Jeannette is a former industrial hub with reasonably priced homes
Originally known as the Glass City because of its four glass manufacturing plants, Jeannette is a western Pennsylvania city located about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh. It was the first large manufacturing city in Westmoreland County. “You can get a house for a pretty reasonable price in Jeannette,” says Eric LeBlanc, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential with almost a decade's worth of experience in the market. “It is a little friendlier on the pocketbook for first-time home buyers. There are also a lot of rental opportunities, so I think buyers looking to invest look here, too.”
The housing market is hot in Jeanette
In the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania, roads are narrow and steep. Closer to the downtown area, streets are lined with sidewalks to commute into town on foot or by bike. While the downtown area is being revitalized with trendy lofts and apartments, buyers can find Pittsburgh architecture mainstays, like cottages, ranch styles and American Foursquares in the single-family home market. These homes have hilly front and back yards with outdoor space for kids or pets to let off some steam outside. It is common to find homes under the national average and even under $100,000, with renovated properties climbing to the $150,000 to $200,000 range. “The inventory in Jeannette is limited, like the rest of Pittsburgh. The market is very house and price-dependent, so it is common to see some properties receive multiple offers, but it is not as crazy as it was during the pandemic,” LeBlanc says.
Jeannette City School District operates two schools
The city has its own school district, the Jeannette City School District, which scores a C-plus on Niche and has just under 1,000 total students. Students attend its two schools, Jeannette McKee Elementary and Jeannette Junior-Senior High School. The elementary school, which scores a C-plus on Niche, serves kindergarten through sixth grade, while the junior-senior high school has grades 7-12 and scores a B-minus. Jeannette Junior-Senior High has a 1:1 Chromebook program. It offers the College in High School program, which allows students to receive college credits taught at the high school through partnerships with local colleges.
A major employer is in town, and Pittsburgh is about 30 minutes away
While the glass plants are no longer active, one major employment player is Elliott Group. The company specializes in turbomachinery and has its US headquarters and engineering and manufacturing plants in Jeanette. If you work in Pittsburgh, the about 30-mile drive can start on US-30, the third-longest US highway that cuts through the city's southern portion and runs from Atlantic City, New Jersey, to Astoria, Oregon.
Parks include the Elliott Group Amphitheater
With eight city parks and playgrounds managed by the city, plenty to keep you busy outside. Altman Park is one of the larger parks in the city and offers a community room, jungle gym, a baseball field and open green space to enjoy some time outside. The Elliott Group Amphitheater is another community space where locals spend their summer nights at the Concert and Food Truck Thursday Nights in downtown Jeannette, one of the handful of events the city puts on.
Jeannette has a few long-standing eateries
Along Route 30, residents can head to the family owned DeLallo Italian Market, which has been open since 1950. The market offers all kinds of Italian groceries and hot prepared meals. Another city staple is Persichetti’s Restaurant and Bar, which has been open since the 1980s and offers new menu items, old favorites, and rotating taps and cocktail options at the bar. A once-booming industrial city, Jeannette offers a small city feel located about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh.
![Alan Battles]()
Photography Contributed By
Alan Battles
