Job Offer In Pittsburgh - What Is Living There Really Like?

[slow&rusty]

Hi Gang - I have a great job offer in Pittsburgh. It is paying almost 30-40% more than what I am making here in Colorado Springs. One of the reasons the pay is so attractive is that they want to attract younger professionals to the Pittsburgh area and help the weak economy, and also knowing that Pittsbugh may not be the most amazing place to live.

Thats where you local Pittsbugh'ers come in, what is it really like to live there?

I found this thread on-line and it was very very interesting (or discouraging) - your thoughts?:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/pittsburgh/284045-what-dont-you-like-about-pittsburgh.html

I am apprehensive due to the following reasons:
1) New York type winters (long and very grey) and very wet summers. I had a great paying job in Toronto, Canada and took a pay cut to move to Colorado because I was tired of the terrible Canadian Winters and the fact that the salty \ pot-holy roads devoured my cars, so weather is important (I hope this is not shallow).

2) Don't laugh...but worried about my cars rusting away...I have two old Datsuns that I love (a '67 Roadster and a great old Z) and they are very prone to run and were built well before rust protection and zinc protection. Currently these two Datsuns are perfect body wise having lived in arid / dry Colorado all their life. Also worried about my 911 starting to rust, and this car is also perfect (SoCal car then Colorado Car).

3) I am very outdoor-sy, play alot of tennis love riding my road bike, does the weather put a "damper" on out door activities (even driving my old '67 Roadster with the top down)?

4) I have heard that many people who have homes are stuck with them as the economy is "soft" and it is hard to sell your home once you purchase?

5) What is it like meeting young people there, based on the above City Data Thread, it says that Pittsburgh is an older community?

6) Cost of living? Property tax, sales tax, crime - your thoughts?

It is very important for me to balance the whole work \ life thing, and that will play an important part of my decision. I have done my time in the trenches so to speak and I donlt mind working my a$$ off but want to enjoy time away from the office and also the weekends. As with anything the novelty (even with the extra $$$) will wear off quickly, if I am not happy.

So your honest opinions are truly welcomed.

Regards - Yasin

[Rot 911]

Yasin, if no one else responds here, I have a friend that lives in da Burgh that I can put you in touch with by email, or just have her post here, that can probably be very helpful.

Yes it is cold, wet and dreary in the winter.

[DavidB911]

1-I don't know what a Toronto or Pittsburgh winter is like, but the winters here in northern Ohio aren't too fun to drive around in. You cars will rust unless you keep them garaged or washed. I don't see this as a problem since I think cars are meant to be driven sun or snow.

2-Are you worried about rust for when you sell it or that you want to keep it as pristine as possible?? I know that many on here believe you should be out driving the car and not worrying about the value you would get when you sell it.

3-The weather here puts a damper on outdoor activities sometimes, but also makes you want to go outside when you get a nice day after a string of crappy ones.

4-The economy here is soft, but I have no idea about the home market.

5-There are always chances to meet young women i mean individuals. You may even get a woman thats a football fan.

6-No idea, but I would think there are places online that should show you the numbers you desire.

[Rich76_911s]

I've lived in Durango, CO and now just outside of Philadelphia so I am partially familiar with your situation.

My thoughts on the weather are this. Colorado winters and summers are way better. Winter in CO feels warmer because of the sun in the middle of the day, and summers are cooler because of the huge drop in temperature at night in Colorado. Snow in Colorado makes you happy, if your a skier / boarder. Snow on the east coast is just a miserable dirty pile of stuff you have to move, and can't drive in. The main difference in the summer is humidity as well as the fact that it doesn't cool off as much at night. Fall and Spring in PA is much better. I'd say 35% of the year is better in PA than Colorado. Just so you know March is the worst month. You think spring is coming but March is always a huge dissapointment.

I would argue that in my area road biking is better in PA than it is in Colorado. The rolling hills of the country side are a lot more fun than riding uphill for 20 miles then downhill for 20 miles. I guess it depends on how you like to ride. Also in my area it seems there are a lot more "back roads" to enjoy than in Colorado.

Around here there are a wider array of back roads to use your cars on. But speeds will be slower because they are narrow twisty roads, and the scenery is not nearly as impressive, although it is still spectacular in its own way. Unlike in Colorado where you have 1 choice for getting from A to B, take Denver to the Springs for example. In PA there will be a dozen ways to get between the two spots. Ranging from highways to rural two lane roads, depends on how quickly you want to get between A and B.

If you take care of your cars they shouldn't rust. Certainly if you drive them in the winter on salty roads and leave them to take the beating rust will win and metal will lose. In eastern PA the number of days with salt on the roads seems to be relatively small. I'd say between 30 and 50 days with salt and salt residue on the roads. I would bet it is less than that, but I wanted to give you a worst case scenario.

I can't speak for the specifics of Pittsburg as I have never spent time there. I would think that Pittsburg has more young people than Colorado Springs. Pitt is there so that is a large # of young people, and I believe there is another large university there. Carnegie Mellon if you like to hang out with smart folks.

Why not hop on a plane and take a look around? It is a great time of the year right now.

[Rick Lee]

I lived there for five years (89-94) and go back often to visit friends. Yup, winters can be rough. I don't remember summers being too bad though. I think it was about the same as where I grew up in NJ. Property taxes are pretty steep there. Sorta like TX, you'll be amazed how much house you can get for your money and then stunned when you see your taxes almost equal your P&I payment. They can have terrible traffic too depending on where you live. For some reason, Pittsburgh drivers think the road become more narrow when you go through a tunnel. So they all slow down for them, though I don't even understand why one would slow down IF the road really became more narrow. Some of the burbs are very nice. Lots of sketchy folks in some of the urban areas, Oakland, downtown. I wouldn't live there for all the money in the world. But it's fun to visit for homecoming or Rush concerts at Star Lake Ampitheatre (I refuse to call it by its corporate name.).

