Bethel Park, Mt Lebanon and Bradford Woods, which one is best? (Pittsburgh: house, neighborhood)

[Seaharbour]

i have narrowed my search down to three homes, all three appear to be in a good school district from my greatschools research...which community is better? I know all three are said to be good, but does one stand out more? I need to select one of these three homes...

Mt. Lebannon, the home is off of Bower Road, was informed it was a nice area...Mt Leb schools.
Bradford Woods, all of it in North Alleghany schools??? how to know for sure?
Bethel Park...on Rocky Ridge Rd...B.P schools.

[guylocke]

I would say it depends how close you want to be to the city. Mt. Lebanon would be the closest.

All three are good school districts, but if you care about such thing, Bethel Park would be in a ring lower on the socio-economic standing.

Mt. Lebo and Brandford Hills would be considered much more posh and although Bethel Park doesn't have bad school districts by any means, they aren't as good as Lebo or NA imo.

Bradford Hills is very much new money, Mt. Lebo is a lot of old money and is established.

Does that help at all?

[Seaharbour]

You bet it does! ThanKs! I want a very good school, status is not really what I am after, but a good school and a place where I can relax and not having to watch my back 24/7 is something I want, esp cause I plan on retiring here too, not ever moving again, I want to be safe when i am old! THANKS AGAIN! If I could give you another rep point, I would!

[Seaharbour]

Can anyone tell me what the Bower Hill area is like? Would I be in a good part of MT Leb? I think it was Austin Rd area.

[guylocke]

Can anyone tell me what the Bower Hill area is like? Would I be in a good part of MT Leb? I think it was Austin Rd area.

I'm not familiar with the actual street names in Mt. Lebo. BTW, I'm SURE you know this, but has anyone expressed to you the fact that Mt. Lebanon school district does not have a bus service? I wouldn't want that to be a big, fat, surprise!! LOL.

[Seaharbour]

Wow, really? That comes to a huge surprise to me, but I always used my car anyhow, never did rely on the bus, but it was nice to know it you needed it, it was there...wow!

[guylocke]

Wow, really? That comes to a huge surprise to me, but I always used my car anyhow, never did rely on the bus, but it was nice to know it you needed it, it was there...wow!

I believe it is the only school district in all of greater Pittsburgh that doesn't. I guess they feel like their community is constructed in a way and is safe and close enough for everyone to sort of walk and shuffle on over.

And they do.

It's sort of charming in a big way.

[Katiana]

Buy the house you like the best. Don't worry so much about school districts. greatschools only tells you which schools have high test scores, which are directly correlated with socio-economic status of the parents. They don't ell you anything about how an individual child will do, quality of teaching, etc. For those who say quality of teaching shows in the scores, I feel this is not always the case, especially in the higher SES areas where kids will learn sometimes in spite of the teaching, not because of it.

[Seaharbour]

Thanks for the info guys, I am pretty much set between Mt Leb and Bradford Woods now, both have a great school, and they both are middle class or better, so we will feel safe, or as safe as one can, I am just always thinking of old age too, being old and vulnerable, and fearing to go about my business here.

Is bower hill a good area? I am wondering if this part of Mt leb is nice, the home is only the high 160s so i am kinda of concerned, is it the safe part? Are there bad areas to Mt Leb? I know all of bradford woods is nice and secure, but is that true with Mt leb???

[guylocke]

Are there bad areas to Mt Leb?

I don't think there are any BAD areas of Mt. Lebo, maybe just ones that are somewhat less fortunate. LOL.

I know all of bradford woods is nice and secure, but is that true with Mt leb???

I would have to go with yes.

Don't forget, Mt. Lebo is sort of like a community practically on top of the city proper. I mean, you are about as close to downtown as you can be for a neighborhood of that quality.

Bradford Woods is a much more distant suburb, which you may prefer, or may not, but I would think it would only make sense a suburb like that would tend to be a bit safer (even though I think Mt. Lebo is plenty safe).