‘Affordable’ Pittsburgh doesn’t have enough affordable housing – here’s why

For a quarter of its residents, Pittsburgh isn’t an affordable place to live. A contested housing policy is at the center of efforts to change that.

By: Selena E. Ortiz, Penn State, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 24, 2026

Words: 1,016

Last Updated: 3 months ago

By Selena E. Ortiz, Penn State

Pittsburgh is widely regarded as a relatively affordable place to live. Overall, housing and living costs remain below national averages for midsize cities in the United States.

Along with low home prices, Pittsburgh offers stable employment rates and close proximity to leading universities and high-quality hospitals.

However, data from a March 2026 survey shows that a single adult needs to earn about …

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