What’s the best part of Pittsburgh?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Pittsburgh are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Pittsburgh neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Pittsburgh for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Squirrel Hill North looks to be the best Pittsburgh neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Pittsburgh that deserve a little bragging rights, or maybe you’re interested in the worst neighborhoods in Pittsburgh.
For more Pennsylvania reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Pennsylvania
- Cheapest Places To Live In Pennsylvania
- Most Dangerous Cities In Pennsylvania
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Pittsburgh
Population: 11,540
Median Home Value: $497,262 (Second best)
Median Income: $117,062 (Third best)
More on Squirrel Hill North: Data | Real Estate
Population: 6,556
Median Home Value: $410,917 (Fourth best)
Median Income: $93,654 (Fourth best)
More on Highland Park: Data | Real Estate
Population: 4,487
Median Home Value: $505,780 (best)
Median Income: $90,768 (Fifth best)
More on Central Business District: Data | Real Estate
Population: 14,174
Median Home Value: $352,892 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $62,193 (30th best)
More on Shadyside: Data | Real Estate
Population: 2,856
Median Home Value: $186,567 (22nd best)
Median Income: $66,919 (18th best)
More on Morningside: Data | Real Estate
Population: 14,208
Median Home Value: $318,800 (11th best)
Median Income: $75,200 (12th best)
More on Squirrel Hill South: Data | Real Estate
Population: 5,572
Median Home Value: $327,714 (Tenth best)
Median Income: $117,544 (Second best)
More on Point Breeze: Data | Real Estate
Population: 2,012
Median Home Value: $242,867 (17th best)
Median Income: $79,766 (Ninth best)
More on Lower Lawrenceville: Data | Real Estate
Population: 6,588
Median Home Value: $252,086 (16th best)
Median Income: $58,211 (35th best)
More on Southside Flats: Data | Real Estate
Population: 8,032
Median Home Value: $172,400 (24th best)
Median Income: $62,590 (29th best)
More on Greenfield: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Pittsburgh, PA Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 80 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Pittsburgh.” We’re lookin’ at you, Squirrel Hill North.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Pittsburgh.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Pittsburgh
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Pittsburgh where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Pittsburgh are Squirrel Hill North, Highland Park, Central Business District, Shadyside, Morningside, Squirrel Hill South, Point Breeze, Lower Lawrenceville, Southside Flats, and Greenfield.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Pittsburgh aren’t all good. Larimer takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Pittsburgh.
The worst neighborhoods in Pittsburgh are Larimer, Esplen, East Hills, Mt Oliver, and Saint Clair.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more Pennsylvania reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Pittsburgh For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Squirrel Hill North | 11,540 | $497,262 | $117,062 |
| 2 | Highland Park | 6,556 | $410,917 | $93,654 |
| 3 | Central Business District | 4,487 | $505,780 | $90,768 |
| 4 | Shadyside | 14,174 | $352,892 | $62,193 |
| 5 | Morningside | 2,856 | $186,567 | $66,919 |
| 6 | Squirrel Hill South | 14,208 | $318,800 | $75,200 |
| 7 | Point Breeze | 5,572 | $327,714 | $117,544 |
| 8 | Lower Lawrenceville | 2,012 | $242,867 | $79,766 |
