It's not a ranking, it's reality.

Bike or even kayak to work along one of our scenic rivers. Work for world class companies that are setting the standard in advanced manufacturing, energy, financial & professional services, health care & life sciences, and information & communication technology. After work, enjoy a show in one of the nation's most thriving theater districts or take in a game at America's best ballpark and first gold LEED-certified indoor arena. From a low cost of living to low crime rates – it's no wonder that Pittsburgh's been named "America's most liveable" place three years running!

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
Additional Resources

Overall Quality of Life

• Recently named "America's Most Livable City" for the second time (Places Rated Almanac); the only place to earn this honor twice

• The No. 1 "Most Livable City in the Nation" (The Economist)

• Among "Top 10 Cities for Job Growth in 2009" (Forbes)

• A "Top Travel Destination for 2008" (Frommers)

• The No 8. "Fun City" among the top 50 U.S. metro areas (Bizjournals)

• A "Top 10 Best City for Couples" (Forbes)

• The No. 1 "Best City for Relocating Families" in the nation (Worldwide ERC) and the No. 1 "Best Place to Raise Children" in Pennsylvania (BusinessWeek)

• Voted No.8 "Best U.S. Cities for Working Mothers" (ForbesWoman)

• While our friendly region was the inspiration for Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, it was recently recognized for having the nation's No. 2 "Most Courteous Drivers" (AOL Autos)

• A "Top 10 Cities for Commuters" (Forbes)

• Ranked among the "Economically Strongest Metropolitan Areas" (Pittsburgh Business Times: Brookings Institution)

• Among the "Top 20 Cities that Eat Smart, Be Fit and Eat Well" (Cooking Light Magazine)

• World-class health care systems, including West Penn Allegheny Health System and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), which is an $8 billion global health enterprise, our region's largest employer and consistently ranks as one of the nation's top 15 hospitals (U.S. News & World Report) - View Health Care data

• Explore the diverse array of neighborhoods in the City of Pittsburgh alone and find the perfect match for your lifestyle at PittsburghCityLiving.com.

• Interested in going to college in the Pittsburgh region? Check out The CollegeCity Pittsburgh.

Affordable Living

• The No. 6 among the "Best U.S. City to Earn a Living" (Forbes)

• Deemed a U.S. "Safe Haven in Real Estate'" (Kiplingers) and the No. 4 "Recession-proof Place to Retire" (MSN Money)

• Ranked No. 13 among "66 Cities Where Buying Real Estate Makes Sense" (MSN)

• 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. 9 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

• One of 12 "Smart Cities" – urban areas that are doing "good green stuff" (Grist)

• Ranked No. 10 "World's Cleanest Cities" (Forbes)

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

• Consistently among the top five locations for number of ‘green-certified' buildings in the nation, including the world's first and largest green convention center, the CONSOL Energy 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 rivaling most cities outside of New York - View more theater information and other cultural organizations including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Opera.

• No. 3 "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

• Home to the world-class The August Wilson Center for African American Culture – celebrating the contributions of Pittsburgh native playwright August Wilson and other African Americans within the region.

• 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
  • Senator John Heinz History Center – the largest history museum in the state
  • Children's Museum of Pittsburgh

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

Sporting Events

• Future host of the 2011 NHL Winter Classic, 2012 Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament and 2013 Men's NCAA Frozen Four Hockey Tournament

• CONSOL Energy Center: The home of the Pittsburgh Penguins and other spectator events from major concerts to the circus to ice shows will be the first Gold LEED certified arena in the U.S.

Professional sports teams:

• 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 the CONSOL Energy Center
• Pittsburgh Riverhounds soccer
• Pittsburgh Passion women's football
• Pittsburgh Power Arena football at the CONSOL Energy Center

First-rate collegiate sports:

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

• The Pittsburgh Steelers boast the No. 1 "Best Football Fans" (ESPN)

• 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

• Host to the 2007 U.S. Open golf championship and the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star game

Adventure & Outdoor Activities

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

• "Its natural assets - three rivers flowing through town, a profusion of parks and eye-popping city views from Mount Washington – add to the allure." (USA Today)

• Named one of the "Best Places for Urban Adventure" (National Geographic Adventure)

• With more rivers and streams than any other continental state, the area is great for fishing, boating, kayaking and rafting

• Ranked one of the top five cities for mountain biking, 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

• Ranked the No. 9 "Most Walkable U.S. City" (MSN City Guides) and No. 10 among the "25 Best Walking Places in America" (Prevention)

• 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 & 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

• Idlewild Park – A vastly wooded amusement park located in the scenic Laurel Highlands

• Sandcastle – Once a railroad yard, now an attractive water park resort overlooking the Monongahela river

• Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium – Ranked the nation's No. 4 "Best Zoo for Kids" (Parent). Visit the Water's Edge, the two-story shark tank, 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

• Settlers Ridge – a 600,000 sq. ft. regional center development located outside the city in Robinson Township features numerous specialty retailers including Giant Eagle Market District, REI, LA Fitness, Barnes & Noble, Cinemark theater, and P.F. Chang's

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

Additional Resources

To continue getting to know the Pittsburgh region, view the Coming to Pittsburgh page of our affiliate, the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce and the new PittsburghCityLiving Web site.

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