The COVID-19 pandemic may have shifted our economy into overdrive, but housing has been affected the most by families fleeing pollution, traffic, crime, and the bustling city life.
Pittsburgh is a moderate city located in the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania, nestled on the western forefront of the Alleghenies and surrounded by three majestic rivers, including the Monongahela River, Ohio River, and Allegheny River.
Once of the largest steel manufacturing towns in the country, Pittsburgh has since been revitalized by new medical and technological industries taking up residency throughout the city. Pittsburgh was recently voted the 18th best place to live in the United States, per CBS News and Niche.
5. Homestead
Homestead is located 7 miles southeast of downtown Pittsburgh, sharing a border across the Monongahela River city limit line. With a population of around 3,000 people, this town was once home to one of the largest steel mill manufacturers in the state, The Homestead Works.
By 1980, it had become difficult to obtain employment at the Homestead Works, which was not producing much steel at that time. In 1986, the mill closed. The Homestead Works was demolished in the early 1990s, replaced in 1999 by The Waterfront shopping mall.
As a direct result of the loss of mill employment, the number of people living in Homestead dwindled. By the time of the 2010 census, the borough population was 3,165. The borough began financially recovering in 2002, with the enlarging retail tax base.
Due to the loss of employment and population dwindling as a result, Homestead has become a hotbed for extreme poverty and criminal activity. In recent years, The Waterfront has attracted significant retailers and has expanded to be one of the largest shopping areas in the area, competing with larger municipalities such as Robinson Township or Monroeville.
In the next 10 years, we predict this area will continue to grow and be shaped by these newer employment opportunities, inevitably giving families the ability to afford housing, healthcare, and simple luxury experiences such as entertainment, dining, or fashionable clothing.
4. Dormont
Dormont is located 7 miles southwest of downtown Pittsburgh, a small borough accessible through the Liberty Tunnel by bus (Port Authority) or I-376 W and US-19 S.
3. Millvale
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2. Wilkins Township
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1. Wilkinsburg
Wilkinsburg has had an incredible turnaround over the course of the past five (5) years. Many of the derelict houses and buildings that were abandoned for many years
Honorable Mentions
While our list excluded Pittsburgh city suburbs, several Pittsburgh communities have been growing over the past 5-10 years, with positive strides and successful renovation efforts occurring in Bloomfield, East Liberty, Lawrenceville, and Highland Park.
