Pittsburgh is the second largest city in the state of Pennsylvania. Like most places in the region, the city is known for its industry and natural resources.

In the last few years, it has experienced an influx of younger residents, and major investments in the housing sector.

For business owners looking for the best places to relocate, Pittsburgh should comfortably be placed towards the top of the list. In this article, Across North Hills explores all there is to know about the city and why it’s a great destination for your family and business - and why if you desire to move your business or family to Pittsburgh, you might consider the northern suburbs.

Pittsburgh Housing Options

According to Infoplease, the city has more than 163,000 housing units which include condominiums, family homes, and townhouses. For those looking to purchase property, the median housing price stands near $231,000.

Renting is also popular in the city, and the cost can vary depending on location and rental type. You can use an online search site to filter through potential options to find a rental that meets your needs. Those moving with families and needing extra space to run a home-based business should expect rent towards the higher end of the scale.

Pittsburgh Quality of Life

With its pleasant summer climate, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Bike and walking trails border many of the city's rivers and hollows, so regardless of where you live there’s bound to be a handful of open green spaces to wind down after a long day of work. Your pets will always be welcome regardless of where you go in the city, whether it be restaurants, public spaces, or fellow small businesses.

Small Business Support

The City of Pittsburgh makes firm commitments to ensure the success of small businesses. Pennsylvania offers a useful guide to prospective business owners seeking to open a new business in the city.

Additionally, the Pittsburgh Hilltop Alliance offers several small business and economic development resources as well.

• Neighborhood Community Development Fund
• SCORE Pittsburgh
• Shared Services Pilot

Educated Workforce

More than 32% of adults in Pittsburgh hold at least a Bachelor’s Degree, owing to the presence of various high-ranked education institutions in and an around the city, such as:

University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh is a public institution that was founded in 1787. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 19,980 (fall 2021), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 145 acres. The University of Pittsburgh's ranking in the 2022-2023 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #62.

Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University is a private institution that was founded in 1900. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,365 (fall 2021), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 157 acres. Carnegie Mellon University's ranking in the 2022-2023 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #22.

Duquesne University

Duquesne University is a private institution that was founded in 1878. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,085 (fall 2021), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 48 acres. Duquesne University's ranking in the 2022-2023 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #151.

Fortune 500 Companies In Pittsburgh

Additionally, the presence of various Fortune 500 companies attracts the best talent from across the state to the city, who you can hire for your business as well. Here is a list of Pittsburgh's Fortune 500 companies:

#120 - PNC Financial Services (financial)

#220 - PPG Industries (Industrial)

#226 - Howmet Aerospace (industrial)

#245 - Wesco International (industrial)

#254 - Viatris (pharmaceuticals)

#310 - U.S. Steel (industrial)

#330 - Alcoa (metals/mining)

#362 - Dick's Sporting Goods (retail/consumer goods)

#388 - Wabtec (industrial)

Business Checklist

 Here’s a quick rundown of the thing you’ll need to start a business in Pittsburgh:

• A local business license will be needed.
• Create a strong business plan that lays out your goals, funding requirements, and other intricacies about the business, which can be used to apply for grants and incubators.
• Establishing an LLC will protect you from business-related liabilities, and use expenses as tax write-offs. You can find the necessary filing forms from the Pennsylvania Department of State.
• Don't forget about a website for your business. We recommend Scratch Writing, Inc. for your business website needs. They are locally based in Pittsburgh and specialize in small business website development. 

To make your business stand out from the rest, find a logo maker that can help you design a creative logo. Then, you can run localized online ads to create a buzz regarding your opening and product offerings.

From constant government support and an educated labor market to a high standard of living, Pittsburgh ticks all the boxes for what a small business owner needs to succeed.

Why The North Hills area of Pittsburgh?

