Pittsburgh, PA Reviews


189 Reviews



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What BestPlaces Users Say about Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a bustling city located in the western part of the state. With a rich history and diverse culture, Pittsburgh attracts many residents from all over the country. In this particular place, there are a variety of neighborhoods and communities that offer unique experiences for those who call it home. To get a better understanding of what it's like to live in Pittsburgh, we will be summarizing several user reviews from BestPlaces.net. These reviews come from individuals who have first-hand experience living in the city and can provide valuable insights for those considering making Pittsburgh their home.

1. In their review, Susan R. describes Pittsburgh as "a hidden gem" with "tons of character." They go on to praise the city's affordable cost of living, saying "I can afford a nice house in a safe and quiet neighborhood without breaking the bank." Susan also mentions the abundance of outdoor activities and cultural events that make the city a great place to live.

2. James S. shares a similar sentiment, stating that Pittsburgh has "a unique charm that is hard to find in other cities." He also mentions the strong sense of community and friendly neighbors as major positives. However, James does note that traffic can be an issue, especially during rush hour.

3. According to John P., Pittsburgh is a "city of endless opportunities." He highlights the job market, education options, and entertainment as major draws for him and his family. John also appreciates the city's efforts in revitalizing its downtown area, making it a more vibrant and livable place.

4. In contrast, Emma L. expresses some disappointment with Pittsburgh, saying that it "lacks diversity and can feel very insular." She also mentions the weather, noting that winters can be long and harsh. However, Emma does acknowledge that the city has a "small-town feel" and is a good place to raise a family.

Overall, it seems that Pittsburgh offers a unique combination of affordability, community, and opportunities for its residents. While there may be some challenges, such as traffic and weather, many reviewers found the city to be a great place to live and would recommend it to others.

 based on 189 Reviews
Get to know Pittsburgh with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Pittsburgh

I'm confused about cost of living - 11/29/2012
I currently live in Boston and am thinking of relocating to PGH. However, I am quite confused about cost of living. I see that there is supposedly a significant difference in cost of living between Boston and PGH so I should be able to survive on a lower salary. Yet when I look on craigslist at apartments to rent in the downtown area (Shadyside, Squirrel Hill), the prices seem to be the same as Boston. Right now, in Boston I live in the inner 'burbs -- downtown and work are 5 miles away -- and I pay $1100 for a 400 sq ft studio in Boston and that rent includes heat, hot water, and trash. Yes, the PGH apartments are larger, but I thought they would be cheaper. Can anyone confirm if the cost of living for PGH is coming out lower because they are factoring in data on the greater metro area?

I live on my salary alone. I work in education so I make a low salary and I have to be careful about budgets. What salary range would allow me to live in or close to downtown PGH and Read More

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cost of living??...I'm confused - 11/29/2012
I currently live in Boston and am thinking of relocating to PGH. However, I am quite confused about cost of living. I see that there is supposedly a significant difference in cost of living between Boston and PGH so I should be able to survive on a lower salary. Yet when I look on craigslist at apartments to rent in the downtown area (Shadyside, Squirrel Hill), the prices seem to be the same as Boston. Right now, in Boston I live in the inner 'burbs -- downtown and work are 5 miles away -- and I pay $1100 for a 400 sq ft studio in Boston and that rent includes heat, hot water, and trash. Yes, the PGH apartments are larger, but I thought they would be cheaper. Can anyone confirm if the cost of living for PGH is coming out lower because they are factoring in data on the greater metro area?

I live on my salary alone. I work in education so I make a low salary and I have to be careful about budgets. What salary range would allow me to live in or close to downtown PGH and Read More

Pittsburgh - 11/11/2012
Pittsburgh is a very friendly city; has a small town feel with multiple interesting neighborhoods. Pros: reasonable cost of living, multiple universities in the area, decent restaurants, lots of professional and college level sports; Cons: workforce largely dominated by UPMC, public transit unreliable (bus system is the only form available), parks system is lacking, downtown area basically shuts down after 5pm.  Read More

The Best City for Quality of Live - 7/25/2012
From healthcare to cost of living and education, Pittsburgh is a great small big city to Read More

Cost of Housing numbers for Pittsburgh don't add u - 7/5/2012
We have been living in the Pittsburgh area for 9 months trying to find a home that will allow us to commute downtown. In spite of the fact that Pittsburgh has great affordable housing on paper, ranking in top 50 affordable housing cities, great ratings with the HOI etc, and with a median home price supposedly around $100K, we have become very frustrated. The numbers and real life do NOT add up. We are looking at 4 BR homes somewhere in the Pittsburgh suburbs (we are watching multiple areas) less than 30 years old with reasonably good schools and it is very difficult to find anything less than 300K, and most reasonable options are under contract within a week or 2 of going on the market.

We're hoping for 5 bedrooms(forget it) and a little more space and searching up to $350K, we aren't expecting to find things as cheap as the "median" of course, but there is very little availability, most homes are rather old and many are in poor condition. At first I was thinking the Read More

I Moved To Pittsburgh from Florida - 6/28/2012
I'm a FL native who moved to Pittsburgh in 2007 and I Love it! It's a small Big city or a Big small city depending on your perspective. Above all, there is a quality of life here that is world class, especially for the price. As the Sperling site here says, the cost of living is 13% less than average USA. There is so much character, scenery, culture, architecture, history, and smart people (college town). This was a very important American city in the past and it shows. Just be sure to stay in the best 'city living neighborhoods'(Google it) as they say here, otherwise it could be a little provincial if you're coming from a bigger city. Think Shadyside, South Side, Lawrenceville, Downtown, Mexican War Streets, Point Breeze, and others. Google has a big office here and is building a huge new campus here - So that must say something as far as I'm concerned. Looking for a place to move or retire? Be sure to research Pittsburgh for sure. Read More

Pittsburgh Is A Great Place To Live - 5/29/2012
I've lived in Pittsburgh for ten years now and really enjoy it. There's lots to do for families and singles alike, great education choices, a good health system and, of course, The Steelers! Pittsburghers are very friendly and welcoming. Also, the weather is milder than in many parts of the country. We don't get the sub-zero weather (usually) nor do we get the 100 degree temps other places Read More

air pollution - 5/22/2012
Is the city got bad air pollution? it says on the sperling rating 5.9 out of 100 so I assume it Read More

braddock and pittsburg air quality? - 5/22/2012
I saw a house on ebay for $7,500. Im a retired baby boomer and heard Pittsburgh is the place. But only one thing scares me. when I go to "health" for Braddock neighborhood it shows a 5.9 for air quality with 100 being the best air quality. Sound to me that Pittsburg is a very smoggy air polluted place and dont know why boomers woulld choose that. its like the brown haze you see in the morning in LA or Phoenix but I lived in Phoenix and its not as bad as LA.How would those that live there compare the air pollution ? to a brown haze? Is the mountains keeping the smog in? what is your take.? thanks for your input. But no thanks I would rent before I would buy in Pittsburg. to test the air quality. and that is important to Read More

America - 1/16/2012
Need to make using this site Read More

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