| 9 | Southside Flats | 6,588 | $252,086 | $58,211 |
| 10 | Greenfield | 8,032 | $172,400 | $62,590 |
| 11 | Duquesne Heights | 2,341 | $148,100 | $70,178 |
| 12 | Friendship | 1,911 | $283,800 | $41,534 |
| 13 | Stanton Heights | 4,387 | $163,800 | $67,287 |
| 14 | Regent Square | 879 | $282,250 | $85,507 |
| 15 | North Oakland | 9,017 | $343,400 | $32,413 |
| 16 | Bloomfield | 9,417 | $236,680 | $53,420 |
| 17 | Central Lawrenceville | 4,659 | $226,300 | $62,966 |
| 18 | Upper Lawrenceville | 2,561 | $138,867 | $63,034 |
| 19 | Banksville | 4,020 | $137,467 | $70,330 |
| 20 | Polish Hill | 1,382 | $183,300 | $63,316 |
| 21 | Swisshelm Park | 1,206 | $155,450 | $69,838 |
| 22 | Brookline | 12,956 | $128,560 | $62,725 |
| 23 | East Liberty | 5,708 | $290,525 | $49,623 |
| 24 | Oakwood | 990 | $144,050 | $62,938 |
| 25 | North Shore | 259 | $328,100 | $82,049 |
| 26 | Westwood | 2,859 | $115,800 | $60,366 |
| 27 | Point Breeze North | 1,953 | $163,800 | $68,691 |
| 28 | Southside Slopes | 4,265 | $169,083 | $54,903 |
| 29 | Brighton Heights | 6,937 | $119,617 | $66,175 |
| 30 | Central Northside | 2,667 | $314,800 | $52,454 |
| 31 | Beechview | 7,905 | $102,027 | $57,488 |
| 32 | Spring Garden | 776 | $125,300 | $61,280 |
| 33 | Summer Hill | 805 | $117,400 | $75,280 |
| 34 | Ridgemont | 636 | $103,700 | $59,514 |
| 35 | Overbrook | 3,530 | $108,083 | $53,252 |
| 36 | Manchester | 2,025 | $202,550 | $45,255 |
| 37 | Lincoln Place | 3,046 | $83,700 | $64,835 |
| 38 | East Allegheny | 1,791 | $205,450 | $32,871 |
| 39 | Allegheny Center | 1,508 | $328,100 | $62,943 |
| 40 | Mount Washington | 8,239 | $117,788 | $56,416 |
| 41 | Middle Hill | 1,550 | $126,300 | $32,974 |
| 42 | Garfield | 3,717 | $121,700 | $48,547 |
| 43 | Herrs Island | 412 | $79,100 | $75,298 |
| 44 | Crafton Heights | 3,791 | $88,625 | $44,836 |
| 45 | Wind Gap | 1,356 | $98,100 | $56,729 |
| 46 | Hays | 962 | $130,867 | $59,992 |
| 47 | Allegheny West | 314 | $328,100 | $82,500 |
| 48 | Oakland | 9,164 | $141,840 | $19,301 |
| 49 | Chartiers City | 518 | $98,100 | $66,583 |
| 50 | Strip District | 1,265 | $422,100 | $120,764 |
| 51 | Troy Hill | 1,592 | $88,650 | $58,158 |
| 52 | Allentown | 1,815 | $31,000 | $51,792 |
| 53 | Perry North | 3,971 | $108,260 | $64,892 |
| 54 | Mount Oliver | 3,289 | $54,075 | $33,437 |
| 55 | Bon Air | 861 | $84,200 | $53,375 |
| 56 | Homewood South | 1,947 | $79,700 | $19,679 |
| 57 | Perry South | 4,142 | $90,625 | $40,444 |
| 58 | Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar | 4,433 | $50,100 | $33,697 |
| 59 | West Oakland | 1,403 | $119,150 | $18,391 |
| 60 | Carrick | 10,678 | $80,838 | $39,096 |
| 61 | East Carnegie | 434 | $78,000 | $41,250 |
| 62 | Terrace Village | 2,631 | $129,500 | $16,417 |
| 63 | Upper Hill | 2,129 | $69,750 | $34,954 |
| 64 | California-Kirkbride | 763 | $71,500 | $28,125 |
| 65 | Knoxville | 3,836 | $52,600 | $40,874 |
| 66 | Crawford Roberts | 1,833 | $148,400 | $17,822 |
| 67 | Beltzhoover | 1,927 | $59,500 | $37,215 |
| 68 | Hazelwood | 3,168 | $130,000 | $32,709 |
| 69 | Sheraden | 4,604 | $63,071 | $42,337 |
| 70 | Fine View | 1,052 | $84,500 | $37,880 |
| 71 | Marshall-Shadeland | 4,396 | $49,920 | $41,920 |
| 72 | Homewood West | 747 | $52,400 | $22,470 |
| 73 | Spring Hill-City View | 2,537 | $69,100 | $27,178 |
| 74 | Elliott | 1,911 | $61,500 | $35,972 |
| 75 | Arlington | 1,368 | $57,200 | $33,083 |
| 76 | Saint Clair | 317 | $53,600 | $34,861 |
| 77 | Mt Oliver | 291 | $57,200 | $33,083 |
| 78 | East Hills | 2,589 | $61,850 | $16,417 |
| 79 | Esplen | 380 | $43,800 | $27,250 |
| 80 | Larimer | 1,557 | $34,200 | $21,408 |