THE 10 WORST Neighborhoods In Pittsburgh For 2020


We used science and data to determine which Pittsburgh neighborhoods are the real pits.

Frederick Marksman, About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: January 12, 2020
Editor’s Note: This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. Don’t freak out we updated this article for 2020. This is our fifth time ranking the worst neighborhoods to live in Pittsburgh.
Worst Neighborhoods In Pittsburgh
Source: Wikipedia User Yassie (talk) | CC BY-SA 3.0

Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods conjure up too many stereotypes to count. You’ve got hipster areas, preppy places, neighborhoods where college kids thrive, and of course, ghettos.

It seems as if there’s a neighborhood for everyone in Pittsburgh.

And while the city consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in the country thanks in part to a strong economy and tons of entertainment, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine in Pittsburgh. Some neighborhoods aren’t as great as others.

So the question arises, which Pittsburgh neighborhoods are the worst, and which are the best?

Today, we’ll use science and data to determine which Pittsburgh hoods need a little tender loving care – the sore thumbs of the Pittsburgh area if you will. Realistically, you can’t expect all the neighborhoods to be amazing, although Squirrel Hill North ranks way above the rest.

We examined 83 of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods to find out the worst places to live. These places don’t quite measure up to Pittsburgh’s reputation.

So what’s the worst neighborhood to live in Pittsburgh for 2020? According to the most recent census data, Larimer looks to be the worst neighborhood in Pittsburgh.

Read on to see how we determined the places around Pittsburgh that need a pick-me-up. And remember, don’t blame the messenger.

Once you’re done, you can look at the bottom of the story for a complete chart of every neighborhood we looked at from worst to best.

Looking for places to avoid outside of the city? You can also check out the worst suburbs of Pittsburgh.

For more Pennsylvania reading, check out:

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The 10 Worst Neighborhoods In Pittsburgh For 2020

1. Larimer

Overall SnackAbility

2
/10

Population: 1,447
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $44,375 (11th worst)
Median Income: $21,417 (7th worst)
More on Larimer:  Data

2. California-Kirkbride

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 707
Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $55,700 (21st worst)
Median Income: $20,000 (5th worst)
More on California-Kirkbride:  Data

3. Northview Heights

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 1,325
Rank Last Year: –
Median Home Value: $63,900 (29th worst)
Median Income: $12,742 (1st worst)
More on Northview Heights:  Data

4. Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 4,443
Rank Last Year: 3 (Down 1)
Median Home Value: $45,160 (12th worst)
Median Income: $25,868 (17th worst)
More on Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar:  Data

5. Homewood West

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 831
Rank Last Year: 4 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $18,500 (1st worst)
Median Income: $24,700 (14th worst)
More on Homewood West:  Data

6. East Hills

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 2,683
Rank Last Year: 7 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $39,800 (5th worst)
Median Income: $25,650 (16th worst)
More on East Hills:  Data

7. Saint Clair

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 317
Rank Last Year: 24 (Up 17)
Median Home Value: $53,600 (18th worst)
Median Income: $34,861 (27th worst)
More on Saint Clair:  Data

8. Homewood South

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 2,415
Rank Last Year: 15 (Up 7)
Median Home Value: $40,250 (6th worst)
Median Income: $21,070 (6th worst)
More on Homewood South:  Data

9. Beltzhoover

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,783
Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 4)
Median Home Value: $40,325 (7th worst)
Median Income: $33,514 (24th worst)
More on Beltzhoover:  Data

10. Homewood North

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 3,235
Rank Last Year: 11 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $32,780 (4th worst)
Median Income: $22,341 (10th worst)
More on Homewood North:  Data

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How we determined the worst Pittsburgh hoods in 2020

To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what places have the least amount of those things. We threw the following criteria into this analysis in order to get the best, most complete results possible. We used this set of criteria for each neighborhood in Pittsburgh:

  • High unemployment (Less jobs)
  • Low median income (Less pay)
  • Low population density (No things to do)
  • Low home values (No one’s willing to pay to live here)
  • High crime (Estimated)

Then, we ranked each neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for each of these criteria from worst to best.

Next, we averaged the individual rankings for each criteria into a “Worst Score”.

The neighborhood with the lowest “Worst Score” ranks as the worst neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

Read on below to learn more about these terrible places around Pittsburgh to live. Or skip to the end to see the list of all 83 neighborhoods ranked from worst to best.

This list is a scientific analysis based on real data and is completely unbiased. Hold on to your pants.

The ‘hoods around Pittsburgh that are really hoods

Well there you have it — the worst of the neighborhoods in Pittsburgh with Larimer landing at the bottom of the pack.

As we mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Pittsburgh aren’t all bad. Squirrel Hill North takes the cake as the best place to live in Pittsburgh.

We ranked the neighborhoods from worst to best in the chart below.

