Get to Know Pittsburgh – Your EZ Home Search Moving Guide

Pittsburgh is far removed from its days as a steel-making capital when it gained a reputation for being a grimy and rough city to live in. Today, it’s a growing city attracting attention for how it’s reinvented itself into a fun place to live with a low cost of living. Startups and tech companies are moving in, and young professionals are finding the city’s robust park system, many craft breweries, and lively sports culture are delivering a hip urban environment to call home.

Not so sure if Pittsburgh is right for you? Our moving guide provides an overview of what you should know about Pittsburgh, like key attractions, great neighborhoods, and the cost of living. Once you start assessing the fundamentals, you’ll see why this Pennsylvania city is an attractive place to live.

About Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh has carried a lot of nicknames over the years. Steel City. Blitzburgh. The City of Bridges. Whatever you want to call it, it’s become a pretty exciting place.

Let’s go back in time. The British managed Fort Pitt, as they valued its strategic location on the rivers. Pittsburgh grew around the junction of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers. That’s why one nickname is the City of Bridges. Today it has 446 of them! Smithfield Street Bridge, built in 1883, is the city’s oldest bridge in service.

This confluence of waterways helped Pittsburgh evolve from an outlying fort to a manufacturing hub. At first, it produced riverboats, glass, iron, and whiskey, but eventually, it became known for steel.

The steel manufacturing boom through the late 1800s and the 19th century became woven into Pittsburgh culture. Immigrants poured in to work the mills while the wealthy grew even richer. Magnates like Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Mellon, J.M. Heinz, and Henry Clay Frick built their fortune on the backs of Pittsburgh steel.

But steel production went bust after the 1950s, and by the 1980s, the city was in an economic depression. The city went into decline, and people left to seek work elsewhere.

Manufacturing is still present here, but with many steel mills closed, Pittsburgh’s cleaned up its act. It’s no longer “hell with the lid lifted.” You may be surprised by how green the city is, with many parks and beautiful waterways. Economically, it has diversified. It now has leaders in healthcare, technology, and education.

Affordable Cost of Living

Affordability is key to meeting your financial goals. You can have a high-quality lifestyle with a low price tag by choosing to live in Pittsburgh. Overall, essential expenses run about 8% less than the national average and 2% cheaper than the Pennsylvania average.

You’ll spend fractions more on groceries, utilities, and transportation, but the significant savings gained in housing will definitely balance it out. The city’s housing costs run about 25% less than the national rate and 5% less than the Pennsylvania rate. That’s for living in a city and not in a rural area where housing is usually cheaper.

The median household income from 2017 to 2021 was $54,301. To afford all the essentials, a family of four must make $65,054 after taxes in 2022. A single adult would need to make $28,640. Chances are, you can make your budget work in Pittsburgh.

A mid-sized population

How crowded is Pittsburgh? It’s not as packed as Philadelphia or New York City. Still, at around 300,000 residents as of 2021, it is a respectable urban city.

Pittsburgh’s population trajectory has been upward but not overwhelming in growth. It added around 3,000 residents in the decade leading up to 2020. The Census report said it lost just under a percentage point from 2020 to 2021. Stability is going to be the name of the game here.

More of the population gains are in the suburbs surrounding Pittsburgh. The metro has a population of 2.37 million.

Taxes Aren’t Bad

Anyone who earns income in the city or sends their children to the school district will pay a city income tax. Residents pay a 1% city tax and a 2% school tax. Any nonresidents who work inside the city will pay a 1% income tax. These taxes are collected by Jordan Tax Service.

Pennsylvania also assesses an individual income tax at a flat rate of 3.07% as of 2022.

As for sales taxes, the rate is 7% as of 2022 on your goods and services.

Property taxes are valued by Allegheny County but assessed by the city, county, and school district. The tax rates as of 2022 were 8.06 mills for the City of Pittsburgh and 4.73 mills for Allegheny County. The Pittsburgh school district charges 10.25 mils.