Of course, most of the amenities and resources described above can be leveraged from within the Pittsburgh business district and from many great communities east, west, south, and north of Pittsburgh. However, let us outline the case of why if you relocate your business to Pittsburgh, you might consider the northern suburbs, an area colloquially referred to as the North Hills, if not for your business headquarters then for your employees to consider as a place to live and raise a family. 

Highly Rated Public Schools

According to many ranking services, the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh dominates when it comes to the best Pittsburgh area public schools. Niche recently published its rankings for Pittsburgh's metro area schools. Get the full rundown here: 2023 Best School Districts in the Pittsburgh Area. 

What follows are the schools in the top ten that you will find in the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh. 

#1 - North Allegheny School District

North Allegheny School District is the top-rated, public school district located in the Pittsburgh Metro area, according to Niche. It has 8,499 students in grades K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1. According to state test scores, 71% of students are at least proficient in math and 86% in reading.

#2 - Fox Chapel Area School District

Fox Chapel Area School District is a top-rated, public school district located in the Pittsburgh area and it has 4,093 students in grades PK, and K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. According to state test scores, Niche reports that 78% of students are at least proficient in math and 87% in reading.

#6 - Hampton School District 

Hampton Township School District is a top-rated, public school district located in the Allison Park area of the North Hills. According to Niche, it has 2,696 students in grades K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1. According to state test scores, 78% of students are at least proficient in math and 87% in reading.

#8 - Quaker Valley School District 

Quaker Valley School District is a highly rated, public school district located in the Leetsdale area of the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh. It has 1,876 students in grades K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. According to state test scores, 68% of students are at least proficient in math and 84% in reading, Niche reports.

#9 Pine Richland School District

Pine-Richland School District is a highly rated, public school district located, again, in the Gibsonia area of the North Hills of Pittsburgh. It has 4,474 students in grades PK, and K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1. According to state test scores, 75% of students are at least proficient in math and 89% in reading, reports Niche.

Honorable mention includes the North Hills School District just missing the top ten at (#13). 

Out of all of the Pittsburgh area metro schools, half of the top 10 are located in the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh, the North Hills of Pittsburgh. 

Notable Businesses North of Pittsburgh

Rest assured, there are some noteworthy global businesses with significant operations north of Pittsburgh including the following:

SAE International 

SAE International is a leader in connecting and educating engineers while promoting, developing, and advancing aerospace, commercial vehicle, and automotive engineering. SAE International is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive, and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE traces its roots back to the earliest days of the automobile and aerospace industries.

More recently, SAE has taken a lead in initiating SAE Sustainable Mobility Solutions, a leading center of excellence responsible for developing initiatives that, taken together, lead the transportation industry in its significant shift toward technologies resulting in clean, alternative, and sustainable mobility. From electric vehicles to alternative fuel sources, SAE is collaborating across the industry on the future of sustainable transportation, and you can find their world headquarters in Warrendale, Pa.  

MSA (Mine Saftey Appliances)

MSA, Mine Safety Appliances, was founded in 1914 and traces its roots from humble beginnings, and has grown to include more than 4,800 employees across the world. They protect workers by creating, developing, and delivering protective clothing and equipment for the construction, fire service, mining, oil and gas, and utility industries around the world - specifically in more than 140 countries. They too are based north of Pittsburgh in Cranberry Township.

Westinghouse Electric

Westinghouse Electric Company LLC is an American nuclear power company formed in 1999 from the nuclear power division of the original Westinghouse Electric Corporation. It offers nuclear products and services to utilities internationally, including nuclear fuel, service, maintenance, instrumentation, control, and design of nuclear power plants. Westinghouse's world headquarters are located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania - you guessed it, north of Pittsburgh.

other notable Companies Just North of Pittsburgh

Eaton Electrical, Rue21, and Guardian Protection Services - all have significant operations in the Cranberry area north of Pittsburgh. 

healthcare

According to U.S. News & World Report, the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh are home to several world-class hospitals including Allegheny General Hospital and UPMC Passavant. Among the numerous health facilities serving the Pittsburgh Metro area, two of the finest are north of Pittsburgh: 

#2 - UPMC Passavant 

UPMC Passavant in Pittsburgh, PA is rated high performing in 1 adult specialty and 9 procedures and conditions. It is a general medical and surgical facility. UPMC Passavant also has a branch in the Cranberry area of the North Hills. 

