From Kimberly & Albrecht Powell,Your Guide to Pittsburgh, PA.
Finding Apartments in the Pittsburgh Area
Pittsburgh offers a wide range of rental properties. From renovated historic buildings and loft apartments Downtown, to apartment communities with swimming pools and fitness centers in the suburbs, Pittsburgh has an apartment to meet everyone's taste.
Landlords & Leases Due to its large University population, the majority of Pittsburgh apartment leases, especially within city neighborhoods, run August 1 to July 31 or September 1 to August 31, with a smaller number available from May 1 to April 30. Thus, summer is usually the best time to find an apartment in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Apartment Listings by Neighborhood
Downtown / Central - Downtown Pittsburgh has a limited number of high-rise apartments and industrial lofts, some with dramatic views, as well as converted historic buildings and more conventional apartment properties.
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The neighboring North Side and South Side neighborhoods, offer apartments in converted homes, as well as a number of new, high-class apartment communities. Prime real estate does mean fairly high rental rates, but you can't beat the location if you work downtown.
East End / University Corridor - Apartment buildings in Oakland, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill and other neighborhoods near the universities vary greatly in quality, amenities, and price. Many apartments in this area of Pittsburgh are located in old, sometimes historic, buildings, and a number of older homes have also been converted into comfortable apartments. With many colleges, universities, and hospitals in the area, demand for apartments does result in slightly higher rental rates.
North Suburbs - Traveling North from Pittsburgh on I-279, Route 8, or Route 28 brings numerous apartment communities in neighborhoods such as Ross Township, Wexford, Allison Park, Shaler, Fox Chapel, and Cranberry. Garden-style apartment communities abound in this popular location for entertainment and shopping.
South Suburbs - South through the tunnels from downtown Pittsburgh brings you to close-knit ethnic city neighborhoods with standard apartment buildings as well as numerous converted homes with character and charm. Further south, the suburban neighborhoods of Bethel Park, South Park, and Peters Township offer many larger upscale apartment communities and a variety of activities for visitors and residents.
West Suburbs - West from Pittsburgh through the Fort Pitt Tunnel brings a large variety of apartment communities with easy access to both downtown Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh airport. City neighborhoods like Crafton, Carnegie, and McKees Rocks offer primarily apartments in converted homes and buildings, while more suburban neighborhoods such as Greentree, Robinson Township, Moon, and Sewickley offer more traditional apartment and townhome communities. There are a lot of newly constructed apartment communities on this side of Pittsburgh.
East Suburbs - Heading East from Pittsburgh via I-376 brings you to Monroeville, a large shopping district and residential area with plenty of apartment and rental options. Other eastern suburbs, including Greensburg, Forest Hills, Penn Hills, Plum Borough, and Murraysville, offer a wide variety of apartment options - from upscale and luxurious, to charming and affordable.
