Pittsburgh, PA Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Pittsburgh, PA: What You Need to Know

Pittsburgh is known as the Steel City because it once produced 60% of America’s steel. Today the city has a more diversified economy, and locals fondly call their hometown “the Burgh.”

The Local Sports Scene

Pittsburgh’s professional teams are among the most successful in the country. They are the Steelers (NFL) with six Super Bowl wins, the Penguins (NHL) with five Stanley Cup victories, and the Pirates (MLB) with five World Series titles. Local fans also root for their women’s teams, namely the Passion (Women’s Football Alliance), the Hotspurs (National Premier Soccer League), and the Puffins (East Coast Women’s Hockey League).

The Cost of Living in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh (population: 308,144) is Pennsylvania’s second most populous city, behind Philadelphia. Compared with Philly, you’re better off in the Burgh. Its cost of living rate, food, housing, and transportation costs are 3.2%, 22.4%, 11.3%, and 15.4% lower than the national average respectively. The median gross rent in the city is $922; the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,227. Pennsylvania’s 3.07% flat income tax rate is the lowest among all the states with a flat tax. Pennsylvania levies a sales tax rate of 6% to 8%.

Know Your Neighborhoods

If you want downtown amenities and convenience without having to pay downtown rent, check out Polish Hill and Allentown for their affordability. You’ll enjoy a view of the downtown skyline from Allentown. If you’re dreaming of a suburban lifestyle, Sewickley and Aspinwall are close to the Burgh plus they have a big percentage of renters and above-average schools.

Schools and Education

Pittsburgh is home to nationally recognized educational institutions such as the University of Pittsburgh (28,673 students), Carnegie-Mellon University (14,029), and Duquesne University (9,274). In all, there are 14 institutions of higher education in Pittsburgh and 48 universities within 50 miles of the city. Public schools in the city have an average math proficiency score of 49%, higher than the Pennsylvania average of 46%, and reading proficiency score of 65% compared with the 63% state average. Pittsburgh has 153 public schools serving 75,326 students.

Weather and Climate

The city typically receives an average of 28 inches of snow a year, consistent with the national average of 28 inches. On Feb. 5-6, 2010, the city experienced one of its worst snowstorms to date with a total of 21.1 inches of snow. You’ll enjoy four distinct seasons in Pittsburgh, although the city averages only 160 sunny days per year, less than the U.S. average of 205 sunny days.