Rankings and Lists

Pittsburgh’s environmental transformation is key to its rankings as one of the top places to live, work, and visit in the United States. Below are just a few of the accolades and rankings the city has earned.

In the News 2022:
  • Midwest+Startups: Pittsburgh named on of the Top 5 Cities in the Midwest for Startups
  • US News & World Report: Pittsburgh ranked #26 in the 150 Best Places to Live in the US 2022-2023
  • Livability: Pittsburgh ranked #9 in Best Places to Live in the US in 2022
In the News 2021:
  • USAToday: The Great Allegheny Passage named ninth best recreational trail in the US
  • WalletHub: Pittsburgh ranked 13th best city for public transportation (October 6, 2021)
  • Rent.com: Pittsburgh considered 3rd best city in America for artists to live and practice their craft (May 7, 2021)
  • Fitwel: Phipps Conservatory’s Center for Sustainable Landscapes became the first and only building to reach six of the world’s highest green building certifications–Fitwel 3 Star Rating
  • Livability: Pittsburgh ranked in top 100 places to live in America
In the News 2020:
  • Livability.com: Pittsburgh ranked #51 in 2020 Top 100 Best Places to Live in America
  • Glassdoor: Pittsburgh ranked #2 best city for jobs
  • Stacker: Pittsburgh ranked 24th within the top 50 most walk-friendly cities in America (June 22, 2020)
  • People for Bikes: Pittsburgh ranked within the top 20 cities in the US for cyclists (June 9, 2020)
  • LinkedIn: Pittsburgh included in the top 15 cities to launch your career (May 21, 2020)

