Inexpensive but reliable place to live in Pittsburgh? (Dormont, Lincoln: apartment, rental market)

[EliEverIsAHero]

Long story short, I'm being considered for a public sector job in Pittsburgh, PA. No guarantees that I'll get the position, but I'm trying to plan ahead.

I have no idea whether I'll be asked to show up on-site for the position or whether it will start out as a remote/WFH position due to COVID-19 (and I don't want to make any assumptions). However, I anticipate the possibility of being asked to relocate and am wondering what you'd suggest in terms of apartment searching in the area.

Looking at something relatively inexpensive (by Pittsburgh standards), preferably on a public transit line. What neighborhoods/areas should I focus on in my search? Any that you'd suggest avoiding?

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by EliEverIsAHero

Long story short, I'm being considered for a public sector job in Pittsburgh, PA. No guarantees that I'll get the position, but I'm trying to plan ahead.

I have no idea whether I'll be asked to show up on-site for the position or whether it will start out as a remote/WFH position due to COVID-19 (and I don't want to make any assumptions). However, I anticipate the possibility of being asked to relocate and am wondering what you'd suggest in terms of apartment searching in the area.

Looking at something relatively inexpensive (by Pittsburgh standards), preferably on a public transit line. What neighborhoods/areas should I focus on in my search? Any that you'd suggest avoiding?

Are you applying for a city job? Lots of those (with the exception of teachers and police) require living within city limits.

Regardless, you provided no specifications related to the kind of neighborhood you're looking for, exact price range, etc. Pittsburgh has 90 neighborhoods - and I'd say like 80 of them are basically safe. So in order to nail things down more, we need some more specifications.

[qwerty01]

I would recommend looking into Beechview or Dormont.

[guy2073]

Originally Posted by qwerty01

I would recommend looking into Beechview or Dormont.

Dormont is outside of city limits and above average in price.

[EliEverIsAHero]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Are you applying for a city job? Lots of those (with the exception of teachers and police) require living within city limits.

Regardless, you provided no specifications related to the kind of neighborhood you're looking for, exact price range, etc. Pittsburgh has 90 neighborhoods - and I'd say like 80 of them are basically safe. So in order to nail things down more, we need some more specifications.

Federal, not city, but at the lower end of the pay scale - I have a tentative offer but my paperwork/background check/etc. are still being processed at the moment. Price range is 400 USD-900 USD/monthly rent, but if that's impossible or not recommended feel free to advise. Would be more convenient to live within city limits due to city bus access.

[svband76]

Originally Posted by EliEverIsAHero

Federal, not city, but at the lower end of the pay scale - I have a tentative offer but my paperwork/background check/etc. are still being processed at the moment. Price range is 400 USD-900 USD/monthly rent, but if that's impossible or not recommended feel free to advise. Would be more convenient to live within city limits due to city bus access.

There are options is Dormont in your range. You can get something nice for $800. Search online and let me know if you have any questions. Good luck to you.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by EliEverIsAHero

Federal, not city, but at the lower end of the pay scale - I have a tentative offer but my paperwork/background check/etc. are still being processed at the moment. Price range is 400 USD-900 USD/monthly rent, but if that's impossible or not recommended feel free to advise. Would be more convenient to live within city limits due to city bus access.

City bus service is decent, but keep in mind that the system is mainly meant to travel to Downtown (or Oakland if you live in the eastern part of the city). Thus if your job is somewhere else (like say the Job Corps Center or VA in Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar) your options will be much, much more limited unless you are okay with a transfer.

Bottom of the rental market in Pittsburgh these days is maybe $650 or so, so you should be able to find something you can afford in a safe neighborhood. It doesn't look like there are many units advertised in the ghetto neighborhoods online anyway.

[gg]

What area is the job? That would be key to advising you.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by gg

What area is the job? That would be key to advising you.

Yeah. If he's at the Job Corps Center/VA in Lincon-Lemington, that limits him to where the 74 touches, which thankfully includes Squirrel Hill, which is a fine neighborhood with affordable options.

If he's in Oakland, he could live basically anywhere in the East End, plus wherever the 54 touches (South Side, North Side).

If it's downtown (like the Social Security office), he can live anywhere.

[EliEverIsAHero]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Yeah. If he's at the Job Corps Center/VA in Lincon-Lemington, that limits him to where the 74 touches, which thankfully includes Squirrel Hill, which is a fine neighborhood with affordable options.

If he's in Oakland, he could live basically anywhere in the East End, plus wherever the 54 touches (South Side, North Side).

If it's downtown (like the Social Security office), he can live anywhere.

The main local office of the agency I applied to/am being considered for employment with is downtown (an area I've been to before as a tourist and have an okay-ish mental map of), but I still don't know if that's where I'd be working from or if there's a secondary/offsite location in the area I'd be assigned to. That said, access to downtown via bus is a big priority.