A Diversifying Job Market

As we mentioned, Pittsburgh’s economy is on the rise now that it has diversified from manufacturing. Today, the largest employers are primarily in health care. The leading hospitals are the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, St. Clair Hospital, and the Allegheny Health Network.

However, education is equally prominent in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Public School District and the University of Pittsburgh are leading employers. However, several other colleges have increased the education industry options.

The financial sector is equally strong, thanks to the Bank of New York and PNC Financial Services.

Tech markets are growing in Pittsburgh, which ranked fourth in CBRE’s 2022 evaluation of growing tech markets. Google and Apple are among the city’s significant employers, but there is a range of other smaller tech firms that are in Pittsburgh and growing. Pittsburgh’s affordability is part of the attraction for tech companies, both for its employees and operating costs.

Steel may not dominate the industry anymore, but it is still part of Pittsburgh’s economy. United States Steel Corp is based in Pittsburgh. It’s just one of the other manufacturing arms that continue using the city’s strategic location.

Real Estate is Affordable

One of the coolest things about Pittsburgh is its many neighborhoods. The rolling landscape, rivers, and influx of immigrants throughout the centuries have created a network of communities with character. Like Mount Washington, with incredible views of the Valley and Pittsburgh skyline, or historic Squirrel Hill, with its two college campuses and an incredible selection of dining.

Downtown Pittsburgh and the Golden Triangle place you closer to some of the urban parks, colleges, and the entertainment districts like The Strip. But you can also live in a quiet, more residential-feeling community not far from downtown. The East End has a lot of the traditionally wealthy neighborhoods that were built by Pittsburgh’s elite in the 19th century. These are close to downtown but have a family-focused vibe. The West End neighborhoods are a little further out but have some fantastic views and amenities.

Check out more about Pittsburgh’s interesting neighborhoods to live in, or talk with your local real estate agent so they can guide you towards which part of Pittsburgh sounds right for the lifestyle you want.

Education Options

The City of Pittsburgh School District operates 54 schools to serve around 20,000 students. A few of its high schools have earned places on US News and World Report’s Best High Schools list. The city also has about 250 private schools if you are seeking a religious or college prep-style education.

One of the best advantages of living in Pittsburgh is access to quality higher education. Starting with the University of Pittsburgh, or “Pitt,” as students and alumni call it, students have over 652 degrees and certificate programs. Its national rank is 62, but by programs, the School of Education ranks as one of the best.

Carnegie Mellon University is a highly regarded private institution that offers fine arts, technology, and science courses. The research school enrolls over 14,500 students in leading computer science, information systems, and engineering programs. In 2021, Times Higher Education ranked it the no. 28 university in the world.

If you are interested in faith-based education, Duquesne University is a leading Catholic program offering 85 undergraduate majors. Its one-year MBA is considered a great value, but it’s also top-rated for its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

Getting Around

Having a car is a must for getting around in Pittsburgh. The Port Authority of Allegheny County has buses and a light rail system, but to get to where you need to go and all the bridges, owning a car is easier.

If you want to use the public system, the light rail is called the “T,” with three lines running north-south through downtown and to the North Shore. One interesting part of the system is the incline funiculars that can take you up and down the steep hill face from the West End to South Side.

For a walkable community, your best bet is downtown Pittsburgh. There are bike rentals if you want to get around on two wheels. A few bike paths are in place to help pedestrian travelers move around the city landscape.

Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall

Living in Pittsburgh, you will have the classic four-season experience. Starting in winter, get ready for cold and snow. Ice storms and blizzards are part of living here. The average low temperature is 21F, and the average snowfall is 44 inches yearly. It’s so cold, the rivers can freeze.

Moving into spring, the weather will start warming up, leaving you with some cold and frosty mornings and warm afternoons.

By summer, you’ll have hot and humid temperatures, but not as rough as on the east coast. Thunderstorms can and do pop up. July will be the warmest month at an average temp of 73F.

 It starts to cool off in the fall, bringing back those frosty mornings.

