If you’re thinking about moving to Pittsburgh, you’ll have to be ready for its high crime rate, unreliable transportation, challenging terrain, and unhappy population. On the upside, it’s cheap and scenic.

Pittsburgh, sometimes called “The Pitt” or “The Steel City,” is the second largest city in

Pennsylvania

—right behind

Philadelphia

. Originally founded in 1758, the city quickly became an important industrial hub due to its access to natural resources. It now boasts some very well-respected universities and a fledgling tech industry.

Like any area, though, Steel City has its advantages and its drawbacks. You’ll need to consider both sides before making a decision.

That’s why

(the

for

, and

) has prepared this guide. It will help you decide if Pittsburgh is right for you, what neighborhoods you might want to live in, and how you can save some money on your

Pittsburgh car insurance

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What you need to know about Pittsburgh before you move

Pittsburgh is a city in the midst of dramatic change. As the city has shifted from an industrial hub to a more technological city, more effort and resources have been put into livability and aesthetics. Now, greenery is everywhere, intermingling with antique architecture—and all of it is accented by unusual topography and a network of over 400 bridges, each one distinct.

Pittsburg is changing in other ways that are less visible but more profound. The Pitt’s long-standing reputation for intolerance has faded, and it has become a genuinely welcoming place. Other reputations, however—such as the city’s dark tradition of widespread violent crime—are not so easily laid to rest.

Good or bad, here’s what you should consider before you make your move.

1. Rent and cost-of-living expenses are very low

You’re not likely to find another large city that’s as affordable as Pittsburgh. Take the cost of rent for example—the average cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Pittsburgh is about $775 per month. This is well below the Pennsylvania statewide average of $872 and dramatically below the U.S national average of $1,048.

If you take a look at the city’s cost of living index (as reported by BestPlaces.com), the overall cost of living is about 12% lower than in the rest of the county. Healthcare and housing costs are particularly affordable—they’re 14% and 38% lower, respectively, than the national average.

Of course, this affordability doesn’t come without its drawbacks. As is often the case, the lower cost of living in Pittsburgh is accompanied by a struggling economy.

Pittsburgh has seen some mild economic growth in the past decade, but its unemployment rate (7.1%) and poverty rate (19.87%) are still significantly higher than the national average. At the same time, the median income ($29,399) is significantly lower than average.

2. It has a surprisingly decent education system

Pennsylvania’s school system ranks 37th out of all 50 states. In the Pittsburgh area, however, public school test scores are regularly about 20% higher than the state average in both reading and mathematics proficiencies.

Public school districts in The Pitt spend $9,611 annually on each student. In contrast, public schools nationwide spend an average of only $7,549 on each student. Additionally, many public high schools in the Pittsburgh Metro Area (such as Peters Township High School, Pittsburgh CAPA, and Upper Saint Clair High School) have graduation rates of nearly 100%.

The Steel City is home to some of the nation’s highest-ranked educational institutions. The renowned Carnegie Mellon University, for instance, is ranked as the 25th best university in the entire country. And The Pitt School of Education has one of the country’s most prestigious graduate programs for Education Studies.

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3. It has a very high crime rate

As mentioned above, Pittsburgh continues to struggle with rampant crime. The violent crime rate in the city is 7.4events per 1,000 residents, which is nearly double the national average—and that’s just violent crimes.

The overall crime rate for The Pitt is 41.68. When you compare that with the national average of just 21.99 (or even with other crime-heavy cities like Chicago, which has a rate of 35.19), a truly discouraging picture starts to form.

Most of the crimes in the Pittsburgh area are larceny thefts, assaults, vandalism offenses, burglaries, car thefts, or homicides. If you’re going to live in The Pitt, you’ll need to take proper precautions and learn which neighborhoods to avoid.

4. Get ready for rainy summers and bitter winters

If you’re a fan of gloomy weather and rainy days, then you’ll love Pittsburgh! The Steel City is overcast and rainy nearly every day of the year. On average, it only sees 55-60 days of sunshine all year.

Plus, it gets an annual rainfall of around 35 inches, which is about the same as

Chicago

Seattle

. The precipitation lightens up a bit in the winter—just in time for the temperatures to drop. Temperatures in the summer don’t typically exceed 80°F but in the winter they can get down as low as about 5°F.

5. You’re going to need a car

Pittsburgh is only 58.35 square miles, but you’ll need a vehicle to get around. The city is covered in random hills and valleys, and the three rivers that cut through Pittsburgh have made for a challenging city layout.

To make matters worse, the public transportation system is famously unreliable. It’s comprised of chronically late busses, limited range T-rail trains, and charming yet impractical antique incline cars.

6. It’s one of the most unhappy places in the country.

According to a study National Bureau of Economic Research, Pittsburgh is the second most unhappy location in the entire U.S—behind only New York City (based on random polling).

