Breakdown of commute times (Lebanon, Johnstown: home search, neighborhoods, top schools)

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by VTtoPA

A lot of you are saying - Technology Drive isn't really "downtown" - is that a good or bad thing? Any area to live in best for working on Technology Drive?

It's a bad thing for living in the northern suburbs (Hampton, Fox Chapel, Shaler, McCandless, Cranberry, etc.). The commute times I gave you are to downtown. You'd need to add another 15 minutes for Technology drive because it would take 10 minutes to get through town and possibly another 5 minutes to get to Technology Drive.

While Bethel Park doesn't have a walkable business area, it is literally next to South Park, a huge county park with swimming wave pool, skating rinks, play grounds, trails, horse stables, outside theater, etc. You can walk all you want there. Your dog and kids will love it. It's also convenient to the malls. It will be an easier commute than from Mt. Lebo.

Don't do Squirrel Hill or any city neighborhood unless you can afford to send your children to private school.

[VTtoPA]

Thanks Hopes - would South Park have a reasonable commute time by car or easy public transportation to Technology Drive? And is it a nice place to live? Schools etc.

[robrobrob]

If you want walkable, your options in the burbs are Oakmont, Aspinwall, parts of Mt. Lebanon, Sewickley, Bellvue and West View. Realistically, with your budget you would want to look at Sewickley, Mt. Lebanon, Oakmont or Aspinwall. The commute from Oakmont is brutal. Now I realize that parts of Regent Square are the burbs but a lot of people view it as part of the city. Sewickley is pretty tough with a budget of 250,000. Mt. Lebaonon is doable but you will always be able to find more house in another area. Stay by the Dormont line (I forget the name, Mission Hills or Sunset Hills or something like that). Aspinwall, is really a city neighborhood in the burbs. Houses are close together and about half of them don't have a driveway. I liked it when I lived there but I am not sure if we could live there now since we are used to a big driveway and yard. Also, 250,000 in Aspinwall probably gets you less than Mt. Lebanon. Regardless of where you look you have to understand that living in the right side of a "town" can save you about 10 minutes. Here is the difference, Mt. Lebanon has plenty of municipal attractions. Aspinwall you gotta join a swim club, etc. Oh yeah, Mt. Lebanon doesn't have school bus service.

I live in O'Hara Township. My commute to downtown (at 8:45) takes about 25-35 minutes. Home at 4:30 takes about 45 minutes.

My personal belief is that most people brag about their commutes on this forum and that realistically they are a little longer. They also love the East End and over sell the quality of the city schools. IMO private schools in the city are required. So, big house in a nice area of the East End (debatable whether 250 is enough, I would say no but others would say yes), and private schools means the need to bring home big bucks (at least 150,000) to make it work.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by VTtoPA

Thanks Hopes - would South Park have a reasonable commute time by car or easy public transportation to Technology Drive? And is it a nice place to live? Schools etc.

South Park is the same commute time as I provided for Bethel Park. (copied below)

Originally Posted by Hopes

For Technology Drive, I'd aim for living in Bethel Park and commute via Lebannon Road, across the Glenwood Bridge, and take 2nd Ave and Irvine Street all the way down through down through Hazelwood.

But I'm recommending living in Bethel Park, not South Park. Bethel Park schools rank better. It is a nice place to live. It's often not mentioned because it's right next to Upper St. Clair and Mt. Lebo. But it's a nice township with good schools and it's an easier commute to Technology Drive and closer to South Park.

FYI: There is a huge county park called South Park and a township/school district called South Park. Bethel Park is literally next to both South Park, the park and the township.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

They also love the East End and over sell the quality of the city schools. IMO private schools in the city are required. So, big house in a nice area of the East End (debatable whether 250 is enough, I would say no but others would say yes), and private schools means the need to bring home big bucks (at least 150,000) to make it work.

Totally agree with this.

[paulinahtoo]

Isn't Pittsburgh Science & Tech in Oakland a good city school?

..im childless so i cant vouch for Pgh schools. It bothers me that people don't have the choice to live in the city and have a top notch education..and in that sense we prolong the spread and dread of suburbia

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by paulinahtoo

Isn't Pittsburgh Science & Tech in Oakland a good city school?

..im childless so i cant vouch for Pgh schools. It bothers me that people don't have the choice to live in the city and have a top notch education..and in that sense we prolong the spread and dread of suburbia

It's a good school, but it's a magnet.

Students are chosen by a weighted lottery and there's a waiting list.

There is no guarantee a child will attend there.

[Lobick]

Originally Posted by paulinahtoo

Isn't Pittsburgh Science & Tech in Oakland a good city school?

..im childless so i cant vouch for Pgh schools. It bothers me that people don't have the choice to live in the city and have a top notch education..and in that sense we prolong the spread and dread of suburbia

Don't buy the hype. The "dread" of city schools is the story suburbanites tell themselves to justify their commute.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Lobick

Don't buy the hype. The "dread" of city schools is the story suburbanites tell themselves to justify their commute.

Tell that to the mother who recently posted a thread about trying to get her child out of Colfax. The East End is the most desirable city public school area and it's not really working out for her family.

Either way, the OP is coming from Vermont. Ever been to Vermont? The entire state has 600k people. It's very rural. Their cities are like our small towns. If she wanted to live in the city, she would have asked about it.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Just for the record, public grade schools are fine for the city. But high school is a whole different story. Take my word for it.