Upper Lawrenceville, as its name suggests, is the northern section of Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh's largest and oldest neighborhood. On the map, Lawrenceville is divided into multiple sections, including Central and Lower Lawrenceville, but those distinctions don't matter to locals. They see it as one large community, one that has changed a lot over the years. In the 1990s, it was unsafe and littered with trash and abandoned cars. In 2009, the construction of UPMC's Children's Hospital sparked investor interest in the area, and since then has become one of Steel City’s trendiest communities. It's even seen a rise in Airbnb activity—it's not uncommon to see a bachelorette party file into their rental house near Butler Street, where most of the neighborhood’s retailers are located, for a long weekend. However, Lawrenceville’s soul has not changed. In March 2024, a neighborhood group pushed back on a bid from Starbucks to add a location in Central Lawrenceville because they worried the corporate chain would take business from locally owned coffee shops. Wagner Shoes off Butler Street has been serving the community for nearly a century and still offers the same personalized service to a legion of faithful customers. “Lawrenceville reminds a lot of people of Brooklyn. It has a really nice neighborhood feel. It’s really walkable, and you can ride your bike everywhere," says Liz Fecko, a real estate agent with Compass Real Estate and a native of the Pittsburgh area for over 40 years.
Three story townhouses are common living spaces in Upper Lawrenceville.
Have a lunch date at Mediterra Cafe Lawrenceville.
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Shopping and dining along Butler Street
Dining options are plentiful, with many locally owned restaurants along bustling Butler Street. Among them is Lawrence Hall, a much-anticipated food hall that opened in April 2024. The massive hall offers many options, including burgers, authentic Mexican street food, soul food and Italian. Pusadee’s Garden is a neighborhood staple and a huge draw for its authentic Thai cuisine. “It takes a long time to get a reservation there. Everyone wants to go there,” Fecko says. At Pizza Lupo, the most popular dish among locals is the Grandma Pie, a square pan pizza. For dessert, the go-to is Butterwood Bake Consortium for its frosted brownies and vegan tea cakes. The neighborhood is slated to get a new grocery store soon, with Aldi approved to move into the old Shop n’ Save location off 56th Street. Until then, residents pick up groceries at Whole Foods and home essentials at Target in nearby East Liberty.
Butler Street is lined with shops and restaurants for residents in Upper Lawrenceville.
Pizza Lupa is known for there top tier pies serving the residents of Upper Lawrenceville.
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New and vintage townhouses along walkable streets
Townhouses are most common in Upper Lawrenceville. They stand together along the narrow urban streets among the shops and restaurants. Some were built in the 2020s, boxy and modern, while others are original builds from the turn of the 20th century. Finding detached townhouses and single-family homes is possible, though they are rare. The lucky few who do will discover bungalows with Craftsman influences and tall Stick-style houses with dormer windows poking out of roofs. Most homes are two or three bedrooms and range in price from $190,000 to $550,000, with higher-priced homes featuring more extensive renovations. Fixer-uppers range from $90,000 to $160,000.
Regarding crime, Upper Lawrenceville scores a five out of 10 on the CAP Index. While this is just one point higher than the national average, burglary rates score a six out of 10. The city launched the “High-Visibility Patrol Initiative” in July 2024, which adds additional officers to each department and additional shifts so police can have a greater presence in the community.
Different size and color townhouses are commonly found within Upper Lawrenceville.
Upper Lawrenceville has a vast number of options for homebuyers.
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Locals get active at the 57th Street Playground
Residents can choose from several nearby green spaces for fresh air and exercise. The 57th Street Playground offers a colorful playset and a baseball diamond where kids can burn off energy after school. For outdoor walks, many head to an unlikely spot: Allegheny Cemetery. This rustic, historic cemetery is one of the largest and oldest in the city, sits just south of the neighborhood and is full of paved walking trails.
Basketball Court at Fifty-Seventh Street Park is a place where residents usually play pick up.
Baseball Field at Fifty-Seventh Street Park is a wonderful place to catch a little league game.
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The Pittsburgh Public School District serves Upper Lawrenceville's kids
Area children often start school at Pittsburgh Sunnyside K-8, a public school within the Pittsburgh Public School District that serves pre-kindergarten through eighth grade and has a C-plus on Niche. From there, they move to University Prep at Margaret Milliones, a public high school in the same district. Milliones has a D-plus on Niche and serves about 329 students, with a student-teacher ratio of 9-to-1. It offers multiple classroom computer labs, four music labs, two gyms and a pool.
Pittsburgh Sunnyside PreK-8 is a public, neighborhood school.
The Neighborhood Academy teaches students in both middle and high school.
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Route 8 and Route 28 lead to downtown Pittsburgh
Route 8 is accessible from the neighborhood's northeast corner and connects to Route 28. From there, residents commute to downtown Pittsburgh, about six miles away. To go farther, Pittsburgh International Airport is about 30 miles away and offers flights throughout North America and Europe.
Welcome to the neighborhood of Upper Lawrenceville.
The Upper Lawrenceville neighborhood runs parallel with the Allegheny River.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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Upper Lawrenceville Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Upper Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh sell after 41 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Upper Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh over the last 12 months is $367,000, up 208% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Bring your finishing touches to this home! Located one block off of Butler Street in trendy Lawrenceville! This house sits on a double lot - situated on a HUGE 105x20 foot lot spanning from Carnegie street to Natrona Way allowing for parking to be added. A rare house in Lawrenceville that sits 20 feet wide. Inside the home the first floor walks into a small foyer, has tall ceilings, an open
Check out this beautiful and completely remodeled home in Lawrenceville! The owners of this property are experienced home renovation experts and have been filmed for the TV show House Hunters for their previous work. This house features all new flooring, appliances, heating/cooling, custom tile, kitchen cabinets, bathrooms, and everything else you could want for a completely move-in ready home!
Tucked away on a quiet street in the heart of Lawrenceville, this modern and thoughtfully designed home offers the perfect balance of privacy and proximity. Just a short walk away from everything Butler Street has to offer—award-winning restaurants, breweries, boutiques, and galleries—you’ll enjoy all the perks of one of Pittsburgh’s fastest-growing and most vibrant neighborhoods. Step inside to
Cass ZielinskiPIATT SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY
Property Id: 2046524Welcome to your colorful, family-friendly retreat! This bold 3BR, 2BA home in Upper Lawrenceville offers a perfect blend of comfort, style, and serenity. Enjoy a foosball loft, a fully stocked kitchen, fast Wi-Fi, cozy bedrooms, and a dedicated work desk—ideal for families, friends, or remote professionals. Walkable, welcoming, and Wi-Fi ready! Location
Check out this beautiful and completely remodeled home in Lawrenceville! This house features all new flooring, appliances, heating/cooling, custom tile, kitchen cabinets, bathrooms, and everything else you could want for a completely move-in ready home! Located close to downtown Pittsburgh and all major highways!
Property Id: 168632-story 1 bed/1 bath spacious duplex apartment. Large bedroom & fully renovated bath on 2nd floor, spacious living room & fully renovated kitchen on first floor. Renovation done in 2021. Full size, stack washer/dryer in kitchen. Includes stove/refrigerator/microwave. Pine wood panel walls in kitchen, basement storage area. Front/back entrances. Quiet neighborhood. 1
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Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
2,441
Median Age
37
Population Density
10 ppl/acre
Population under 18
15.4%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
12.2%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$68,702
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$86,979
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
94.5%
College Graduates
53.4%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
19.1%
% Population in Labor Force
77%
Above the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
41''
Average Winter Low Temperature
23°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
40''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
38/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
62/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
41/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