For more Pennsylvania reading, check out:

Where Are The Worst Neighborhoods To Live In Pittsburgh For 2020?

Rank Neighborhood Population Home Value Median Income
1 Larimer 1,447 $44,375 $21,417
2 California-Kirkbride 707 $55,700 $20,000
3 Northview Heights 1,325 $63,900 $12,742
4 Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar 4,443 $45,160 $25,868
5 Homewood West 831 $18,500 $24,700
6 East Hills 2,683 $39,800 $25,650
7 Saint Clair 317 $53,600 $34,861
8 Homewood South 2,415 $40,250 $21,070
9 Beltzhoover 1,783 $40,325 $33,514
10 Homewood North 3,235 $32,780 $22,341
11 Hays 372 $52,700 $21,815
12 Terrace Village 2,359 $26,000 $17,466
13 Fine View 1,140 $63,750 $34,658
14 Crawford Roberts 2,259 $49,750 $18,794
15 Hazelwood 4,241 $56,629 $23,874
16 Spring Hill-City View 2,537 $69,100 $27,178
17 West Oakland 1,581 $41,733 $16,857
18 Esplen 175 $43,900 $39,904
19 Middle Hill 2,062 $80,067 $21,500
20 Marshall-Shadeland 4,396 $49,920 $41,920
21 Arlington 1,852 $31,225 $34,996
22 Perry South 3,333 $62,967 $33,900
23 Elliott 2,302 $63,775 $45,640
24 Sheraden 5,675 $54,614 $35,876
25 Chartiers City 404 $69,100 $40,990
26 Allentown 2,342 $60,350 $35,505
27 Troy Hill 1,482 $58,700 $45,174
28 Knoxville 4,167 $41,350 $40,075
29 Garfield 3,859 $64,560 $30,202
30 Carrick 9,904 $71,327 $41,950
31 Perry North 3,738 $70,133 $47,169
32 Herrs Island 245 $65,000 $55,500
33 Spring Garden 812 $62,333 $37,416
34 Mt Oliver 562 $49,300 $37,500
35 Mount Oliver 3,289 $54,075 $33,437
36 Polish Hill 1,461 $100,533 $41,222
37 Bon Air 944 $80,100 $56,797
38 East Allegheny 1,866 $94,550 $25,432
39 East Liberty 5,678 $82,262 $31,021
40 Manchester 2,005 $96,750 $39,460
41 East Carnegie 607 $77,500 $55,385
42 Allegheny Center 1,457 $240,650 $46,526
43 Wind Gap 1,355 $72,450 $57,734
44 Upper Hill 1,759 $133,967 $32,996
45 Overbrook 3,473 $75,940 $44,551
46 Ridgemont 298 $91,700 $42,216
47 Oakland 8,663 $70,900 $22,641
48 Allegheny West 259 $302,100 $58,958
49 Lincoln Place 3,534 $87,440 $48,067
50 Central Northside 2,929 $165,800 $37,312
51 Crafton Heights 3,908 $92,525 $42,870
52 Beechview 8,127 $81,310 $47,089
53 Brighton Heights 6,741 $103,600 $51,491
54 Lower Lawrenceville 2,176 $143,950 $51,874
55 Upper Lawrenceville 2,377 $93,567 $42,436
56 Oakwood 1,030 $98,200 $31,563
57 North Shore 177 $100,700 $68,684
58 Southside Slopes 4,680 $92,425 $55,340
59 Fairywood 1,249 $52,800 $83,804
60 Brookline 12,958 $91,167 $53,825
61 Point Breeze North 1,908 $169,275 $56,266
62 Mount Washington 8,521 $96,970 $49,177
63 Summer Hill 1,075 $100,000 $65,000
64 North Oakland 9,383 $158,750 $23,280
65 Central Lawrenceville 4,444 $131,417 $50,605
66 Central Business District 3,229 $121,733 $101,131
67 Strip District 714 $321,400 $93,125
68 Duquesne Heights 2,550 $110,300 $64,534
69 Bloomfield 8,640 $148,610 $43,967
70 Swisshelm Park 1,158 $131,800 $65,313
71 Banksville 3,818 $144,600 $62,896
72 Southside Flats 5,548 $213,383 $61,427
73 Stanton Heights 4,599 $114,300 $53,459
74 Friendship 1,921 $198,350 $37,587
75 Regent Square 973 $300,900 $67,188
76 Morningside 2,940 $126,925 $53,016
77 Westwood 3,544 $107,350 $59,680
78 Greenfield 7,858 $138,978 $66,111
79 Squirrel Hill South 15,572 $237,164 $65,941
80 Highland Park 6,854 $150,738 $62,251
81 Shadyside 13,593 $290,693 $53,305
82 Point Breeze 5,555 $276,757 $109,215
83 Squirrel Hill North 11,446 $401,640 $123,405

 Worst