The 10 Best Places To Live In Pittsburgh For Young Professionals

Upgraded Home Team
by Upgraded Home Team

Lately, there has been a rise in Pittsburgh’s job opportunities, which has led to a surge in young professionals choosing to move to Pennsylvania. The cost of living is lower than in other areas. There is the airport’s convenience, which can take you anywhere in the country and even overseas. These are only a few reasons young professionals have decided to take the jump and move to this booming city.

What are the best areas or places to live in Pittsburg? If you are a young professional looking to live in Pittsburgh, we highly recommend looking at places in Downtown, the Strip District, and even Lower Lawrenceville. In Downtown, you will have many more opportunities than in some of the other surrounding areas.

Pittsburgh is not a new city, but it has recently been booming and attracting more young individuals. There is a strong sense of community and pride in living in such a prosperous area. You will never have a dull moment or feel like there is nothing to do. If you’re curious about learning where the best places are to live, keep reading to find out more.

Keep in mind; you’ll also want to avoid The 10 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods In Pittsburgh.

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How We Determined Our List

A few cities may want to be avoided around the Pittsburgh area, but most of them are reasonably priced and pretty safe to live in.

For this list, we have looked at the violent crime rates, property rates, population and compared that to the reasons a young professional may want to move to that area. Here are the places that made it on our top ten list.

  • Downtown
  • Strip District
  • Lower Lawrenceville
  • Central Lawrenceville
  • Shadyside
  • Bloomfield
  • Friendship
  • South Side Flats
  • Upper Lawrenceville
  • East Liberty

Best Places In Pittsburgh To Live For Professionals

Here are some of the best places for young professionals to live in Pittsburgh. We’ll also give you a few reasons why!

1. Downtown

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,382
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 8,886.5
  • Population: 5,490

There is so much to do in the downtown Pittsburgh area it can be one of the number one places for young professionals to live.

The nightlife in the area has one of the highest ratings and many activities to choose to do after work. Crime tends to be a little bit higher in this area, but it is the typical city crime you have to deal with worldwide.

It is a diverse city with many people who have varying thoughts and beliefs. You will find that most of the younger generation tends to lean liberal in this city.

Many people choose to rent in this area because of the great prices Downtown has to offer. The median home value in Downtown is $287,810, while the median rental price is $1,593.

2. Strip District

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,276
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 17,804.5
  • Population: 1,212

Overall, the homes in this area are some of the best to choose from in Pittsburgh. 91% of people in this area choose to rent their homes because it is easier to maintain in the city rather than owning a house.

This area is filled with coffee shops, unique restaurants, bars, and beautiful parks to walk through. It is a popping place to be.

However, it has the same crime water as the downtown area. You will have to be on the lookout for pickpockets and others looking to take advantage of you in the city.

Most of the homes for sale are tremendously expensive, so most people choose to rent. This area’s home median value is $486,000, while the median monthly rent is $1,814.

3. Lower Lawrenceville

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 466.5
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,527
  • Population: 2,226

This is one of the best places to live but not the best place to own a car. The houses come highly rated, but you will have to battle your neighbors for good street parking.

This is an excellent area for young professionals who also have families they want with them. The schools in this area come with a higher rating than those in the Downtown or the strip district.

You will find nice breakfast joints in this area with many to-go coffee shops and even bars for the occasional night out with friends. A Lot of the families in this neighborhood tend to be a little bit more liberal.

This neighborhood tends to have almost equal numbers of renters as there are owners. The median home value is $259,360, while the average rent per month is $1,085.

4. Central Lawrenceville

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 156
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,948
  • Population: 4,689

Many young professionals choose to live in central Lawrence because of its convenience. There are so many parks, businesses, and restaurants it truly is a place that attracts young professionals.

The neighbors in this community are all tight-knit and look out for each other, keeping the crime rate a tad lower than in other neighborhoods.

The neighborhood is primarily full of younger people, all of who lean liberal. There are more renters than buyers in this neighborhood.

The median home value is $240,914, and the average monthly rent is $1,045. This is why you will see 60% more renters than buyers in this area.

5. Shadyside

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 239.4
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,821
  • Population: 14,317

Though the neighborhood is called Shadyside, it is anything but shady. This is a fun area that young professionals seem to gravitate towards. The feel is densely urban, and there are bars and coffee shops within walking distance of most homes.

The public schools in this area come at a higher rating than most other neighborhoods on the list. This is perfect if you are young and have a growing family. 74% of the people who live in this neighborhood are renters, and only 26% are homeowners. The average home value is $371,444 and the average rent per month is $1,285.

6. Bloomfield

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 473
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,345
  • Population: 8,887

Bloomfield is a perfect name for this area because it is unquestionably blooming with new people. This is an excellent place for young professionals to live because the nightlife is highly rated, and the restaurants are easy to get to. You can have taken out any night of the week.

You will find that the median home value is $228,897 and the average rent per month is $952. 69% of people in this neighborhood choose to rent, while only 31% choose to own. The families that own tend to stay for generations while giving the area a perfect family feeling.

7. Friendship

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 257
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,362
  • Population: 1,878

This area has super tiny town vibes that will help a young person create the feeling of home. It’s a diverse area with many new families, and everyone is amiable, which has attracted many people.

The nightlife is top-rated in the area; you can go to the bars to enjoy a night out or grab a bottle of wine and relax at a BBQ with your neighbors.

The school system is below average, but the houses for rent tend to be big enough for a small family. The median home value of Friendship is $311,481, and the average rent is $1,009. You will find that over 82% of the people in this neighborhood are renters, and only 18% choose to buy.

8. South Side Flats

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,529
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 9,130
  • Population: 6,736

This is a perfect neighborhood for recent graduates or even young college students. You may even find a retired couple in the area. This is a good place if you like diversity, affordable housing, and yummy food. There is a great sense of community in this neighborhood.

The public schools for kids are not highly rated in this area, so it is better for single young professionals than young families. However, the houses for rent are generally big enough to hold more than one person. Most people in this neighborhood choose to rent over buy the homes.

There are 65% renters in the neighborhood and 35% who own their own homes. The median home value is $241,406, while the median rent is $1,255 per month.

9. Upper Lawrenceville

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,529
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 9,130
  • Population: 2,573

Unlike lower or central Lawrenceville, this is a great place that is a little quieter than the others. It’s a better area to buy a home, and you will see that renters and buyers are almost 50/50. The exact amount of renters in this neighborhood is 48%, while the number of owners is 52%.

A bus stop within walking distance can take you to wherever you need and a great place to enjoy a few drinks at the local breweries. The median home value of this area is $144,055, and the median rent is $1,010.

10. East Liberty

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 949
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,727
  • Population: 5,783

If you are looking for a super walkable neighborhood, this is your place. It is super disability-friendly, and most of the local shops will have ramps to support you. If you work Downtown, this can be one of the best neighborhoods to live in at a lower cost.

You will see that 79% of people decide to rent in this neighborhood, and only 21% choose to own their homes. The average rent price per month is $882, making it an excellent price and area to live in.

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Our Takeaway

If you are looking for the best place to purchase a home, we highly recommend looking at Upper Lawrenceville. It has everything you would want in a neighborhood but at a fraction of the price. It is a very affordable area to buy a home and an excellent place to live in with a lower crime rate.

Upgraded Home Team
Upgraded Home Team

We are a team of passionate homeowners, home improvement pros, and DIY enthusiasts who enjoy sharing home improvement, housekeeping, decorating, and more with other homeowners! Whether you're looking for a step-by-step guide on fixing an appliance or the cost of installing a fence, we've here to help.

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