Posted in Pittsburgh
April 24, 2016
10 Reasons Living In Pittsburgh Is The Best – And Everyone Should Move Here
Go just about anywhere in the country or even in the world, and you’re likely to run into someone who is from Pittsburgh, who knows someone from Pittsburgh, or who has adopted Pittsburgh’s sports teams – frequently, the Steelers – as their own. Pittsburghers share a camaraderie and pride that we’re from the City of Champions. But, just what makes living in the Burgh so special? Maybe you’ll agree that these, among many others, are 10 reasons to live in Pittsburgh.
Off-season? What off-season? Pittsburghers don't know the meaning of off-season for three good reasons: Steelers. Pens. Buccos. Pittsburgh bleeds black and gold and, even if you're not a sports fan when you move to the Burgh, you'll likely become one (or at least get swept up in the excitement of the post-season) pretty quickly.
Drive into the city from just about any direction and one of the first things you're likely to see is the UPMC Building. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) has a vast network of hospitals and medical facilities in the Pittsburgh area. It sits, in fact, in the 13th spot for the best hospitals in the U.S. in 2015-2016, as named by U.S. News & World Report. (1) Allegheny General Hospital and West Penn Hospital are also among the healthcare facilities in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh boasts such highly rated universities as Carnegie Mellon University. CMU earned the 23rd spot on U.S. News & World Report's National Universities Rankings list in 2016 (2). The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) came in at 66 on the same list. Point Park University, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Chatham University, Carlow University, and Robert Morris University are among the many public and private colleges and universities that call Pittsburgh home.
Pittsburgh promises affordability depending, of course, on the community in which you live. The median home value in Pittsburgh, however, currently stands at $106,400 with the median sales price at $161,450. Average rental prices for an apartment or a home, according to Zillow.com, are $1,128 a month compared to the $1,388 national average. (3) However, you can certainly find rental properties for considerably less in Pittsburgh and its surrounding communities.
Immerse yourself in the rich history of Pittsburgh with a visit to one of its many museums. The Andy Warhol Museum, The Frick Art & Historical Center, The Clemente Museum, the Carnegie Science Center, and The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh are just a handful of the many museums that add to Pittsburgh's cultural diversity.
Sometimes we all just need a little retail therapy, whether to forget a bad day or just to hang out with friends on a lazy Saturday afternoon. With its many suburban malls – from Ross Park Mall in the North Hills to the Mall at Robinson in Robinson Township – and independently and locally owned shops, you'll find just about everything you could ever want in Pittsburgh. Add Pittsburgh's many neighborhoods – such as Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, and Oakmont – to the list of quaint places in which to shop.
See your name in lights! Walk the red carpet! Okay, well, you might not be headlining a Hollywood hit but you may just snag a role as an extra in one of the many movies and television shows filmed in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh has become a prime spot for filming due, in part, to the city's film tax credit. Then there's the spectacular natural scenery and cultural diversity that provides the ideal backdrop for Hollywood productions. The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers are among the dozens of movies that have been filmed in the Steel City.
Kennywood's open! If you're a Pittsburgher, you know that has two meanings. If your fly's not open, you know the summer season is upon us and that means Kennywood, Sandcastle, and Idlewild Park – the three main amusement parks in the area – are open. Kennywood beckons roller coaster enthusiasts with the Jack Rabbit, the Racer, the Thunderbolt, and Phantom's Revenge while Sandcastle, not far from Kennywood, brings the beach to the Burgh. Geared more toward kids with Jumpin' Jungle and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Idlewild Park offers a laid back, family-friendly atmosphere.
Pittsburgh's unemployment rate, at five percent as of early April 2016, matches that of the national unemployment rate. However, the city secured the sixth spot for the best job markets in the U.S. in 2016, as determined by ZipRecruiter.com with the strongest employment sectors identified as healthcare, insurance, and hospitality and restaurants.
There are dozens of kid-friendly attractions in Pittsburgh that will keep your children entertained. From the Children's Museum, to the Pittsburgh Zoo, to the water steps at Riverfront Park, there is no shortage of fun things to do for the entire family.
And, drum roll, please…those are the top 10 reasons to live in Pittsburgh. What brought you to Pittsburgh? Or maybe you grew up here, left, and returned. What brought you back to the Burgh again?
Sources:
(3) Zillow
(4) Bureau of Labor Statistics
(5) ZipRecruiter.com
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