Considering a move to Pittsburgh? With a good job market, a low cost of living, and access to a renowned children’s hospital, Steel City is one of America’s best places to raise a family! Check out these five safe, family-friendly neighborhoods in Pittsburgh!
Brookline
- Home Price: $128,560 median purchase price; $1,001 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 52% of Pittsburgh neighborhoods
Located just south of Downtown Pittsburgh, Brookline provides a peaceful sanctuary for families to call home. Multiple parks and playgrounds pair with the growing business district along Brookline Blvd to provide plenty of things to do for Pittsburgh kids and parents alike—and despite all it has to offer, Brookline remains one of the more affordable neighborhoods in Pittsburgh!
Things to Do in Brookline
Go for a morning run, catch a movie in the park, or shoot hoops at Brookline Memorial Park. Find limited edition comic books and graphic novels at Geekadrome. Excite the kids with rides down the water slide at Joseph F. Moore Park. Start your day off right with Buttermilk Pancakes and a Western Omelette from classic Pittsburgh diner Frank & Shirley’s Restaurant. Share an order of Provolone Sticks with the family as you indulge with a Pizza Boat Sandwich or Hot Sausage Sandwich at Fiori’s Pizzaria. Pick up some traditional Mediterranean food like Kibbee Footballs, Baba Ghannouj, and Stuffed Grapeleaves from Pitaland. Feast on a Meatball Hoagie, Italian Calzone, or the Chicken Chu Chu Pizza at Moonlite Cafe. Or unwind from the day with a drink paired with Spicy Cheese Balls or a Philly Steak at The Boulevard Lounge.
Highland Park
- Home Price: $410,917 median purchase price; $1,149 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 75% of Pittsburgh neighborhoods
Want an inviting neighborhood with tons of green space and outdoor fun? Check out Highland Park! Nearly half of the neighborhood consists of parks, playgrounds, and a giant reservoir—not to mention, the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium! In addition to all the outdoor activities, Highland Park also offers several family-friendly restaurants and great local schools in the Pittsburgh Public Schools District, such as Dilworth PreK-5 and Fulton PreK-5.
Things to Do in Highland Park
See animals from across the globe from African elephants to polar bears at Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. Stroll through the beautiful Entry Garden to find sand volleyball courts, a bike track, public swimming pool, and more at Highland Park. Take a ceramics class or get involved in a community art project at Union Project. Indulge your sweet tooth with Cherry Italian Ice, a Cookie Crunch Sandwich, or Red Velvet Custard from LaScola’s Italian Ice & Custard. Enjoy some of the best brunch in Pittsburgh with Eggs Benedict, Liege Waffles, and Poutine from Park Bruges. Take your taste buds to Italy with dishes like Handmade Cheese Ravioli, Chicken Marsala, and Grilled Scottish King Salmon from Joseph Tambellini Restaurant. Get a taste of Thai cuisine with Pad See Ew, Pineapple Fried Rice, and Massaman Curry from Smiling Banana Leaf. Or meet your buddies for Hot Buffalo Garlic Fries, The Applewood Burger, and a round of cold beers at Park Place Pub.
Point Breeze
- Home Price: $327,714 median purchase price; $1,181 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 81% of Pittsburgh neighborhoods
Point Breeze checks off multiple things a family would want in a Pittsburgh neighborhood! It’s one of the safest places to live in Pittsburgh and has top-rated schools like Shady Side Academy and Sterrett Classical Academy. There are several parks, trails, and green spaces for walking the dog or letting the kids get some energy out. Also, Point Breeze has all kinds of ways to get out and meet the neighbors—the neighborhood’s calendar includes a fall festival, Christmas get-togethers, community-wide yard sales, and more!
Things to Do in Point Breeze
Explore the Greenhouse and Gardens, go bowling at The Playhouse, and see old-time automobiles in the Car and Carriage Museum at The Frick Pittsburgh. Help the kids hunt for clues and find all the items on the Point Breeze Scavenger Hunt. Enjoy the beautiful flowers, fountains, and statues during a walk through Mellon Park. Learn how to sketch figures, form clay masterpieces, and paint with watercolors at the Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media. Race the family up the ropes at ASCEND Point Breeze. Satisfy your taste buds with Chicken Milanese, Pistachio Crusted Salmon, or Brugge Frites from Point Brugge Cafe. Dine on freshly-made pasta dishes like Pasta alla Norma, Boscaiola, and Sausage Arrabbiata at Pino’s Contemporary Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar. Or treat yourself to a Brownie, Confetti Cake Batter Cookie Sandwich, or Key Lime Pie Bar for dessert at BB&Bur Pastry Kitchen and Bakery.
Regent Square
- Home Price: $282,250 median purchase price; $964 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 81% of Pittsburgh neighborhoods
Regent Square is a cozy, family-friendly Pittsburgh neighborhood with lots of things to do! This neighborhood not only borders Frick Park—the largest park in Pittsburgh—but it also boasts a real sense of community with annual events like the Regent Square Yard Sale and Run Around the Square. In addition, parents can find all kinds of well-rated schools nearby, including the Environmental Charter School.
Things to Do in Regent Square
Race the kids down the slides, go lawn bowling, and keep your eyes peeled for more than 100 species of birds at Frick Park. Explore contemporary paintings and photography depicting Pittsburgh’s history at Concept Art Gallery. Play tennis on authentic clay courts by joining the Frick Park Clay Court Tennis Club. Start your morning with a Coconut Latte, Iced Nutella Latte, or an Iced Tea at Biddle’s Escape. Enjoy brunch in Pittsburgh with a Turkey Sandwich, Chocolate Croissant, or Strata at Madeleine Bakery & Bistro. Peruse the vast draft beer menu while you chow down on an Angry Tiki Dog, Shroom-n-Swiss Sandwich, and Italian Dunkers at D’s SixPax & Dogz. In the mood for Mediterranean food? Try the Fried Zucchini, Lamb Doner Kebab, or Imam Bayildi from Bosphorus Mediterranean Cuisine. Or sample some Thai cuisine options like Panang Curry, Kao Soy, and Kee Mow at Thai Cottage.
Squirrel Hill North
- Home Price: $497,262 median purchase price; $1,670 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 81% of Pittsburgh neighborhoods
Searching for a safe, affordable Pittsburgh neighborhood with plenty of arts, culture, and family-friendly activities? Squirrel Hill North could be the place for you! Not only is Squirrel Hill North surrounded by top universities like Chatham University, Carnegie Mellon University, and University of Pittsburgh, but it’s also close to some of the city’s best museums, libraries, and the spacious Schenley Park.
Things to Do in Squirrel Hill North
Admire classic cars and watch vintage sports cars race at Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. See massive dinosaur skeletons, striking gems, ancient Egyptian artifacts, and more at Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Explore the beautiful gardens and flower collections at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Challenge your golf game by taking on the rolling hills at Bob O’Connor Golf Course. Fill your pantry with fresh loaves of Challah Bread and Walnut Raisin Sourdough Bread or try the Lemon Poppyseed Danish from Five Points Artisan Bakeshop. Watch the talented chefs hand-pull noodles to create dishes like Hot Spicy Wonton Noodles, Lamb Noodle Soup, and Braised Beef Noodle Soup at Everyday Noodles. Sample Taiwanese bites like the Garlic Fish Fillet, Mala Spicy Chicken, or Ginger Scallion Beef at Taiwanese Bistro Cafe 33. Or introduce the kids to authentic ramen with Negi Ramen, Chashu Ramen, or Midori Yasai Ramen at Ramen Bar.
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Neighborhood statistics from AreaVibes
