What Are The Pros And Cons Of Living In Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is one of the major metropolitan hubs in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Whether for business or pleasure, Pittsburgh is a place that often welcomes visitors from around the country. It’s also the kind of locale that warrants consideration if you’re looking for a new home.

The city of Pittsburgh has a lot to offer any folks thinking of potentially moving there. Will they be enough for you to consider living there long-term?

Access to affordable housing and quality higher education are among the best aspects of living in Pittsburgh. It’s also a great place to call home if you’re a big sports fan. However, projections for Pittsburgh’s economy aren’t that rosy and that could be a significant problem down the line.

During your search for a new place to call home, you shouldn’t forget to check out Pittsburgh. Learn more about Pittsburgh in this article and see if it possesses the characteristics you’re looking for in a new home.

Pittsburgh is the second-most populous city in Pennsylvania and among the largest locales in the Mid-Atlantic region. Given those facts, it would not be unreasonable to assume that homes are expensive there. Well, if you were expecting that, we have some good news to share. Homes in Pittsburgh are very affordable.

The median price for a new home in the United States is currently at $231,000. If you narrow your focus to just Pennsylvania, the median price for a home drops to $174,000. Remarkably, the cost of a new home in Pittsburgh is even lower than that.

The median cost of a new home in “The Steel City” is right around $143,000. You can see large gaps between that number and the price points we mentioned in the paragraph above. Even though Pittsburgh is a major metropolis, you can definitely find affordable homes there.

Scour all the neighborhoods of Pittsburgh in search of a place you want to call home. Chances are that you’ll consistently find houses that fall well into your price range no matter where you look.

Parents planning to move with their children always need to be mindful of the schools in their desired city. No parent wants to send their kids to schools that are known for substandard education.

If you’re thinking of moving to Pittsburgh together with your kids, you can breathe a bit easier. You can find numerous highly-rated public schools in the area. There are some public schools on the receiving end of less than stellar ratings and reviews. However, they are outnumbered by the educational institutions that come highly recommended by students and parents.

The city of Pittsburgh is also home to a large number of colleges and universities. Among the best-known higher education institutions in the city are Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, and the University of Pittsburgh. Your college-age kids won’t have to look far if they want to attend a well-regarded university. Great education is one of the pros and cons of living in Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh is home to a trio of sports teams that play in some of the world’s most famous professional leagues. The city is represented by the Penguins in the NHL, the Steelers in the NFL, and the Pirates in MLB. The Pittsburgh Penguins have been fixtures of the NHL postseason since 2007. They’ve also collected five titles as a franchise, with their most recent championship coming in 2017.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have long been one of the most successful franchises in the history of the NFL. The franchise has employed many legends of the sport and fans have been able to watch the team win numerous titles. The Steelers have won six Super Bowls and their most recent win came at the end of the 2008 season.

For many Pittsburgh residents, the Pirates are the team that multiple generations of their family have rooted for. The Pirates have been playing in Pittsburgh dating all the way back to the late 1800s.

Although the Pirates have won the richest prize in baseball seven times, they have not been very successful in recent years. Even so, you can still consistently see loyal fans flocking to PNC Park to cheer on the team.

If you’ve always wanted to cheer for a hometown team in a pro sports league, you will enjoy living in Pittsburgh. There are games to watch all throughout the year so you can cheer to your heart’s content!

Non-sports fans don’t have to worry about a lack of entertainment options in Pittsburgh. If you’re more into musical and/or theatrical performances, the city still has you covered.

Drop by the Benedum Center or the Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts for a show. Catch some of the city’s top performers showcasing their talents. Orchestras and ballet companies frequently perform at those aforementioned venues. Get your tickets ahead of time and plan a weeknight date around an upcoming performance.

Attending a show is not your only option if you want to immerse yourself in the culture of the area. You can also visit one of the many museums found throughout the city. The Andy Warhol Museum and the Carnegie Museum of Art are must-visit establishments for anyone interested in the arts.

If there is one big reason why you should think twice about moving to Pittsburgh, it’s definitely the economy. To put it simply, Pittsburgh’s economy is not in a good place currently. You can point to different troubling signs as well.

Let’s start with unemployment. Currently, the unemployment rate in Pittsburgh is at 7.1 percent. To better understand the significance of that number, you must realize that the unemployment rate for the country is 6 percent.

It’s never a good sign when the unemployment rate in a particular city is that high above the country’s mark. Unfortunately, that’s not the only reason to be down on Pittsburgh’s economic outlook. Economic projections for the city are also quite bleak.

The job market for the United States is expected to grow by 34 percent over the next decade. Pittsburgh lags well behind in that regard. The job market in the city is only expected to grow by around 24 percent over that timeframe.

It’s fair to wonder about what kind of economy will be present in Pittsburgh if you decide to move there. At the very least, you should avoid moving there on a whim. Moving there without locking down a solid job offer could be a very risky proposition.

Rainy or snowy weather is not necessarily a bad thing. Some folks don’t mind the precipitation especially if it saves them from the oppressive heat. You can also find people who like the rainy and snowy weather.

Dealing with rain and snow on occasion is not that big of an issue. However, dealing with rain and snow for much of the year is different. At a certain point, the gloomy weather is going to get to you. That could very well happen if you’re living in Pittsburgh.

Sunny days also aren’t that common in Pittsburgh. The city records a lower than average number of sunny days throughout the year. When you rarely get a sunny day to counterbalance all the precipitation, the weather can start to weigh heavily on you.

The gloomy weather in Pittsburgh is something that can be difficult to deal with. You won’t have much of a choice other than to get used to it if you move there though.

Related Questions

Is Crime a Big Problem in Pittsburgh?

Rarely will you find big cities with very low crime rates. Many folks understand that higher than average crime rates are elements of big city living. That’s pretty much the case with Pittsburgh as well.Both the property and violent crime rates for Pittsburgh are above average. They aren’t that high above average, but they are still up there.It’s worth taking the time to look up the safest neighborhoods in Pittsburgh before moving there. Try to see if there’s a home in one of those neighborhoods you can afford. You won’t have to worry as much if you live in one of those areas.

What Is the Food Scene Like in Pittsburgh?

Living in Pittsburgh means you’ll get to enjoy some regional specialties. Pierogi and kielbasas are among the staple foods of the city. You can find them in many diners throughout Pittsburgh.The food scene in Pittsburgh goes well beyond just those favorites though. The city is starting to develop a reputation as a culinary destination in the Mid-Atlantic. Numerous restaurants in the city have garnered praise from critics and food publications in recent years.Pittsburgh is turning itself into a must-visit locale for any gourmand. Enjoy all the good food Pittsburgh has to offer whenever you want by moving there.