Who wouldn't do well in Pittsburgh?!?

[badguykc]

Originally Posted by nightwishfan

Is this city too good to be true? I've never come across a city that seems to have so much to offer with very few negative aspects (if any). I'm new to this section of the city-data boards, but it sure seems like most of you who live in Pittsburgh really adore it!

So who wouldn't do well by moving to the area? Are there any common career paths there that are nonexistent or severely depressed? I've read on the boards that there isn't a slew of racial diversity, but what about religious and general lifestyle diversity? And what's up with all these awesome looking 100+ year old homes selling for under $20,000 (I've seen quite a few for under $10,000 as well), many of which seem to only be in need of cosmetic repair rather than structural/plumbing/etc? I realize that some of them are in sketchier neighborhoods, but some of them are in nicer areas (according to threads I've seen, and google streetview).

I'm looking forward to learning more about your city. I've been wanting to move out of NM again for some time, but have had a hard time deciding on a place to move to! Pittsburgh is definitely up on my list now.

Lived in Pittsburgh and loved it. If you're looking for inexpensive housing, take a gander at Lawrenceville. Relatively safe (although the area I lived in had ONE shooting in the year I lived there) and the people are friendly.

IMO...Really the only TRULY sketchy neighborhood in Pittsburgh, and the only one I'd recommend anyone to stay away from, is Homewood. The Hill District (parts of it, anyway) and many of the neighborhoods on the Northside are on their way back up, and Pittsburgh as a whole has A LOT to offer to just about anybody.

[nightwishfan]

Originally Posted by ex-burgher

I just realized the original poster is from NM - one of my favorite places. The weather in NM is so fabulous - someone coming from there would have a hard time getting used to Pittsburgh's high humidity in the summertime. But Pittsburgh's culture surpasses Albuquerque.

Heh, well actually I've lived many places, Central America included. Most New Mexicans think I'm pretty weird (family included!) because A. I highly appreciate overcast "gloomy" days (winter especially but can be nice in fall and spring too), and B. I love humidity, it's WAY too dry here in my opinion. Granted Houston is a wee bit too humid, you can swim through the air there, I found Central American rain forests to be pleasant though. I would probably like living in the pacific NW if jobs weren't crashing there left and right and if I wasn't afraid of "the big one" . I've also traveled a ton too, which is part of the reason I'd like to relocate, I've been to almost every state and a few countries, so I know there are other places I'd like to experience as a resident rather than just a visitor. Granted I haven't visited Pittsburgh yet, though I briefly toddled into northern PA while in upstate NY (just long enough to see a "keep pennsylvania green" or something to that effect sign, and realize "yipes! I'm lost/in the wrong state").

I guess beauty as well as what is considered good/bad weather is in the eye of the beholder. There are tons of people from back east living in NM, have been for ages, and everyone I know who is originally from the east absolutely adores it out here. Myself, I crave green, while I've certainly had the opportunity to live and travel elsewhere, I have spent the majority of my years in the desert, and it's gotten old, old, old.

I find it interesting / like the fact that Pittsburgh has a smaller population (however I'm not sure where their boundary ends) and appears to have a bit less crime than Albuquerque (well technically I guess they had about 10 more incidents in the same months as Albuq. but they were different types), and Pittsburgh definitely offers a lot more "big city" appeal than Albuquerque, even though it's technically smaller pop. and sq. mile wise. Albuquerque offers very little, though they are making strides to offer more.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by nightwishfan

<snip>
Granted I haven't visited Pittsburgh yet, though I briefly toddled into northern PA while in upstate NY (just long enough to see a "keep pennsylvania green" or something to that effect sign, and realize "yipes! I'm lost/in the wrong state").

I guess beauty as well as what is considered good/bad weather is in the eye of the beholder. There are tons of people from back east living in NM, have been for ages, and everyone I know who is originally from the east absolutely adores it out here. Myself, I crave green, while I've certainly had the opportunity to live and travel elsewhere, I have spent the majority of my years in the desert, and it's gotten old, old, old.

I find it interesting / like the fact that Pittsburgh has a smaller population (however I'm not sure where their boundary ends) and appears to have a bit less crime than Albuquerque (well technically I guess they had about 10 more incidents in the same months as Albuq. but they were different types), and Pittsburgh definitely offers a lot more "big city" appeal than Albuquerque, even though it's technically smaller pop. and sq. mile wise. Albuquerque offers very little, though they are making strides to offer more.

First of all, I think you should actually GO to Pittsburgh and visit before making any decisions. Secondly, Albuquerque's metro population is actually aboaut 1/3 that of Pittsburgh. Also, Pittsburgh itself was once much larger. Andrew Carnegie was quite the "sugar daddy" to Pittsburgh, building a Carnegie Music Hall and other facilties there. So for those reasons, yes, Pittsburgh seems more like a "big city" than ABQ. It IS a bigger city, and has a long history of being a big city.

Albuquerque, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA) Population and Components of Change

Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA) Population and Components of Change

[nightwishfan]

Originally Posted by Katiana

First of all, I think you should actually GO to Pittsburgh and visit before making any decisions. Secondly, Albuquerque's metro population is actually aboaut 1/3 that of Pittsburgh. Also, Pittsburgh itself was once much larger. Andrew Carnegie was quite the "sugar daddy" to Pittsburgh, building a Carnegie Music Hall and other facilties there. So for those reasons, yes, Pittsburgh seems more like a "big city" than ABQ. It IS a bigger city, and has a long history of being a big city.

Albuquerque, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA) Population and Components of Change

Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA) Population and Components of Change

Oh definitely, I don't usually move to a new areas sight unseen unless I have family/friends there that vouch for the area, and even then I usually visit beforehand.

Yep, I figured that the metro areas had to be quite different, it's only when looking at the cities proper that Albuquerque is larger (around 500,000) than Pittsburgh (around 300,000).

Thanks for the input!

[Katarina Witt]

You're welcome! Good luck with your decision.

[nyctransplant]

Originally Posted by wordzgirl

Teaching jobs, especially in elementary education, are nearly impossible to land unless you've got some serious connections. My husband interviewed at one district where they were interviewing 80 people a day for two weeks for two positions. Since he wasn't interested in being a substitute for the rest of his career, we moved to SC about a year ago.

I miss Pittsburgh and the people; however, not the weather. I see the weather today in the 'burgh is going to be in the 30s. It's going to be 69 and sunny here. HOWEVER, I'm hoping the Chargers are so numb from the cold in Pittsburgh that the Steelers will trample them tomorrow.

I winter in summerville........................who's hiring teachers in s.c.? They need it badly but i thought guv.sanford isn't that interested in improving education and that lots of teachers are getting the axe. I'm curious, a family member is a teacher and might need to relocate.

[nyctransplant]

I winter in summerville........................who's hiring teachers in s.c.? They need it badly but i thought guv.sanford isn't that interested in improving education and that lots of teachers are getting the axe. I'm curious, a family member is a teacher and might need to relocate.