Quality of Life

“America’s Most Livable City:” The Ranking is a Reality

It’s no wonder people love to work and live here. The region boasts the complete package for both smart business and an excellent quality of life. From a low cost of living to low crime rates, to the nation’s best ballpark and a world-class Cultural District – Pittsburgh isn’t the only place to be twice ranked “America’s Most Livable City” for nothing!

View the Regional fact sheet (PDF file)

Get a taste of what it’s like to live here. Then imagine yourself in the Pittsburgh region:

• Overall Quality of Life
• Affordable Living
• Safety
• Clean & Beautiful Surroundings
• Arts & Culture
• Sporting Events
• Adventure & Outdoor Activities
• History & Heritage
• Family Fun
• Lifestyle/Retail Centers
• More Resources

Overall Quality of Life

• Recently named “American’s Most Livable City” for the second time (Places Rated Almanac); the only place to earn this honor twice

• The only metro area in the U.S. to achieve a “5-Star Quality of Life Metro” (Expansion Management) designation three years in a row (2005-2007)

• Ranked No. 1 in the nation and No. 26 in the world for “Global Livability” (The Economist)

• World-class health care systems, including West Penn Allegheny Health Systems and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), the largest academic medical provider in the nation that is ranked on of the nation’s No. 13 best hospital (U.S. News and World Report) - View Health Care data
  
  

Affordable Living

• Ranked No. 9 “Lowest Cost of Living” (Forbes)

• Ranked No. 9 “Smartest Place to Live” (Kiplinger’s Personal Finance)

• The average existing home sells for nearly half the national average

• View the Cost of Living data
  
  

Safety

• Ranked No. 3 lowest crime rate among the top 50 U.S. metro areas (Sperling’s Best Places) - View the Crime Index data

• An extremely low risk of natural disasters. Learn more (PDF file)
  
  

Clean & Beautiful Surroundings

• Ranked No. 10 “World’s Cleanest Cities” (Forbes)

• A stunning cityscape, rated the second-best cityscape view in America (USA Today)

• The second-most ‘green-certified’ buildings in the nation, including the world’s first and largest green convention center

• Home to the majestic mountains and lush forests of the Laurel Highlands

• View Quick Weather Facts about the region
  
  

Arts & Culture

• Thriving urban core in Downtown Pittsburgh, with more than $3 billion in recent capital investment

• Downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District is in the top five in the nation for number of theaters per capita - View more theater information

• No. 1 “Top 25 U.S. Arts Destinations,” mid-sized city category (AmericanStyle) - more than 500 arts, cultural and heritage organizations, plus hundreds of privately-owned galleries - View the list

• World-class museums, including:
  • The Andy Warhol Museum – the one-of-a-kind tribute to the pop art icon and Pittsburgh native
  • Carnegie Museum of Art – a distinguished collection and home of the world-renowned Carnegie International exhibition once every four years
  • Carnegie Museum of Natural History – home to one of the world’s best dinosaur exhibits
  • The Mattress Factory Art Museum – renowned center of contemporary installation art

• World-class architecture, including:
  • Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpieces Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob
    
    

Sporting Events

Enjoy affordable access to:

• Pittsburgh Steelers football at Heinz Field
• Pittsburgh Pirates baseball at PNC Park, ranked “the nation’s best Major League Baseball park” (USA Today, ESPN)
• Pittsburgh Penguins hockey at Mellon Arena
• Pittsburgh Riverhounds soccer
• Pittsburgh Xplosion basketball
• Pittsburgh Passion women's football

First-rate collegiate sports:

• University of Pittsburgh Panthers
• Robert Morris University Colonials
• Duquesne University Dukes
• Carnegie Mellon University Tartans

• A new, world-class, multi-purpose arena under construction; the future home of the Pittsburgh Penguins and a range of other spectator events from major concerts to the circus to ice shows

• Beautiful, award-winning golf courses throughout the region’s rolling hills,including those at Oakmont Country Club, host to the U.S. Open for a record eight times, and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort - See more area golf courses

• Recent host to the U.S. Open golf championship and the Major League Baseball
  All-Star game
  
  

Adventure & Outdoor Activities

• Ranked No. 1 of seven “Adventure Cities” (National Geographic Adventure)

• Three inviting rivers for fishing, boating, kayaking and rafting

• The Great Allegheny Passage Trail – 335 miles stretching from the Point in downtown Pittsburgh to Washington D.C. – is just part of our comprehensive network of biking and hiking trails.

• View Parks and Attractions data
  
  

History and Heritage

• Senator John Heinz History Center – The largest history museum in the state, this affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution is devoted to the rich history and heritage of Western Pennsylvania

• Historical Urban Walking Tours - Discover our unique and beautiful historic architecture on foot

• The French & Indian War - Explore the instrumental role of our region in the “War that Made America” 250 years ago

• The Frick Art & Historical Center - Devoted to the interpretation of the life and times of industrialist and art collector Henry Clay Frick, it includes Clayton (the restored Frick family home); The Frick Art Museum; The Car and Carriage Museum; and the Greenhouse.
  
  

Family Fun

• Ranked No. 6 “Best City for Relocating Families” (Sperling’s Best Places)

• Kennywood - A historic, top-ranked amusement park

• Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium - Visit the Water’s Edge, the monkey house and so much more at this state-of-the-art attraction, then check out the fish at Pennsylvania's only public aquarium

• The National Aviary - America’s only independent indoor nonprofit zoo dedicated exclusively to birds

• Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens - Enjoy the natural wonders of the world through its newly-renovated greenhouses

• Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh – The award-winning museum, based on the philosophy: “Play with the Real Stuff”

• Carnegie Science Center – Top-ranked, with more than 400 hands-on exhibits, a four-story Omnimax Theater, interactive planetarium, a real submarine, and the world's largest science of sport exhibition

• Carnegie Museum of Art – Named a “Top Five Art Museum for Kids” (Child)

Lifestyle/Retail Centers

• SouthSide Works – the newest section of Pittsburgh’s unique and diverse South Side neighborhood situated along the “Great American Main Street” – East Carson

• Shadyside – beautiful East End residential neighborhood with upscale retail, dining and nightlife along Walnut Street and Ellsworth Avenue

• Station Square – riverfront center of sightseeing and historical attractions, including the inclines and horse and carriage rides, along with shopping, dining and nightlife

• The Waterfront in Homestead – the 360-acre landmark retail development along the Monongahela River offers shopping, dining, entertainment, hotels, offices and residential communities

• View a list of Shopping Malls and Districts throughout the region

More Resources

To continue getting to know the Pittsburgh region, view the Coming to Pittsburgh page of our affiliate, the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce.