North & West Pittsburgh areas - Beaver Falls? (homes, buying)

[Timmars]

I will be moving to the Pittsburgh area in the next few weeks and I will be buying my first home. I live in a semi-rural area outside of Raleigh NC and I am a little nervous about the whole city thing. Are there any nice areas with decent home prices (under 100K) in the northern or western parts of Allegheny county that would be fairly "low-speed". I've found some great homes in a town called Beaver Falls, but I know nothing about the area.
Schools will be an issue, I have an elementary school aged son. The reason I am interested in the north western section is the mine subsidence issue in the south eastern and central parts of the county. Anybody know how serious that really is? The articles about it on-line kind of freaked me out.
Thanks for any help!

[jegonda]

I grew up fairly close to there, but havent been down that way in ages. Was a nice community. But, I cant give any knowledge of schools, property, etc...but, I'd feel save living there, for what it is worth.