Considering The Move (Pittsburgh, Dormont, Greenville: insurance, chapel, house)

[creationofbeauty]

Could you tell me which one of these East Pittsburg area would be more welcoming to a single mother of 2 small children w/no family already in the Burgh?

Would it be Larimer, East Liberty, Homewood, Squirrel HIll or the The Hill District?

Keep in mind that I am 26, originally from Upstate NY, relocated to NC, MD and currently in Marietta, GA. I need to be somewhere less costly to live but still offers opportunity, a night life, fun for my children and an "at home" feeling. I want to raise them in an area that I feel they would be safe in, has other children their age to grow up with (they are 2 and 7).

Thanks

[mister brewski]

Squirrel Hill is a very nice area, not sure what your definition of affordable, but for Pittsburgh standards (still low) it can be pricey. If you can afford it, go for it.

I'd stay away from the other areas, as you have named the very worst areas of Pittsburgh.

[PghREA]

Originally Posted by mister brewski

Squirrel Hill is a very nice area, not sure what your definition of affordable, but for Pittsburgh standards (still low) it can be pricey. If you can afford it, go for it.

I'd stay away from the other areas, as you have named the very worst areas of Pittsburgh.

I agree

Look at Morningside, Etna, Sharpsburg, Millvale, Dormont

[Maaz]

I agree with the others on the neighborhoods you mentioned. If you cannot afford Squirrel Hill, check out Greenfield which is adjacent to Squirrel Hill. I live there and never have any problems. If you have any questions about it, feel free to ask me.

[creationofbeauty]

Wow, thanks for the info, I had no idea about the other areas. I had went onto this website about Pittsburgh and of course it didn't mention the areas being bad, although, Squirrl Hill was the most appealing to me.

Thanks for the info regarding the other areas. Could you tell me what side of town are they, North, South, etc?

[Elder18]

I second considering Greenville.

I was looking around there this weekend for a place to live, and it seemed very laid-back and safe.

The cost of living there is also more affordable than Squirrel Hill and other areas of Pittsburgh deemed "desirable."

I would suggest trying to stay in the northern part of Greenfield as in the south you get closer to Hazelwood, which is not such a great place.

One more option would be around Friendship Ave. in the Bloomfield/Friendship area. It's a bit more than Greenfield but it seemed very nice, especially around S. Mathilda St.

Good luck!

[Hopes]

I second Morningside or Etna. Don't go to Sharpsburg.

Morningside is in the East, near the Zoo. It's a city neighborhood so you might have to consider sending your children to private school. There's catholic school right in the neighborhood called St. Raphael. It's one of Pittsburgh's Italian neighborhoods, but not everyone is Italian.

Etna is right across the river. It's called north, but it's technically the east too. Etna is part of the Shaler Area School District. You wouldn't need a private school if you live in Shaler. Etna is a river town and the suburbs of Shaler are working class and middle class and upper middle class families. These families typically let their children befriend children who live in Etna.

Sharpsburg is a river town right next to Etna, but Sharpsburg is more depressed than Etna. Sharpsburgh is part of the Fox Chapel School District. It's an excellent school district but there is significant wealth in the suburbs. Your children would experience a HUGE income gap from other kids in school if you lived in Sharpsburg. Those parents typically do not permit their children to befriend children who live in Sharpsburg.

I personally wouldn't do Greenville since you have children. My girlfriend moved from Greenville when her son was going into first grade because she couldn't afford private school.

Seriously check out Etna. Make sure to pick out a house that is up on the hills----or be prepared to buy flood insurance because you'll regret it if you don't. Etna has significant floods about every 10 to 15 years. The last flood was four years ago. The community really pitches in. CNN even did a documentary on Etna and it's great community efforts. Etna definitely has the wonderful neighborhood feeling you're hoping to find.

[Elder18]

In my post above I meant to say I second Greenfield, not Greenville.

I really don't know anything about Greenville at all. I just got the two mixed up.

My bad.

Greenfield seemed pretty nice though.

[Hopes]

I meant Greenfield too. LOL

I like Greenfield, but I don't recommend it for families with school-aged children who plan to use the public school system.

[Maaz]

I live on the side of Greenfield closer to Squirrel Hill and in the 15217 (Squirrel Hill) zip code. I agree that this side is better than the side closer to Hazelwood. My understanding where I live is that the high school is the same as Squirrel Hill and the elementary and middle school is shared with part of Squirrel Hill. I'm not 100% positive on this though. In any case, the schools are certainly much better and safer than in places like Homewood or East Liberty.