Pittsburgh—America’s “Most Liveable City”
Places Rated Almanac rated 379 metropolitan cities based on nine categories, including cost of living, transportation, jobs and education and Pittsburgh was rated #1 in 2007!
With friendly people, welcoming neighborhoods, and diverse selections of culture, entertainment and opportunity, Pittsburgh becomes the ideal place to live, grow, and make a difference in the community.
For visitors and residents alike, just one symbol of the area's welcoming charm — and its deep history — is Pittsburgh's famous skyline. But Pittsburgh is so much more than a spectacular cityscape. Much of what Pittsburgh has to offer is in its diverse, stable neighborhood communities, making it a great place to live - and an ideal place to study public health. Whether you want to focus on short term community programs or long term research and tracking studies, the accessible population here is like those of no other city.
In Pittsburgh, strong close-knit communities stand side-by-side with some of the most highly rated hospitals in the nation, with educational research, with high technology, with the cultural arts, and with popular sports teams. Simply visit Pittsburgh and you'll discover it has the best of all worlds.
History
Pittsburgh was founded in 1758 and was mainly a manufacturing city for much of its history. The most notable industry was the steel industry, a huge part of Pittsburgh culture from 1901 until the 1980’s. At one time, between one third and one half of the country’s steel was produced in Pittsburgh.
Fun Facts
Pittsburgh has more bridges than any other city in the world, with 446 bridges within the city.
Famous Firsts
Pittsburgh can lay claim to the first polio vaccine, the first Big Mac, the first simultaneous heart, liver and kidney transplant and the first bingo game.
Cost of Living
Pittsburgh is a perfect place for students to call home, partly because of the lower-than-average cost of living. In 2006, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine rated Pittsburgh 9th on their list of “50 Smart Cities” based on affordability and livability. Pittsburgh’s cost of living is 16.4% lower than the national average.
Pittsburgh Neighborhoods
There are 88 different and distinct neighborhoods in the Pittsburgh area. Most students in Pittsburgh reside in Oakland, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill or the South Side.
Bringing the World to Pittsburgh
Each year, nearly 1,800 international students attend classes just at the University of Pittsburgh. However, there are many other colleges in Pittsburgh and international students often form cross-campus communities. There are over 300 international firms from 26 different countries and over 40 international communities in Pittsburgh.
- Pittsburgh’s Ethnic Communities
- Council for International Visitors
- Connecting International Communities
Transportation
Pitt students ride Port Authority Buses for free with a student ID. Riding the Duquesne and Monongahela Inclines is also free with a student ID. In addition, the University of Pittsburgh offers a shuttle service, also free with a student ID, serving Oakland and a few surrounding areas. Also offered by the University, the SafeRider shuttle system gives students the opportunity for safe travel in the evening and early morning. You can learn more information on the University of Pittsburgh transportation Web site.
A Wealth of Art, Museums, Music and Plenty of Other Things To Do
Pitt Arts
Discounted tickets to the symphony, opera, ballet, theatre, jazz concerts and many other events are available to students, faculty and staff of the University of Pittsburgh. For more information, please visit the Pitt Arts website
Museums
There are a number of spectacular museums in Pittsburgh, some of which offer free admission to Pitt students, including the Carnegie Museums and the Andy Warhol Museum.
- Carnegie Museum of Art
- Carnegie Museum of Natural History
- Carnegie Science Center
- Andy Warhol Museum
- The Mattress Factory Art Museum
- Heinz History Center
- Frick Art and Historical Center
- Phipps Conservatory
- National Aviary
- Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium
Music
Pittsburgh is home to formal concert halls such as Heinz Hall and the Benedum Center , as well as outdoor concert venues like the Post-Gazette Pavilion and countless bars and restaurants offering live music in a more intimate setting. In the summer, free concerts abound in local parks.
Sports
Professional sports are a large part of the local culture in Pittsburgh. Home to NFL football team the Pittsburgh Steelers, the MLB baseball team the Pittsburgh Pirates, the NHL hockey team the Pittsburgh Penguins and the USL soccer team the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, watching sports, whether in person or on television, is a popular pastime in Pittsburgh. The University of Pittsburgh has many accomplished sports teams at the collegiate level as well.
Dining and Nightlife
Dining and nightlife is abundant in many Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Right in Oakland, at the heart of the Pitt campus, there are a variety of restaurants and bars with student-friendly prices and atmospheres. But Oakland is just the beginning. American, ethnic, fast food, fine dining, pubs and clubs, Pittsburgh has it all!
Events and Other Entertainment
- Just Ducky Tour
- Kennywood Amusement Park
- Sandcastle Water Park
- Venture Outdoors
- The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
- Shopping in Pittsburgh
To keep up to date on current events and things to do in Pittsburgh, visit This Is Happening and the Pittsburgh.net calendar of events.
Guides to Pittsburgh
The Spindle Publishing Company’s Student Guide to Pittsburgh is a rich resource of information for Pittsburgh students, featuring information on shopping, eating, things to do, health resources, student travel, transportation and other services and necessities.
Also check out the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and the Pittsburgh Visitors Bureau for more about living in Pittsburgh.
Planning a trip to visit the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh?