Home to the first Ferris wheel and Heinz Ketchup, Pittsburgh is also known for its excellent health and education programs.
City: Pittsburgh
State: Pennsylvania
Best Cities Overall Rank: 49
About Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh is home to the first Ferris wheel and Heinz Ketchup!
The Klondike Bar originally cost a nickel when Sam Islay started selling them at his chain of dairy stores in 1929.
Pittsburgh averages an 11.9 to one pupil/teacher ratio, along with five Blue Ribbon Schools and 50 NAEYC accredited preschools.
Pittsburgh also has 2 quality Children’s Hospitals and 10 quality pediatricians.
County: Allegheny
Population: 310,037
Official website for city visitors’ bureau/city: Visitor’s bureau website
Newspaper with the largest circulation: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh blogs:
Pittsburgh‘s Facebook page: Follow Pittsburgh on Facebook
Pittsburgh‘s Twitter page: Follow Pittsburgh on Twitter
Education rank: 9
High School graduation rate 2008: 64%
Blue Ribbon Schools, 2003-2009: 5
Blue Ribbon Schools per 100,000 people: 1.61
NEAYC-accredited preschools: 50
NAEYC schools per 100,000 people: 16.13
NAEP State proficiency reading, grade 8: 271
Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 11.9
Total Expenditures Per Student: $17,042
Health rank: 37
Quality children’s hospitals: 2
Hospitals per 100,000 people: 0.65
Quality Pediatricians: 10
Quality Pediatricians per 100,000: 3.23
Average number of Unhealthy Air Quality days between 2006-2008, by county: 4.67
Safety rank: 74
Violent Crimes, 2008: 3358
Violent Crime Rate per 100,000: 1083.09
Sex Offenders: 616
Sex Offenders per 100,000: 198.66
Economy rank: 49
Travel time to work, 2006-2008, in minutes: 23.1
Percent of labor force unemployed, January 2010: 8.9
Best Performing Cities Job Index: 1016.13
Median Home Sale Price: $81,200
5-Year Home Value Index: 3.17%
Percent of homes sold for a loss: 10.73%
Recreation Rank: 58
Parkland acreage, 2008 (includes pools and playgrounds): 3084
Parkland per 100,000: 994.72
