Thoughts on Living in Pittsburgh?
 

We are in the midst of a major relocation event. At first thought we might be headed to Portland, ME, but now looks like Pittsburgh is more likely. Any thoughts from anyone on quality of life, neighborhoods, housing etc? All I'm finding are tourism websites, and I'd like a little more insight on how it is to live, rather than visit, there. Many thanks!

<BR>Pgh is wonderful.The only drawback might be 7% tax on everything instead of 6% like the other counties.Pgh is in Allegheny Co.b you could live in other surrounding counties.I`ll check to see if I can find a relocation guide and post it.My daughter lived there for many years.Plenty of places to dine and socialize.Nice housing.You didn`t state the area you would relocate too or the area your job and company are located.That would probably have a great affect on the info. find out more info.

Sand -- the position would involve a good deal of instate travel, without a specific office location, so that isn't a major issue. We have a 14-yr-old son, so schools would be more a determining factor, as would neighborhoods. Thanks for your help!

I'm just a visitor from New York, but I got the nicest impression of Pittsburgh from my 2 days there. Nothing like the old stereotype of an industrial nightmare. Seemed clean & pretty, with friendly residents, attractive downtown area, and lots of natural beauty in surrounding areas. Took a wonderful train through Amish country to get there. Didn't want to leave. It's getting pretty good press in recent years as being one of the best U.S. cities to live in.

Come to Pittsburgh.... <BR> <BR>I've lived here most of my life. I moved to Dallas for a time and just had to come back. We have everything here. If you want more info, e-mail me and I'd be glad to get into specifics. <BR> <BR>Marty

<BR>Look up www. area guides.net~it shows info on Pgh and area.There is also www.post gazette.com- www.tribune review.com(papers) and www.realpittsburgh.com-www.the pittsburgh channel.com-www.KDKA.com(tv) and www.in-pittsburgh.com. I will keep checkng for more info.There are some excellent school systems and colleges there. I only live 50 miles away.My daughter drives 5 days a week to work at a major hospital.Excellent hospital,too.Hard for a teen-ager to move.If you travel out of PIT airport you could live just about anywhere in Pa.or Ohio within driving distance.Hope this helps.

I have lived right in the city of Pittsburgh for 25 years. For a city of such a manageable size it really has most of what you might want for sports, culture, education, shopping. One thing you should think about (not a bad thing) is that Pittsburgh is quite tenaciously a city of nieghborhoods. Folks like to move about in their own sphere. Get re-location advice from an old-timer who really understands the character of each place you consider. And ask specific questions about the ease of travel from your prospective home to places you will go often. Find some "Rich Sebak" videotapes - great resources on Pittsburghiana - including nieghborhoods and driving around the area (the infamous "belt" system).

Thanks for all the input -- any other comments out there?

Grew up in Pittsburgh. If you will be flying in and out frequently and if you are looking for quality schools, I would suggest Mt. Lebanon in the South Hills. A prominent real estate co. there is Howard Hanna ( a childhood friend works for them). It's a fairly easy commute to the city as well as to the airport. The schools are excellent and the housing is very, very good. The downside is that Allegheny Co's taxes are awful! Hope that helps. It's a nice city and a great place to raise children.

We lived in Pittsburgh for about three and a half years, although we moved away almost 15 years ago. We absoloutely loved it there. I moved there with great reluctance when my husband took a job there because I thought of it as a dirty, industrial city. However, we found that it had been cleaned up since the heyday of the steel mills, and had a great deal to offer. There is a lot to do, with great theater, music, museums, etc., and the area is beautiful, very hilly, with the 3 rivers running through the city, of course. What we liked best were the people there, very friendly and down to earth. We moved away sadly when his company closed down and he found a good job elsewhere. We lived in O'Hara Township, on the north side of the Allegheny River, and really liked the location. We have very fond memories of living there, and still keep in touch with several of our friends there.

Dial 1-800-this-is-not-a-freaking-relo-forum

BJ -- thanks so much for the phone number for the relocation site -- I had no idea such things existed. <BR> <BR>Seriously, if I was spending a weekend in Pittsburgh instead of trying to get some insight about quality of life, would it be okay to post my question here? I forget that people on this forum are so much more rigid than those who frequent the European forum!

