Living in Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburghers are crazy about their sports teams and you will fit in perfectly if you're a steelers or penguins fan.

I lived in Pittsburgh for several years and have relatives there. Housing costs are very low, and demographics are divided into two distinct groups: Europeans (primarily Irish, German and Italian, about 2/3 of the population), and blacks (about 1/3 of the population in the city, and very few outside of it). There's no PC way to say this, but if at all possible, steer clear of neighborhoods in that second category. Violent crime rates are high in those areas. A friend of our family lived adjacent to one and was violently mugged (I mean beat up and mugged) six times before she finally fled to a safer neighborhood. As for your last request, forget it. Pittsburgh is largely middle/lower-middle class (with a few upper-middle class areas) and very middle-age.

I have never lived in Pittsburgh, but I spent a week there a few years ago looking at jobs. I think that it is a very livable city, and seems to be affordable. they seem to be trying (various city organizations) to support keeping young people around. one tihng that I did notice was that everybody sort of assumed that I would want to hang out with "my own kind" that jews hung out with jews, slavs with slavs, irish with irish, blacks with blacks, etc. don't know how that comares with the rest of the counry, but it struck me as strange.

Mixed ethnicity neighborhoods are rare in Pittsburgh. That's just the way it is there. The city has gone through distinct waves of immigration, at different times and from different countries. As each group moved in they formed their own neighborhoods. My own neighborhood was Italian, and virtually everyone on my block, and for several blocks in all directions were Italian. Most families had owned the same houses for 80 years or more.

I like Pittsburgh, kinda charming in a simple way.

Nice friendly folks in general.

Street navigation is a MESS. Even GPS will get you lost.

Still can't believe they have a Saks Fifth Avenue.

It's also kinda land-locked. Nearest "big" city is Cleveland, which is like Pittsburgh Jr. (or maybe Pittsburgh is like Cleveland Jr.)

Might as well make my first post a useful one. I've lived in Pittsburgh for 5 years now. I like it for the time being, but will probably be moving soon. Living is dirt cheap. I'm living in an apartment now that is costing me 1800 a month which would probably be a multimillion dollar condo in other cities. I was previously living in a 2500 sq ft home with 4 bedrooms and two full baths that cost about that same amount. If you want safe living, look in Squirrel Hill or Shadyside. Stay away from East Liberty, Bloomfield, Oakland, and downtown. If you fancy yourself a hipster, look in Lawrenceville. Some areas of Highland Park are nice, some are not. South Side housing prices are inflated because of the nightlife, and not worth it in my opinion. The Strip District is hit or miss, I personally wouldn't live there. Those are all the neighborhoods I would consider to be part of the immediate city area. There is a huge college population here, 6 or so different universities I think, so you'll find college age girls around, usually in Oakland or the South Side. Shadyside has a decent nightlife but tends to be more in the 30 something range. I grew up in a cold climate so winters don't bother me, but the winters here can be depressing for some. It has a habit of staying 33 degrees and raining often. Summers are great, pretty consistent weather and lots to do within the city. This city is sports crazy. Its pretty common to see a dozen people wearing jerseys in any given bar on any given night. I've seen a number of people wearing Penguins jerseys on top of suits during the work day I would say if the job opportunity is something you want, the city should not be a deal breaker. Its a pretty nice place. edit: Couple other thoughts. As for what other people said on race, 'yinzers' as they're called (people from Pittsburgh say 'yinz' like southerners say 'yall') can be somewhat racist. I once stopped calling a girl for that reason, though you generally find that more in the lower class neighborhoods (to be fair, she was pretty trashy). I bartended for a while in a crappy neighborhood and I couldn't believe what some people considered appropriate conversation with me. If you hang out in the better areas, the neighborhoods I mentioned, you won't really run into that. For the most part the 20-something and 30-something professional crowd is very different from the older generations here. If you're a driver, it takes getting used to. There is no rhyme or reason to the roads here, it seems like if an engineer finds a problem with a road, they just throw up another overpass, bypass, underpass, bridge, 5 way intersection, left turn lane, "stop except right turn" sign, etc. Also, the city has one of the highest population densities of elderly in the country. Take that as you will.

I am in my late 20's, lived in PGH for a year in 2007-2008, and yes I wanted to swing from a rope. Neighborhoods are nice, but very closed off. its not uncommon for people to live in the same 'hood' their whole life. People will be nice to you, but never really accept you. Pick where you live depending on where you work, becuase the commute is a nightmare. I lived less than 6 miles distance wise to my office and it would take 30-45 minutes.

Girls, are very hit and miss, shadyside/squirrel hill/Oakland, etc... If they are in their mid to late 20's, chances are they are stuck up, living on mom and dads money and probably jewish (I am jewish, I get to get away with that), its a nice area if you want to live in an old house conversion. Other chicks are likely yinzers which means they gain weight each time you have sex with them, and will serioulsy not answer the phone if a steerlers game is on.

I struggled with where to live, since there are not really any 'young professional' areas. Southside is for people in their early 20's. Lawrenceville is kind of up and coming, but its like all ironic hipsters living in prewar houses. I couldnt even really find anywhere that had like nice condo's or apartment complex's next to shopping center type stuff that wasnt frightening or way out of town. I bought a cute house, but it was on the wrong side of town (traffic, night life, etc...)


So here is my best advice I can give you as someone who moved to PGH for a job, and didnt know anyone. DONT. Seriously. I loved the 'city', I just hated living there. If I was married, w/kids, committed relationship, great job, easy commute, I would have loved it and stayed. I had a terrible time making friends (and I dont have a problem making friends), all the girls I dated sucked, my life doesnt revlove around drinking beer, getting fat and watching football, getting around is a nightmare (even with GPS, true story). I bought a house thinking that I was getting such a great deal, but I got screwed with that (just because of the market crash. PGH is a very stable housing market).

Ha, ha! LMFAO.

But you are a bit of a douche bag, no?

How's that garden spot Michigan working out for you?

I grew up there and I can't speak for the rest of your post too much, but I have no fucking idea how you could possibly find a six mile distance that takes 45 minutes to traverse in Pittsburgh. It has by far less major traffic than most other cities its size due to its relatively decentralized nature. I suppose if you searched for the ABSOLUTE DUMBEST commute possible (there is one parkway that is bumper to bumper at rush hours) you could make it happen. But it really requires some effort. I hope to God you never visit LA.

I am not following you? Why do you think I am a douchebag? I mean, I know why I am a douchebag, but just wondering why you do?

I love Michigan, I am from here. But I wasnt attacking pittsburgh, in fact, I thought it was a great place, but it just didnt work for me.

But to the OP, that kind of response, is exactly what its like living there. Everyone walks around like the order should go New York, Chicago, Pittsburgh, LA. Biggest bunch of homers you will ever meet. On the radio one day, they were seriously trying to argue that some no name steeler center deserved to be in the HOF, but joe montana didnt. True Story. Almost every conversation about pitt's shortcomings winds up in a but we have 6 rings and 3 stanley cups.

Route 51 north into downtown. From Baldwin into the city @ morning rush hour, through the liberty tunnel. Fucking blew my mind too.

If everyone who lives somewhere really likes it, that strikes me as a decent endorsement.
If you think the late Mike Webster was "some no name steeler center", that says more about your ignorance about football than about Pittsburgh homerism (which certainly does exist).

Ha, ha, that was the order back in the day. As for the no-name and Joe Montana, if it's about former Pittsburghers and football, we will make the call, I guess. Sorry that offended you.

That's weird, considering where Joe Montana is from.