Top 10 Safest Neighborhoods In Pittsburgh (2023)

Pittsburgh is becoming a top choice for young professionals and families looking to put down roots in a new area; the safest neighborhoods in Pittsburgh are some of the areas with the most vibrant real estate markets in the whole of Pennsylvania. Of course these neighborhoods did not randomly become so safe; it took a lot of work and planning to achieve this.

The Pittsburgh area was a crime hot-spot controlled by the Mafia from the 1920’ down to the 1990’s. However, thanks to increasing gentrification, the city is now an enclave for working class families; largely out of reach of the more unsavory type of people.

This is a presentation of the neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, arranged in a manner that ranks those with the lowest crime rates first.

Safest Neighborhoods In Pittsburgh

1. Squirrel Hill North

Population: 11,446

Violent Crimes Per 100k: 15

Property Crime Per 100k: 421

Squirrel Hill North is a neighborhood in the east of Pittsburgh; Point Breeze, Squirrel Hill South, Central Oakland, and North Oakland are some of the surrounding neighborhoods. This neighborhood is full of Victorian houses, most of which have very beautiful lawns and trees lining them.

This neighborhood is also home to Carnegie Mellon University and Chatham University. There are many cafés eateries, pizza joints, and the neighborhood also has a nice hiking trail in the woods.

This is the safest part of Pittsburgh; there are 11,446 people living there, and yet only 15 violent crimes recorded recently. There were also 421 property crimes in the area.

2. Ridgemont

Population: 298

Violent Crimes Per 100k: 112

Property Crime Per 100k: 271

Ridgemont is a neighborhood in the west of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Surrounding communities include Westwood, West End Valley, Beechview, and Banksville.

Ridgemont is an enclave with only 298 residents; however, the neighborhood gets enough foot traffic; there are bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks in the area.

This is a calm and quiet neighborhood; one that can be ideal for a family with young children. There were 271 property crimes recorded here recently.

3. Swisshelm Park

Population: 1,158

Violent Crimes Per 100k: 63

Property Crime Per 100k: 539

Swisshelm Park is a neighborhood located in the southeast corner of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Some of the surrounding areas include Frick Park, Squirrel Hill, Regent Square and the Parkway East.

Swisshelm Park is a small family oriented community; most of the residents live in old ranch style Victorian houses. The community also lists out the names of residents who fought in world war two.

Swisshelm Park is one of the neighborhoods with an attractively low rate of crime; this area only saw 63 violent crimes recently. There were also 539 property crimes in the neighborhood.

4. East Carnegie

Population: 607

Violent Crimes Per 100k: 219

Property Crime Per 100k: 319

East Carnegie is a neighborhood located in the West End of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Surrounding areas include; Oakwood, Crafton, Scott Township, and Green Tree.

East Carnegie has a population of only around 607 people; and a violent crime rate of about 219 per 100k. The area is a residential part of the city, it may be ideal for real estate investments.

5. Westwood

Population: 3,544

Violent Crimes Per 100k: 210

Property Crime Per 100k: 514

Westwood is a neighborhood in the West End Region of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Surrounding neighborhoods include; Crafton Heights, Elliott, Ridgemont and Oakwood.

Westwood has many different types of buildings, but they are mostly single family houses, owned by their occupants. Westwood recorded 210 violent crimes, and 514 property crimes- which are quite good by American standards.

6. Stanton Heights

Population: 4,599

Violent Crimes Per 100k: 154

Property Crime Per 100k: 772

Stanton Heights is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, located in the Northeast. Some of the surrounding neighborhoods include Lawrenceville, Morningside, East Liberty and Garfield. This is a small, quiet neighborhood full of single homes, most of which are owned by their occupants.

Stanton Heights now has a population of about 5,000 people, and there were only 154 violent crimes committed in the neighborhood, and another 772 property crimes.

7. North Oakland

Population: 9,383

Violent Crimes Per 100k: 139

Property Crime Per 100k: 824

North Oakland is a neighborhood in the east of the city. This the academic center of Pittsburgh; it is home to several museums, such as the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and the Carnegie Museum of Art features contemporary works. The former holds Dinosaur fossils and geological exhibits. North Oakland is a very student friendly environment; there are many cafes, shops, and eateries in the neighborhood.

There is not much by way of criminal activity here; this is one of the most sought after neighborhoods in Pittsburgh.

8. Highland Park

Population: 6,854

Violent Crimes Per 100k: 130

Property Crime Per 100k: 887

Highland Park is a neighborhood in the northeastern part of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Surrounding areas include East Liberty, Larimer, Morningside, and Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar. Highland Park has a park by the same name within its borders.

Highland Park has 6,854 residents and there some truly impressive buildings in the area; including luxury houses, Victorian mansions, and so on.

The neighborhood is quite secure, 130 violent crimes were reported in the area; while 887 property crimes were also reported.

9. Lincoln Place

Population: 3,534

Violent Crimes Per 100k: 288

Property Crime Per 100k: 369

Lincoln Place is a neighborhood in the southeast corner of Pittsburgh. Some of the surrounding neighborhoods include Hays, New Homestead, Munhall, and West Mifflin. Every year a treasure hunt is held to find some lost treasure; although it may just be a fiction to keep the community spirit.

Lincoln Place is quite a secure neighborhood; it recorded 288 violent crimes, and 369 property crimes per 100k residents.

10. Point Breeze

Population: 5,555

Violent Crimes Per 100k: 75

Property Crime Per 100k: 994

Point Breeze or South Point Breeze is a neighborhood in the east of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. This neighborhood is largely residential community- it has been described as a Jewish enclave. Surrounding areas include Squirrel Hill, North Point Breeze, Regent Square, Squirrel Hill North, and Wilkinsburg.

One of the most secure neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, there were only 75 violent crimes in the neighborhood recently, and 994 property crimes were also reported.

Closing

The correlation between the safest neighborhoods in Pittsburgh and the most expensive neighborhoods in the city needs to be mentioned. This security is largely the effect of exclusivity which is caused by the neighborhoods being out of the reach of the poor. In any case, these are some places with great future potential; certainly worth moving to.