Pittsburgh Vs. Portland (Harrisburg: home, employment, safe neighborhoods)

[Beat02]

I've heard the two compared, mainly if not solely on aesthetics. For anyone that has visited/lived in both places, where do you think is the better place for a mid-twenties bachelor, looking to go to school for an associates and ultimately going into law enforcement?

[subsound]

I hear Pittsburgh is doing pretty well in the economic slump, while I know Portland is going through a pretty rough time. Being a Philly kid I don't usually have good things to say about a rival, I would say that Pittsburgh would get my thumbs up for the moment because it would be easier to get employment. Culturally Portland is better outright on the flip side, with numbers of events, cool places to be, and great public transit. Housing I'm not too sure on, I know Portland is about $500+ (up to 1,000 at some places in Pearl) a bedroom in the city but it's been awhile since I've looked at PA for housing.

[OyCrumbler]

Portland has people that are more willing to do things and possibly more things to do, but Pittsburgh is quite a bit cheaper with an alright economy. I say pick up the culture in Portland for a while as a student, and then bring it to Pittsburgh when you join the workforce.

[meltinjohn]

I been to both and I can say Pittsburgh area is nice, but it sucks worse since the winters are pretty bad. Its cheaper for a reason imo. The location is not 2 hrs from the ocean but it is right near the mountains. I didnt care for Pitt on the whole but seems like it could be a hub for some cool people AS TIME GOES ON. Last I heard from some of the residents were that people were leaving left and right so, not totally like Portland in that way.
Im sure subsound knows of Johnstown. Any chance that place could ever be revived? It was horrible from what I remembered. I must tell you tho since you are from PA that Hollidaysburg and Indiana were 2 charming towns. Indiana is my favorite town in PA id say and Hollidaysburg (near Altoona) I thought was charming. I lived out there for over a yr but what sucked was it was far from Pitt and Philly. People didnt seem to mind that who lived there tho.

[subsound]

It's been a long time since I've been on the East Coast, though I can't say I was ever too enamored with Philly...when I left it was still in the stage were we referred to it as Filth-a-delphia, and going to East Philly you would try to time the lights so you wouldn't have to stop the car. I always liked Lancaster, though it was Amish country, always was very nice.

[LeftCoastee]

I've lived outside Philly (Wilmington, DE), near Lancaster (York/Harrisburg), and in Pittsburgh. They all have different feels, but Lancaster / Philly have an East Coast feel while Pittsburgh definitely leans toward a Midwest vibe ("soda" becomes "pop").

I've spent a good bit of time in Portland for work over the past few years and its always reminded me of Pittsburgh. Similar size, both "river towns", grey winters, etc.

Pittsburgh wins in the employment department. Despite its "steel city" past, its very much in the forefront for Healthcare and related technologies. It has three good universities all within a few miles of each other: Carnegie Mellon, Duquesne, and Pitt.

Pittsburgh also has one of the most beautiful skylines I've ever seen when viewed from up on Mt. Washington.

For me personally, Pittsburgh never really fullfilled my "outdoor activity" needs. You could go to Seven Springs to ski, but its about what you'd expect for PA skiing. You could go boating on the Yough or Allegheny, but its about what you'd expect from boating on dirty brown river water. However I did really enjoy the white water rafting near Ohiopyle.

Another complaint I had about Pittsburgh was that the downtown is not at all "vibrant". It becomes a ghost town in the evenings. Unless a Pens/Pirates/Steelers game is going on, its dead. Everyone goes to either the South Side or the Strip district.

Other than that, Pittsburgh was a pretty nice place with a relatively low cost of living. So I guess the decision is based on what floats your boat. For me Portland wins due to the outdoors, public transportation, and downtown feel. And since Portland has no NFL team, I can still be a "Stillers" fan.

[Studiobill]

Am currently in Los Angeles for the last 3 years after over 40 in Pittsburgh. LeftCoastee is right in general appeal.

My take is Pittsburgh weather swings about 10 degrees higher and lower than Portland with much more humidity in summer.

Actually gets about the same amount of rain and not that much less clouds.

Portland leaning a little more to the left and Pittsburgh a little more blue collar middle. Not heavily conservative but not exactly accepting of different points of view.
At least not compared to the West coast. And I think that is the defining difference.

That and in Pittsburgh you can still buy a home in a lot of safe neighborhoods for less than 200k. Fox Chapel, Upper St. Clair, Shadyside and Sewickely not so much.

Both states are beautiful with Portland getting the edge.

Pittsburgh keeps bleeding it's population, which after traveling the country, I'm not exactly sure why.

[LeftCoastee]

Originally Posted by Studiobill

Am currently in Los Angeles for the last 3 years after over 40 in Pittsburgh.

My wife and I live in Marina Del Rey. We moved here 3 years ago from Pittsburgh as well. Lets just say our love affair has worn off (with LA, not each other). I'm hoping Portland will be a good blend between West Coast and Pittsburgh "feel".

[Studiobill]

Originally Posted by LeftCoastee

My wife and I live in Marina Del Rey. We moved here 3 years ago from Pittsburgh as well. Lets just say our love affair has worn off (with LA, not each other). I'm hoping Portland will be a good blend between West Coast and Pittsburgh "feel".

Going up to Portland this weekend for a peek with my family. At least you picked a pretty nice place, MDR to stay while in LA.
I think for me the 10 degree hotter/colder weather of Pgh. and the more liberal overall nature of Portland and it's great natural beauty is why I would give the nod to Portland.
I find myself somewhere between the artistic world (used to be a photographer for 20 years) and the blue collar neighborhoods I grew up in. Los Angeles is a bit much one way and Pittsburgh perhaps swinging a little the other way. To each his own.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Studiobill

Pittsburgh keeps bleeding it's population, which after traveling the country, I'm not exactly sure why.

It's the economy. If people weren't leaving, the unemployment there would be worse. (I am talking about for the past 30 years, not what's happening everywhere right now.)