Pittsburgh Bucket List

Every city has a collection of attractions and events critical to its identity and culture. These bucket list attractions can help you get to know Pittsburgh and understand what makes it so special.

The Strip is a transformed former industrial warehouse district, now a center for nightclubs, bars, markets, and festivals. You’ll find many restaurants, distilleries, and breweries to check out in this part of town. It’s also very close to the stadium, making it packed on game days. If you live in Pittsburgh, you will visit The Strip at some point.

Mount Washington is an iconic Pittsburgh neighborhood known for its upscale restaurant row. There are some fantastic options, and they’re not all necessarily fine dining. Find bakeries, ice cream shops, and charming little cafés to check out, too. Mount Washington is on the hilltop on the Pittsburgh South Side. It has some of the most fantastic views of the city from its parks. You can access it by riding one of the city’s two incline cable cars.

Point State Park sits at the intersection of Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers. Also known as the Golden Triangle, this is a beautiful place to picnic on a gorgeous spring or fall day. From here, explore the Three Rivers Heritage Trail.

Pittsburgh does not lack culture, as there are some outstanding museums that you must visit at some point. Among these are the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, a collection of four museums, including arts, natural history, and science. Don’t miss the Andy Warhol Museum, which has key works from this iconic American artist.

Another bucket list destination is Kennywood. For over 120 years, this national historic landmark has been where Pittsburgh residents enjoy thrills on classic roller coasters or bring their children to ride Thomas the Train.

Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates, Oh My!

Get ready for the ardent fans that cheer for local sports teams. The NFL Steelers, NHL Penguins, and MLB Pirates attract thousands for their home games. The Steelers have been six-time Super Bowl champions, while the Penguins have won the Stanley Cup five times. There’s a reason they call it “Sixburgh.”

Plenty of Parks

The city may be called the City of Bridges, but it could also be called the City of Parks, with 165 of them in all sizes. Wherever you live, chances are there’s a public space nearby to take a walk, admire the beautiful views, go swimming, or play sports. Frick Park, at 644 acres, is one of the largest parks. Still, the Allegheny Riverfront Park or North Shores Riverwalk is equally worthwhile for checking out.

One destination to check out is the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. They grow beautiful seasonal flower and plant displays and have kids’ classes and clubs. Highland Park also has beautiful gardens inspired by European landscaping. And Emerald View is prized for its city view.

Pints of Beer

One aspect of the culture you can’t miss living in Pittsburgh is the many craft breweries there. Around 40 breweries operate in the city, all with their twist on this beverage. The crazy thing is, there’s not really a dominating brewer. You may have heard of Southern Tier or Pittsburgh Brewing, but your choices are vast. Just check out the Pittsburgh Brewery Trail.

Sound Like a Local

You’ll quickly notice Pittsburgh has some interesting words and slang that aren’t found elsewhere in Pennsylvania. “Yinz” is probably the best-known slang word, and it means something like “y’all.” As in, “What yinz doing tonight?” It’s why the slang is called the “yinzer” vocabulary.

Locals also pronounce some words differently, like iron as “arn” or out like “at.” You’ll hear “r” ‘s dropped into words where they don’t exist. Shopping carts are buggies, and soft drinks are pop.

Moving Resources

As you settle into the city, there are a few logistical things you’ll need to take care of.

Pittsburgh has permitted parking for around 37 neighborhoods depending on your address. If this applies to you, get a street parking permit from the Pittsburgh Parking Authority.

Driver’s license and vehicle transfers are handled through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. You will need proof of residency documents, your Social Security card, and a secondary form of ID to accompany your out-of-state driver’s license.

Pennsylvania allows you to choose your electric and natural gas supplier. Check out your Pennsylvania utility choice providers so you can shop around for the best rates.

Moving to Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh blends affordability with lots of things to do that won’t break the bank. And with its growing economy, now could be the time to get into Pittsburgh before housing prices increase. Learn more about living in Pittsburgh by contacting a local real estate agent that can help narrow down the charming neighborhoods in the city.  And learn more about moving to Pennsylvania.