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Sofia C. living

Is Pittsburg getting better or worse?

Longtime lurker here, Just moved here 3 months ago and The unemployment rate is 4.9%, which is about average. It's a a smaller city city with about 75,868 people. Rent is about $2,201/month for a decent place. Median household income is $101,099, which feels pretty solid for the area. You can expect to pay around $2,201 for rent here. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Property taxes are high but you get good services. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. The city has invested a lot in new development.

Pros:
- Good job market
- Nice parks and trails
- Low crime in most areas

Cons:
- Rising rent prices
- Limited nightlife
- Sprawl everywhere
- Poor road conditions
Thoughts? There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The city has invested a lot in new development. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.
10 upvotes

3 Replies

Addison Cox
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Nashville and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Lakewood. It's excellent for what you get.

Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in real estate. If you're in retail you might struggle.

People: Generally improving. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Indian.

Would recommend to anyone considering it..
25 upvotes
Evan Cox
hmm interesting perspective
12 upvotes
Nicholas M.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.

I've been in Lakewood for 7 years. Moved from LA for weather. Here's my honest, detailed take:

**Housing:**
The market right now is hit or miss. We bought in 2018 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.

**Employment:**
retail is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are wild for the area.

**Quality of Life:**
it exceeded my expectations. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have mountains within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.

**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Lakewood schools are challenging. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.

**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Nightlife is limited. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And dating scene can be frustrating.

**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 7/10. Good luck with whatever you decide.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
10 upvotes
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