Peters Township vs. Upper St. Clair-Where would you buy a house? (Pittsburgh: real estate, apartment complex)

[smiles888]

I am looking for POSITIVE advice about where to buy our next house. We are torn between Upper St. Clair and Peters Township. We would like to stay in the south hills. I know that they are both great places to live. I also know that taxes are higher in USC and prices of the houses are higher in Peters. What are some good things about each neighborhood?

• Are outsiders welcomed without prejudice?
• USC has an amazing rec center. Should I consider that since I have young children?
• My daughter is involved in sports, will she be welcomed?
• Are there certain elementary schools that are favored within the community?
• Are there certain places within the community that I should avoid? For example, we looked at a beautiful home that I fell in love with only to learn that there was a sewer treatment plant downwind from us. There was another home we liked but there was construction plans for an apartment complex at the end of the street. (Not that I am opposed to apartment buildings, I just didn't want the extra traffic coming and going.)

Any advice or comments would be appreciated. Thanks.

[wearapaperface]

Upper St. Clair:

I grew up in Upper St. Clair. Really nice area. However, the people can be a bit "snooty," which is a stereotype that is absolutely true. Also, there is a thing called the "USC Bubble" where people only associate with people from Upper St. Clair and are pretty sheltered when it comes to being exposed to other types of people. There's also the "USC Complex" (kind of a tongue-in-cheek expression) where you look down on people who are from the not as wealthy areas. However, the USC school system is always ranked really highly in the state (#1 public school in the state recently) and I got a really great education. A lot of my college classes were easier than some of my high school classes at USC.

Also, USC always does really well in sports and their athletic fields are top notch. The new football field they built at Boyce Middle School (grades 5-6) is ridiculous. Every school in USC has been renovated in the last ten years, so that's a plus too.

Peters:

My grandmother lived in Peters so I spent a lot of time there too. Personally, I like the houses and neighborhoods in Peters better. Lots of really cool houses in wooded areas. Plus, you're closer to everything on Route 19 and Washington. The property taxes are lower in Peters because it is in Washington County, as opposed to USC, which is in Allegheny. I can't speak to the school system in Peters, but I know my mom was raised there, and she turned out fine!

Also, several of my friends' families moved away from USC after they went off to college since they were done with the USC school system. One of my friends' parents actually sold their house in USC and built a new house in Peters.

[robrobrob]

I think if you want a newer houses head to Peters. We have friends that live there and they moved there because they could build a house.

[Garvdog]

I'll chime in here with some positive info about USC.

1) Great schools. Ranked tops in the state in some publications and it is no joke. My wife and I feel like it is the same, or better quality, then many private schools elsewhere, and you really do see the direct effects of the spending benefitting your kids directly. Schools taxes are high, but at least you see where the money is going.

2) Less rural feel than Peters. Some would see this as a negative, but I don't like feeling like I'm on the edge of nowhere, and Peters has that feel sometimes, being a newer community built on mostly farmland. USC started out the same way, but as it is older and mroe established, it feels less remote and is closer to the city. I think if you live in Peters, you will be spending almost all of your time in Peters for dining, entertaining, etc. I like being close to Bridgeville, Mt Lebo, and having easy access to Pittsburgh when you want to escape the burbs.

3) I get the impression that Peters is a bit more conservative than USC. I could be wrong here. Again some might see this as a postive for Peters depending on your politics.

For some reason Peters does not yet have the "snooty" label the way USC does, although I do hear the "bubble" comment from the previous poster made in relation to Peters as well sometimes, and often Mt Lebanon. I think it's all a bit silly, I grew up in USC as well and don't feel that way about it.

As for the rec center, its awesome, but be aware that its not free- you just get a discounted membership for being a resident. People outside the township can join too for a higher fee. That place has been a bone of contention since it obviously cost mega-$$$$ to build and taxes are already pretty high in USC.