[Rick Lee]

Rich, I grew up on the other side of the river from Bucks County. I don't think you can compare that area to Pittsburgh. They're 300 miles apart and in a different universe, population and culture-wise. I could live in Bucks Co. I could not live in Pittsburgh (again).

[9dreizig]

Dude are you nuts?? You live in paradise!!! I've lived in the burg,, hot humid summers , cold grey winters,, dismal economy,, traffic sucks, and I don't want to offend anyone, but they still have that small minded , steel town mentality... I've lived there a couple of times over the years, my ex is from there.. You couldn't pay me enough to live there again .. Did I mention the skiing sucks??

[Rick Lee]

9dreizg, perhaps you can translate the following, since slow&rusty will need some help with the local dialect.

"Yinz gon dahntahn n pahndin' some ahrens n'at. Git aht! Quit jaggin' arahnd ya jagoff."

[Rich76_911s]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Rich, I grew up on the other side of the river from Buck County. I don't think you can compare that area to Pittsburgh. They're 300 miles apart and in a different universe, population and culture-wise. I could live in Bucks Co. I could not live in Pittsburgh (again).

I can't argue that. I was mostly trying to speak from the perspective of weather. I figure we're about the same, but tried to point out that I was in a different part of the state.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Honestly, you can't get better than CO. Everywhere else is a step down from the mountains.

[JeremyD]

Pittsburgh is a great city. Lots to do and see there. That being said - I am not sure I could endure the winters there. Grey and cold - I guess lots of down time to work on the car. Lots of polyester.

89911 lives there - he could give you a better take on it than just about anyone.

[9dreizig]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

9dreizg, perhaps you can translate the following, since slow&rusty will need some help with the local dialect.

"Yinz gon dahntahn n pahndin' some ahrens n'at. Git aht! Quit jaggin' arahnd ya jagoff."

Rick is correct, they do talk funny there,, now stop even thinking about moving ya jagoff!! LOL

[89911]

I'm at work, so the time I need to answer your questions are limited. I can get to them later. I was born and raised here, went to school at the University of Pittsburgh for 8 years. I did live in NJ for two years, so I did get out for a short time. I'm married with 4 kids, so that has a lot to do with it. My kids even go to the same school I went to, (I know, pretty pathetic). Weather has less to do with my everyday events that it really doesn't impact my life. It's not like I can make a u turn and go to the park whens its nice. The winters are dreary I guess, but its more the the limited daylight then anything. Far as I know, it doesn't stay any lighter any longer elsewhere in the US. Pittsburgh is a great place, but you need time to make any judgments. More to follow.

[sammyg2]

I've seen pittsburgh only once, when i was on my way to jeanette from the airport.
The sight coming out of the tunnel when the waterfront jumps up right in front of you made an impression on my I'll never forget. Best view of a city I've ever seen.

Yeah I know, worthless anecdote but that view was cool. Didn't expect it and there it was.

[flatbutt]

FWIW we're closing an office there and nobody wants to move. They'd rather find new work. I couldn't live there but I've been in jersey ALL of my life. No decent place would have me.

[rattlsnak]

ALL of my friends from there, said its great, but they also say they would never move back!

[targa911S]

I moved to western PA from FL 2 years ago, but I retired so my life is a bit different than yours. As a Floridian winters suck. Cold grey and ugly. The people are friendly and yeah they talk funny. The words "to be" are not in the vocabulary. It's not " It needs to be repaired" it's " It needs fixed" and stuff like that. I live about an hour NW of the burgh and it's beautiful country here. Opening day of buck season is a holiday and shops are actually closed that day. Most guys take the day off. I personally keep my big dogs inside that day. Rick is right about the price of real estate. I bought a 2200 sq ft house on 2 acres with city water and sewer for under $200K. My taxes are about $3K.
FOOTBALL!! Home of The Stillers! 5 Superbowl rings baby! As in any big city plenty of places to meet people. The south side in the Bohemian district and lots of night life. Lots of culture and fine museums and other fine arts areas. Tons of resteraunts. Lots of ethnicity. City crime is average for a big city but up here people leave their keys in their cars and don't lock doors. The economy all around it is very soft. Cleveland is close and also a great place with lots to do. The two cities are very similar. Youngstown once was a booming city but now it is just part of the rust belt. I'm sure others that actually live in the city can chime in but that is about all I know from living here only 2 years. Oh and your car?? Just don't drive it in the winter. I think the summers are great and FALL is spectacular!

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

I've seen pittsburgh only once, when i was on my way to jeanette from the airport.
The sight coming out of the tunnel when the waterfront jumps up right in front of you made an impression on my I'll never forget. Best view of a city I've ever seen.

Yeah I know, worthless anecdote but that view was cool. Didn't expect it and there it was.

You're right that first time is very impressive, especially at night when all the bridges and "Donton" is all lit up.

[badcar]

Before I moved to CO... I had a job offer from Dick's Sporting Goods and they flew my wife and I out from Indy to tour the city, look for a home, get the local flavor...etc.....

My wife cried filled with overwhelming dissapointment on trying to find a nice home anywhere esle than Sewicky. I wanted sunshine after living in Indianapolis for 6 years of dreary winters.

I flew out to Denver to interview with another company that week....

[Rick Lee]

There are PLENTY of nice places to live in Pittsburgh besides Sewickley. It all depends on where you will commute, if you want acreage, city living, whatever. I know just about every neighborhood in the entire area, as I did landscaping and package deliveries there for about two years while trying to become a rock star my senior year and the year after that. Really, there are a lot of nice neighborhoods there. I also think the bar scene is great. Gawd, do I miss Primanti's.