Older Rankings
In the News 2019:
  • WalletHub: Pittsburgh ranked #17th Best Big City to Live In out of the 62 largest cities in the US (July 16, 2019)
  • Valuer: Pittsburgh ranked #15th in the 25 Most Promising Startup Cities (March 5, 2019)
  • TravelPulse: Pittsburgh named one of America’s 20 most walkable cities (February 18, 2019)
  • Realtor.com: Pittsburgh ranked #2 in America’s Safest Places to Live … Where You Can Actually Afford to Buy a Home (January 14, 2019)
In the News 2018:
  • WalletHub: Pittsburgh ranked #4 most caring U.S. city (December 12, 2018)
  • National Geographic: Pittsburgh ranked #4 on Nat Geo’s 19 coolest places to visit in 2019 (December 4, 2018)
  • The Brookings Institution: Pittsburgh named one of eight most inclusive tech cities across the U.S. (November 9, 2018)
  • Glassdoor: Pittsburgh named #1 U.S. city for jobs in 2018 (October 17, 2018)
  • The Global Liveability Index 2018: Pittsburgh named 2nd most liveable city in the U.S. (August 20, 2018)
  • TripAdvisor: Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville named one of the 14 coolest hipster neighborhoods in the US (July 25, 2018)
  • WalletHub: Pittsburgh ranks among the top 20 of best big cities to live in (July 24, 2018)
  • CBRE: Pittsburgh’s tech sector ranks among the fastest-growing (July 23, 2018)
  • SmartAsset: Pittsburgh named the most undervalued city in America (July 11, 2018)
  • NCAR Arts Vibrancy Index: Pittsburgh ranks among the top 20 most vibrant arts communities in America (July 2, 2018).
  • ParkScore: Pittsburgh ranks among top 25 of U.S. Parks (June 5, 2018)
  • CNBC: Pittsburgh tops the top 10 cities in the US for young people (June 1, 2018)
  • ACSM American Fitness Index Ratings: Pittsburgh ranks high on the 2018 American Fitness Index (May 15, 2018)
  • SmartAsset: Best Cities for First-Time Homebuyers in 2018 (May 7, 2018)
  • Livability: 2018 Top 100 Best Places to Live (March 18, 2018)
  • CubeSmart: Best Cities for Millenials in 2018 (February 16, 2018)
  • National Geographic: Best Cities in the United States (January 15, 2018)
  • MarketWatch: 10 cities where the American dream is alive and well  (January 11, 2018)
  • SmartAsset: The Cities With the Best Work-Life Balance (January 10, 2018)
  • MagnifyMoney: Ranked: The Best Finalists for Amazon’s Newest Headquarters (January 9, 2018)
  • Redfin: Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill Neighborhood Named to Top U.S. Neighborhoods That “Have It All” (January 8, 2018)
In the News 2017:
In the News 2016:
  • Vogue: 5 Industrial Cities Making America’s Rust Belt Shine Again
  • Harper’s Bazaar: Pittsburgh is America’s Most Underrated City
  • Wired: Seven Cities Transforming Their Riverfronts from Blights to Beauties
  • Bicycling: Ranks Pittsburgh 20th in The 50 Best Bike Cities of 2016
  • Salon: Pittsburgh is America’s City of the Future
  • The Telegraph (UK): How Pittsburgh became America’s most unlikely cultural hub
  • Travel + Leisure: The Mysteries of Pittsburgh
  • WalletHub named Pittsburgh one of 2016’s Most Fun Cities
  • Travel + Leisure Best Places to Travel
  • Trip Advisor – Top Destinations on the Rise
  • Worth Magazine selected Pittsburgh as one of their 15 dynamic cities for 2016.
  • Huffington Post says Pittsburgh is among 10 cities where techies should consider moving.
  • Pittsburgh was ranked as the 5th best city for an active lifestyle by WalletHub.
  • ValuePenguin ranked Pittsburgh 23rd out for 150 best cities for young families.
  • Pittsburgh International Airport was ranked as one of the top 10 domestic airports in the U.S. by Travel + Leisure.
  • Travel + Leisure readers voted Pittsburgh one of their favorite U.S. cities.
  • Pittsburgh ranks as one of the most affordable places to live in the U.S. by US News.
  • SmartAsset.com ranks Pittsburgh as the 3rd best city for American teenagers.
  • Pittsburgh’s Great Race ranks in the top 10 of 10K races worth the travel by Daily Burn.
  • Pittsburgh is the 3rd most affordable city for music lovers by Redfin.
  • Amazon says Pittsburgh is the 8th most romantic city in the U.S.
  • Of the Friendliest Cities in America, by Travel + Leisure Pittsburgh is voted number 7.
  • Men’s Journal highlights Pittsburgh on the 2016 Best Places to Live.
  • Once again Livablity.com has placed Pittsburgh’s Downtown on the national Most Livable List as No. 5 due to “expanding housing options, rising population, affordability, diversity, and around-the-clock entertainment.”
  • Huffington Post ranked Pittsburgh among The Top 10 Cities Techies Should Consider Moving to in 2016.
  • Tender Bar + Kitchen takes a place on Open Table‘s 100 Best Restaurants in America as the only establishment in Pennsylvania.
  • BizBash lists Pittsburgh at the top of the 5 U.S. cities on the rise for meetings and events, claiming “an alternative to traditional corporate destinations with availability and bargains”.
  • Pittsburgh International Airport Ranked #10 Readers’ Choice Best Airport for Shopping from USA Today’s 10 Best.
In the News 2015:
  • Zagat named Pittsburgh as the #1 food city for 2015.
  • Pittsburgh named among Top 10 Cities in TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Destinations on the Rise for 2016 based on destinations that have seen the greatest increase in positive feedback and interest from the TripAdvisor community.
  • Pittsburgh ranked overall 6th best in WalletHub‘s 2015’s Best & Worst College Cities & Towns in America.
  • Pittsburgh is one of seven U.S. cities on Travel + Leisure’s international survey of best places to visit in 2016.
  • The Pittsburgh Taco Truck comes in as one of the spots for great Mexican food, according to the Business Insider.
  • Money Magazine says Pittsburgh, the high-tech magnet, ranks as the Northeast’s Best Place to Live in 2015.
  • Metropolis Magazine named Pittsburgh one of the World’s Most Livable Cities because of its preservation of historic buildings and landmarks.
  • Pittsburgh was ranked the 13th overall Best City to Live In by WalletHub, based on livability, education, health, and local economy and taxes.
  • Ballpark Digest readers voted PNC Park to be the Best Ballpark in America.
  • Pittsburgh is named an up-and-coming foodie city by Kayak, a travel planning site.
  • Livability.com placed Pittsburgh 3rd among the Top 10 Best Foodie Cities.
  • The Pittsburgh area joins the “Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership,” as it’s named one of the top twelve places to invest by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
  • Nerdwallet ranked Pittsburgh as the 9th best city for foodies.
  • Pittsburgh is among the most popular new destination for bed & breakfast travelers according to BedandBreakfast.com.
  • Pittsburgh is the 7th best city for staycations according to WalletHub.
  • Pittsburgh is in the top 20 of America’s most cultured cities by Travel + Leisure.
  • Church Brew Works named one of the best converted churches by Travel + Leisure.
  • The Toronto Star named Pittsburgh as one of the best travel spots for family travel.
  • Pittsburgh is #7 of the friendliest cities in America, according to Travel + Leisure.
  • Travel + Leisure ranks Pittsburgh #19 among America’s most charming cities.
  • Pittsburgh is among the top 50 places to live in the U.S. says Men’s Journal.
  • Livability.com, a leading online resources used for researching communities, ranks Pittsburgh’s downtown as the best in the United States.
  • Pittsburgh lands at no. 9 on Forbes list of the 15 most livable cities in the U.S.
  • Thanks to Randyland and Conflict Kitchen, Pittsburgh is #13 of America’s quirkiest cities according to Travel + Leisure.
  • Kiplinger says Pittsburgh is a cheap place to retire, offering retirees diverse lifestyle choices.
    Pittsburgh is hip” says Arrive magazine, Amtrak’s onboard publication.
  • Huffington Post says Pittsburgh is the coolest American city you haven’t been to.
  • Allegheny West is the most hipster neighborhood in Pittsburgh, according to the Pittsburgh Sun Times.
  • Food & Wine magazine named Chef Justin Severino of Cure the Best New Chef of the Mid-Atlantic region.
  • The Great Allegheny Passage is one of the best and longest multipurpose trails in the East, says Livability.com.
  • Gaucho Parilla Argentina restaurant, located in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, was coined as one of the top places to eat in the U.S. for 2015 by Yelp.com.
  • Men’s Health Journal named Highland Park’s E2 restaurant as one of the best brunch spots in America.
  • The Movoto Real Estate blog named Pittsburgh as one of the top 10 most creative cities