As a former 26 year resident of Pittsburgh (birth to age 26), there are many areas in Pgh to live that are great. Depending upon your social situation, there are several different answers. If you are single, professionally employed, not planning on kids for awhile, want to be in the midst of it all, Shadyside or Southside are two areas in which to live. I lived in Shadyside in my 20's after college. Great homes and apartments. No real apartment complexes, all renovated mansions and grand homes broken down into apartments. Lots of character and charm and grandure. Southside is the same, but it is just at the forefront of a renaissance. Same types of houses, but 5 seconds from downtown, you don't even need a car really. Lots of night life in both areas. <BR> <BR>If you are more family oriented, the North Hills area, like Cranberry Townnship, Hampton Township, Fox Chapel, anything in the northern suburbs will be absolutely great. The homes out there all have a piece of property as well and usually loaded with 100 foot pine trees and oak and maple trees, rolling hills and absolutely beautiful out in that area. South Hills is ok but not as nice. The real estate agencies in the North Hills will be glad to send you tons of available homes and properties as well as info on schools and community offerings, etc. The school districts in the northern suburbs are really good. No city schools unless you go private or parochial. <BR> <BR>Any other questions, just ask. Oh, the price of a home is dirt cheap compared to just hours away in Phili and NYC and Upstate NY and Connecticut. There is a Century 21 Real Estate Agency in the North Hills as well as a Howard Hannah Real Estate. Just call directory assistance for their numbers, they will send you all kinds of info on homes, etc. <BR> <BR>Definitely head north in Pittsburgh, much better than South Hills or anything east like Monroeville, Churchill, not that great. Lots of crime out that way. <BR> <BR>High schools? Whether you are Catholic or not, the best money can buy academically as well as the ability to groom and mold a quality young man or woman? For boys, Central Catholic, run by Christian Brothers and on Fifth Avenue in Oakland (Pitt campus), about 7k per year - boys college prep school -everyone of my 11 uncles, my dad, my brother, my husband and even Dan Marino went there. Best education money can buy. <BR> <BR>For girls, Mt. Alvernia High School in the northern almost suburban part of town. Run by the Sisters of St. Francis, quality education, discipline, small student body and very personal. The best high school experience for a girl to have even if there aren't any boys, you don't have to fix your hair everyday. 50 girls per graduating class, beautiful campus, almost everyone is awarded academic or sports scholarships to college from one university or another, academics is very strong here. Excellent school, of course, My two sisters and I went there.

First of all where is PHILI? Secondly are we here to supply relocation advice? I thought this was a TRAVEL FORUM and I have absolutely no interest in visiting Phili or Pittsburgh. Go somewhere else.

Rude, annoying people! Relocation does involve travel and the answers here give other travelers some insight into the area. But mainly, what's it to you? You've wasted your own time if you clicked on the thread -- no one invited you -- and you've made yourselves considerably less relevent than answers that tell me something about Pittsburgh -- which I may actually visit some day.

Frank & BJ: <BR> <BR>Relocation is a very suitable topic for this forum. Relocation happens to involve travel if you didn't know that. Both of you need to go to charm school and not acted like spoiled little brats. Of course, school is out so maybe you both are just a couple of little spoiled btats with too much idle time on your hands. <BR> <BR>I happen to find the relocation threads pretty interesting. I have no plans to visit Pittsburg at this time but have learned quite a bit about it from this thread. <BR> <BR>The topic is clearly indicated as being about relocation to Pittsburg so just skip it if you are not interested in the subject.

You might consider the North Side. It's close to the city with easy bus service and we have wonderful neighborhoods. West Allegheny is full of stately Victorians as is the area around the Mexican War Streets. Brighton Heights is also nice, its quiet and has a lot of schools and shops. I'm a product of our public schools (no snide remarks, please) and would recommend them to anyone. Pittsburgh is also noted as being one of the friendliest cities. If you decide to come here, welcome to Pittsburgh!

<BR>Here is the thread you were looking for Harriett.....hope this helps...you might even consider Stuebenville,Ohio..Cheaper than Pgh and not too far away from airport..

<BR>Steubenville? <BR> <BR>That seems a reach. There are a multitude of small towns in western Pa. with reasonable housing and better schools--and, obviously, closer to Pittsburgh. <BR> <BR>Pittsburgh is a beautiful city, but the nicer suburbs historically are very expensive. I guess that makes it like any other city. Anyway, there are small college towns within easy driving distance of Pittsburgh. My suggestion would be to make a long weekend into a look-about trip. Plan on doing a lot of driving and keep an open mind.

<BR>Check your other post....