M+, but you can find cool historic homes in other parts of Mount Washington without views for approximately $200K.
The median rent is $1,096, and approximately 60% of the 8,000+ residents rent their homes.
There are many stores and eateries in the area, with Shiloh street hosting some of the most popular establishments.
Mt. Washington also boasts a number of green areas, such as Grandview Park and Olympia Park, which have walking, biking, and dog trails in addition to basketball and baseball fields.
4. Lawrenceville
In the past ten years, Lawrenceville, a neighborhood in the northern part of Pittsburgh, has undergone significant renovations that have turned it into a hip area to reside. Many brand-new townhomes and apartments can be found here, and they come with great amenities like gyms and swimming pools.
The median cost of a property is $241K, and the median monthly rent is $1045. Young professionals, entrepreneurs, and students make up the majority of the residents, and 60% of them rent their homes.
For the more than 12,000 residents, the area has a lot to offer, including:
- Close proximity to downtown and the University of Pittsburgh campus (less than 10 minutes via public transportation)
- A bustling nightlife scene with several bars and clubs within walking distance
- Great local restaurants and shops like Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Target, and more are also steps away from your front door!
- It is more secure than 56% of Pittsburgh neighborhoods
5. Beechview
If you’re looking to purchase an affordable home, Beechview is a fantastic area.
It features a diversified population, a light rail that runs through the major commercial district – making commuting incredibly simple – and a median property price of $169K.
Its central location also makes it much easier to get to than other Pittsburgh neighborhoods.
Like the previous neighborhoods mentioned in this post, there’s no need to travel far for social amenities; Beechview offers a good number of stores, eateries, bars, parks and more.
Other areas we consider to be among Pittsburgh’s best neighborhoods to live in include:
- Highland Park: Despite being 25 minutes outside the city center, this neighborhood boasts outstanding schools, is among the safest in Steel City, offers a wide variety of parks and playgrounds, and is close to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium
- Mount Lebanon Township has more than 30,000 residents, including young families and pensioners. With a typical rent of under $1,000, it is quite affordable. Furthermore, there are plenty of work prospects, well-regarded public schools, and a low crime rate.
- Regent Square: With well-priced housing, low crime rates, and great amenities, Regent Square is a great place to live. Additionally, it has many employment prospects, and it’s close to Pittsburgh’s universities
HomeBuyers of Pittsburgh: The #1 Professional Home Buyer
Please contact Homebuyers of Pittsburgh at 412-444-8914 or email [email protected] if you’re moving to Pittsburgh or thinking about purchasing a home here.
We have more than ten years of expertise buying and selling homes in Pittsburgh, and we can advise you on the best Pittsburgh neighborhoods to reside in, as well as assist you in finding a nice home that fits your budget.
Hundreds of homebuyers have found their dream home in some of Pittsburgh’s best neighborhoods through us, and we’d love to assist you in settling down here as well. So please reach out today!