As mentioned above, Pittsburgh only gets 55-60 clear-sky days all year. That kind of reduced sunlight actually has a severe impact on your body's ability to produce Vitamin D, which is the main cause behind Seasonal Affective Disorder.

7. Pittsburgh has very unusual topography

As has been mentioned, the terrain in Pittsburgh is very unusual. It’s full of sudden and dramatic drops and inclines. In fact, the steepest road in all of the United States, Canton Avenue, is in Pittsburgh.

Thousands of years ago, the entire region had a much higher elevation. Over time, the three huge rivers that flow through the area have carved twisting irregularities and vermiculate patterns into the landscape. So, while it’s difficult to get around—the terrain is never boring!

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Finding a place to live in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is home to 90 distinct neighborhoods, so you’ll want to do some research to figure out which one best suits you. Home prices don’t vary all that much throughout the city—asking prices start at around $200,000 and do not get much higher than $500,000.

The two main factors you’ll want to consider are the neighborhood’s character and its distance from your place of work/study. The city is cramped and crowded, so it’s difficult to avoid heavy traffic. Combine that with the irregular street layout, and you’re looking at long commute times.

If you don’t already have a neighborhood in mind, here are a few suggestions:

For students: If you’re headed to Pittsburgh to attend Carnegie Melon, then Squirrel Hill might be a good fit for you. Several bus lines will take you right to campus or downtown for some fun. There are also plenty of restaurants and cafes.

For professionals working downtown: Consider Oakland if you’re going to be headed downtown for work every day and want to avoid the traffic.

Best neighborhoods for foodies: If you like to have easy access to a lot of great dining options, check out Mount Washinton.

Upscale neighborhoods: If you want a more refined feel, and don’t mind paying a little more, Shadyside could be a good home for you. It’s a relatively safe area with plenty of upscale bars and restaurants within walking distance.

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Moving to Pittsburgh checklist

Once you’ve decided on a location, chosen a home, and made the necessary arrangements to rent or buy it, you might be thinking that all the hard work is done. But there are some important things you need to take care of before you leave and once you arrive.

Before you go

First things first, it’s time to prep for your move! Before you hit the road, make sure you’ve done each of the following:

Sort through your belongings. Decide what to get rid of so that you can travel as lightly as possible. Then, pack everything that you’re taking with you.

Either rent a U-haul for your larger items or hire a reliable moving company to handle that for you.

Make sure that you notify all the appropriate people that you’re leaving, such as your landlord, utility provider, insurance companies, employer, and friends.

If you’ve hired a moving company, you can then get a plane ticket to Pittsburgh—just make sure that if you have a car, you’ve arranged to have it shipped to Pittsburgh as well.

If you’re not using a moving company, or you just prefer to drive, then buckle up and settle in for a road trip!

After you get there

After a long trip, you’ll probably want to fall asleep as soon as you get to your new place—but you’re not done just yet! There are a few more chores you’ll need to take care of:

Pittsburgh requires all car and pet owners to register their vehicles and/or pets with the city—even if you’ve registered them already in another state. Until you do, they are not technically legal and could theoretically be confiscated.

If you have a car, make sure to update its insurance with your new address.

Make arrangements to get either homeowners insurance or renters insurance, depending on your situation.

Update your mailing address. Make sure to do this via the official USPS website. Third-party businesses will try to charge you $50 or more to change the address for you, but the service only costs a dollar and can be done directly through the postal service. Plus, they’ll automatically update your voter registration as well!

Update any other important accounts like your phone service and health insurance.

Update your mailing address, voter registration, and healthcare information.

Unpack your belongings.

Once you’ve taken care of all that, you’re ready to explore your new neighborhood!

MORE:

Complete checklist for moving out of state

How to save on car, renters, and home insurance in Pittsburgh

As has been mentioned, you’re probably going to need a car while you’re living in Pittsburgh, and you’ll need to find quality insurance coverage for it. Luckily,

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Is it worth moving to Pittsburgh?

The city certainly is a lot to handle—cramped, cloudy, gloomy, and riddled with crime. But there is a beauty there as well. You’ll find a vibrant and resilient local population that’s thrilled to have you—as long as you don’t disrespect their Stealers NFL team!

You’ll also save a lot of money living in The Pitt. And, if you’re considering going to university there, you won’t want to miss the excellent education and life experience at Carnegie Mellon or the University of Pittsburgh.

How much money do I need to move to Pittsburgh?

Living in Pittsburgh doesn’t cost much more than about $1,100 a month, depending on your lifestyle. If you’re renting, you’ll need enough for the first and last month's rent ($1,600 should cover that). And you’ll probably need another $800-$1,000 for odds-and-ends things like starting up your utilities and getting groceries until your next paycheck comes in.

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