According to BenchMine, an AI-powered big data benchmarking engine developed by Pittsburgh-based tech company OnlyBoth:

Of the 536 hospitals in the Mid-Atlantic, UPMC Passavant in Pittsburgh, PA is one of just 10 that are better than the nationwide emergency department averages in each of admit decision to inpatient admission, arrival to discharge for psychiatrics, patients who left before being seen, and patients with stroke symptoms who received brain scan results within 45 mins.

 #3 - Allegheny General Hospital

According to U.S. News & World Report, Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA is rated high-performing in 7 adult procedures and conditions. It is a general medical and surgical facility. It is a teaching hospital.

Life and Living North of Pittsburgh

There are many unique attractions that make the northern suburbs so livable. Perhaps first and foremost among them are the neighborhoods and communities to the north. According to Niche, these neighborhoods north of Pittsburgh are ranked among the area's Top 20 (out of 420+) communities: 

#2 - Aspinwall

Aspinwall offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Aspinwall, there are a lot of bars, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Aspinwall, and residents tend to lean toward liberals. The public schools in Aspinwall are highly rated. A great local bar is the Tavern In The Wall. 

# 3 - Franklin Park

According to Niche, Franklin Park offers residents a rural feel and most residents own their homes. In Franklin Park, there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families live in Franklin Park and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Franklin Park are highly rated. Franklin Park is served by the top-rated school district in the Pittsburgh metro area, the North Allegheny School District. Franklin Park is home to a nine-hole golf course, Cloverhill. Another hidden northern suburb gem is The Franklin Inn. Here you will discover some of the best Mexican food you will find in the Pittsburgh area. It is also lively and a lot of fun. 

#4 - Fox Chapel

Living in Fox Chapel offers residents a rural feel and most residents own their homes. In Fox Chapel, there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many retirees live in Fox Chapel and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Fox Chapel are highly rated. Many wealthy CEOs in the Pittsburgh area and other Pittsburgh industry leaders, have long called Fox Chapel home. Fox Chapel is in close proximity to Aspinwall, Sharpsburg, and Blawnox. Aspinwall, we all know is rated super highly, but those others are nice working-class communities with tons of great shops, bars, and restaurants. The retail area is served by Water Works Mall, which boasts just about every brand name store you would expect at a big mall. It is not quite as exclusive as some of the stores at Ross Park Mall, but it comes close.  

Rounding out the Top 10 are Marshall (#5), O'Hara (#6), Bradford Woods (#7), and Ben Avon (#9). That is quite a bit of northern suburban dominance when it comes to the best metro area communities around Pittsburgh. The Top 20 includes Indiana Township, Allison Park, Seven Fields, Pine Township, and Cranberry Township -- all communities that are in the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh.

Ross Township - Voted One Of America's Best Places To Live In America

In 2020, Money, rated Ross Township as one of the Top 50 communities in America. Ross township, located eight miles from downtown Pittsburgh, and perhaps in the center of the northern Pittsburgh suburbs, is a great choice for families looking for an affordable neighborhood with safe streets and good schools.

While the home values in neighboring towns like McCandless and Ben Avon are typical $250,000 or more, the median property price in Ross is still under $200,000. Ross sits on a hilly area, about 350 feet above the Ohio River, with many spots enjoying views of the forests that surround and weave through it.

