Moving to Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh: a practical guide
Housing and what it costs
Squirrel Hill mixes older single-family homes, duplexes and apartments, and close to half of households in its ZIP code rent, per the Census. It is Pittsburgh’s most sought-after Jewish neighborhood but costs less than most of the large Northeast communities. Figures change fast — use the apartment search above for live listings.
Picking a street
The shuls are within a short walk of each other around Murray Avenue, Forbes Avenue and Beacon Street, so most of central Squirrel Hill keeps several in reach. Streets near Beacon and Wightman put you close to both school campuses too. The neighborhood is hilly — walk the route before you commit.
Kosher and daily life
Murray and Forbes Avenues are the neighborhood’s main streets, with kosher food alongside everyday shops, and the city’s universities and hospitals are close by. Many families walk and use buses for daily life. The community mikvah is on Denniston Street.
Schools
Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh on Beacon Street runs from pre-K through twelfth grade, and the Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh have a boys’ campus on Wightman Street and a girls’ campus on Forbes Avenue. Confirm current admissions and tuition directly with each school.
Who it fits
Families and young couples — many working at the universities and hospitals — who want to live in a real city neighborhood with several shuls and two school systems within walking distance, at a lower cost than the Northeast.