[sskink]

Originally Posted by Garvdog

3) I get the impression that Peters is a bit more conservative than USC.

I just spit out my Coke. I must really live in the wrong neighborhood.

[Copanut]

Depends. If you work downtown I would live in USC to get the T. If your business is in the S Hills I would go with Peters. More of a rural feel, which is what I like, and lower taxes. Plus, my jagoff brother lives in USC and despite having a zip of starting with 152, he always uses Upper St. Clair as his return address!

[pwpjn]

I have lived in Peters for almost four years. I am originally from Washington County, but went to a very rural high school. I really can't give you much advice on USC, but will about PT.

First of all, the schools are very good - top 10 in the state. My oldest child is only in 2nd grade, but already, in addition to regular class work, there are always opportunities to do extra work. Spanish is class begins in first grade. There are 2 elementary schools - Pleasant Valley is about half the size of Bower Hill and has more of a "family" feel.

Youth sports are a huge part of life in PT. Kids can start soccer at age 4. If your daughter is under 10, she will more than likely be welcomed on a team; if she is older than 10, she better be pretty good at the sport, because sports are competitive here. The youth sporting organizations are pretty organized and the volunteer coaches are reliable and pretty dedicated.

As far as housing, I don't know of any place to avoid. Sure, there are houses that are too close to a main road, or developments with very sloped yards; but the only "controversy" is a newly opened funeral home on route 19 that wants to have an on-site crematory. There are houses right behind this funeral home, and there is a group of residents against the crematory. Just ask your real estate agent about it.

The location of Peters borders on being rural, but I like it that way. There are still a few large farms operating in the township. But, I don't feel like I live far from anything. Sure, we are not right next to the mall, like USC, but it's only a 10 minute drive to the mall (South Hills Village). But, being in Washington County, we are closer to Tanger Outlets and The Meadows Racetrack and Casino (ha, ha). There are several good non-chain restaurants in PT.

You are right, USC has the new rec center with the great pool. However, I went there once and it was very crowded and the outside pool is like a huge jungle gym. There are no public pools in PT, and no pool at the PT rec center. There are some country clubs and private pools. Mineral Beach is a public pool about 10 minutes away in Finleyville. One country club right in the heart of PT is pretty laid back and great for families with children. However, the library is wonderful and has so many activities for all ages. The PT rec center also offers a lot of different classes all year. The township hosts a free "Touch a Truck" event at the park each summer. Don't forget that the Arrowhead/Montour Trail runs thru PT and it is convenient for biking, jogging and walking.

Land is very expensive in PT. So, if you want to build, be prepared to pay. There are a lot of houses on the market at all price ranges.

Is PT a "bubble"? Sure, I think so. When my husband and I are somewhere else and we drive back into the township, we joke that we are now "back in the bubble". It could be a good or bad thing - pretty safe, but very homogeneous.

Good luck.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by pwpjn

You are right, USC has the new rec center with the great pool. However, I went there once and it was very crowded and the outside pool is like a huge jungle gym. There are no public pools in PT, and no pool at the PT rec center. There are some country clubs and private pools. Mineral Beach is a public pool about 10 minutes away in Finleyville. One country club right in the heart of PT is pretty laid back and great for families with children. However, the library is wonderful and has so many activities for all ages.
Good luck.

No good USC person would be caught dead at that hillbilly pool!

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by Garvdog

For some reason Peters does not yet have the "snooty" label the way USC does, although I do hear the "bubble" comment from the previous poster made in relation to Peters as well sometimes, and often Mt Lebanon. I think it's all a bit silly, I grew up in USC as well and don't feel that way about it.

The people I know from Peters are not markedly different from their USC counterparts.

[XRiteMA98]

Both are good. I am not sure if Upper st clair is Allegheny county or not because the nearby Washington county has cheaper taxes. If they are both Washington they are very similar. Very good school in both of them. Maybe Peters has a more rural feeling but it is great. If I were to buy right now I'd go with Peters.