Allegheny County's North Park

At more than 3,000 acres, North Park is the largest in the nine-park county system. The centerpiece is the 75-acre lake, complete with a vintage boathouse, built in 1934, and plenty of ways to enjoy it, from kayak rentals to fishing. Additionally, Allegheny County's North Park features golf, tennis, ice skating, and platform tennis. North Park features one of the largest pools in the region, miles of well-maintained wooded hiking trails, and plenty of space to picnic and play too.

One of the park’s most popular attractions is the five-mile loop trail around North Park lake. The Parks Foundation is partnering with Allegheny County to improve the North Park Lake Trail. This includes improving safety measures and increasing ways for visitors to better experience the varied ecology and wetlands.

Ross Park Mall

Ross Park Mall is a grand mall located right in the heart of Pittsburgh city. In 1986 this mall was opened for the first time and soon transformed into the best shopping mall in Pittsburgh. it is also known as the largest mall in Pittsburgh with 1,239,681 square feet.  

It is quite a well-known mall with the most dynamic and vibrant shopping choices from the best outlets. With over 160+ retail spaces currently operational in this mall, it is one of the best outlet malls in Pittsburgh. You can get the most amazing offers on the most famous brands and outlet stores' products. 

Other notable malls and shopping plazas north of Pittsburgh include Waterworks Mall, Pine Tree Shoppes, The Block Northway, and McCandless Crossing. 

Restaurants North of Pittsburgh

 There is no shortage of great places to eat across the North Hills of Pittsburgh. Here are several featured ones from our food and drink guide. Find more in our north hills restaurants directory. 

Neighborhood Bars north of Pittsburgh

Say you like a good neighborhood bar. Here are several featured neighborhood bar listings from our food and drink guide. Find more in our north hills neighborhood bars directory. 

Microbreweries north of Pittsburgh

There is some fine brew made from scratch in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. Here are a few featured microbreweries in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. Find more listings in our north hills microbreweries directory. 

Best suburban Commute To Pittsburgh

Hands down the North Hills of Pittsburgh offer the best commute to "dahn tahn" for those that like to have a suburban lawn to mow. The reason is that there is no tunnel to bottleneck your commute. As anyone that lives in Pittsburgh knows, mention the Liberty Tunnel to those that live in the South Hills and they will likely recoil in horror at the thought of how much precious life was lost waiting to get their car through that tunnel in the morning; the other way in the evening.

The same can be said for those that live east of Pittsburgh. Mention the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and you will likely get a  blank dull look that says they too are familiar with this Bermuda triangle that seems to swallow time on the daily commute. Why do folks slow down when they approach the Squirrell Hill tunnel to such a constricting stranglehold that they put a sign up telling motorists, don't do that? Just drive through the darn thing!

Maybe it is the laws of physics that don't work the same in the Squirrell Hill Tunnel? But, again, if you live north of Pittsburgh, say in McCandless, Ross Township, Wexford, Hampton, and the list goes on, you don't have the dang tunnels to deal with. This easily makes your commute way better than it would be from say, the south hills of Pittsburgh. 

Now for the folks in the west end and airport area of Pittsburgh, many of them will swing through the Ft. Pitt tunnel. This is just as bad of a bottleneck as all the other tunnels except that we will admit, it presents a gorgeous view of the great City of Pittsburgh, as you emerge from it, heading straight into the downtown Pittsburgh area. Heck, the view famously inspired the New York Times to once proclaim that Pittsburgh is the only city that has an entrance — we are apt to agree. This entrance has even been featured in several movies and features prominently in the 2012 film The Perks of Being a Wallflower. However, the perks of the view get old fast if you live around here. That is more of a treat for a first-time visitor to the city. Plus, let us not forgot, the reason the view is so pretty is that you are facing north. 

Across North Hills is dedicated to the people of the northern communities of Pittsburgh, promoting its brick-and-mortar businesses, and the recognition of its people that call Northburgh home. Contact us today for more info!

Katie Conroy is an Across North Hills contributing writer. Matt De Reno is the editor and publisher of Across North Hills.