We love Pittsburgh, and you will too!
Pittsburgh is the second largest city in Pennsylvania and has a population of 300,000. It is the county seat of Allegheny County, which has a population of 1.2 million, and sits at the heart of an eight-county metropolitan area with a population of 2.4 million. Today, Pittsburgh’s major industries center on healthcare, education, and technology. Pittsburgh was selected three times as the Most Livable City in the US. The city has received other top rankings including, the brainiest city, the best arts destination for midsized cities, the place to buy a home and the best football fans in the NFL. The city’s largest employers are the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and the University of Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh metropolitan area is home to more than 20 colleges and universities, as well as world-class sports teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Pittsburgh Pirates, whose major league baseball stadium was voted #1 in the nation (NY Times, 2011). With easy access to affordable housing and numerous amenities, Pittsburgh is an easy city to live in and enjoy.
Whether you’re hoping to live near one of the city’s amazing parks, looking for bustling nightlife or dreaming of living among art galleries, there’s the perfect home for everyone in the 90 neighborhoods that make up Pittsburgh.
The city that gave the world Heinz ketchup and Primanti Brothers sandwiches (coleslaw and fries are part of the sandwich) has been named a Food City of the Year and the No. 1 food city in America for its booming restaurant scene. Dine elegantly, eat cheap or enjoy locally grown produce—Pittsburgh foodies have it all.
Tee off at the Bob O’Connor Golf Course. Hike, bike, ice skate or play tennis in sprawling Schenley Park. Visit the Carnegie Museum complex, with its renowned art and natural history museums and library. Attend concerts, plays and dance performances. And that’s just to name some of the attractions within easy walking distance of campus. As locals say: If you’re bored in Pittsburgh, you’re just not paying attention.
Pittsburgh has its share of big-box stores and malls, and bargain-hunters will love Grove City Premium Outlets north of Pittsburgh and Tanger Outlets to the south in Washington County. But the real charm in Pittsburgh shopping comes from exploring locally owned neighborhood stores. Fortunately for Pitt people, the shopping basics are right within walking distance of campus—markets, pharmacies, bookstores, drycleaners, hair salons, coffee shops and much more.
As on any large, urban campus, traffic can get snarled here at peak commuting times. Fortunately, you can navigate campus on Pitt buses and shuttles, and can ride Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses and light-rail trains for free. Pittsburgh ranks among the best U.S. cities for public transportation, and it's increasingly bike-friendly.