Rankin is a former steel town in the Monongahela Valley
Between its sloping blocks of century-old homes and the shuttered Carrie Blast Furnaces that loom nearby on the Monongahela River, Rankin looks the part of a post-industrial suburb of Pittsburgh. “All of these Mon Valley areas – Rankin, Homestead, Munhall – had steel mills. They’re not as thriving as they once were after the mills closed. But that also means the houses don’t cost as much as they once would have,” says Lori Bost, leader of the husband-wife Bost Team at Howard Hanna, who’s specialized in the South Hills of Pittsburgh for 23 years. Generations of immigrant workers forged community and multicultural traditions along with the steel in Rankin. Today's residents have continued some of those institutions while reimagining many other community spaces. That’s something that Jim Bost, the husband half of the Bost Team, sees as a core part of the Steel City’s revitalization. “People don’t realize that Pittsburgh has a lot going for it; once the mills closed, the steel dust covered the city. That dust remains, but people are working to clean it all off. Almost like archaeologists.”
Rankin is a suburb in Pittsburgh with history in the Steel Mills.
Rankin local artists are adding a pop of color to their streets.
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Walkable blocks of prewar single-family homes
Sidewalks line Rankin’s gently rolling residential blocks, lined by rows of street-parked cars and a blend of historic single-family homes. While some properties are decorated with distinctive dormer windows or porch trim, most homes are much simpler National and Foursquare styles that were popular in the prewar era. Row homes and townhouses were also built in the borough in the early and late 20th century. Some properties on the market are abandoned or in serious disrepair, while others have been recently gutted and renovated. Prices can range from around $20,000 to $190,000, depending on the home’s condition. Larger apartment complexes are also scattered around the borough. Rankin’s low housing costs make it attractive to investors looking for rental properties.
A row house in Rankin is perfect for a first time home owner.
Some houses in Rankin sit up on a hill.
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Taking the Parkway West and PRT around Pittsburgh
Commuters take Interstate 376 through the Squirrel Hill Tunnels on the roughly 8-mile drive to downtown Pittsburgh. Major hospitals in the city’s east end, like UPMC Shadyside and UPMC Presbyterian, are around 6 miles away. A handful of Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus lines make stops around the borough, and the nearby Swissvale Station offers access to express service on the M.L.K. Jr. East Busway. Pittsburgh International Airport is about 25 miles from home.
Attending Woodland Hills School District
The Woodland Hills School District’s elementary schools run on a school choice system. Edgewood Elementary STEAM Academy is the closest to Rankin and earns a C from Niche. Dickson Preparatory STEAM Academy also earns a C, and Woodland Hills High School earns a B-minus. The NFL player Ron Gronkowski briefly attended Woodland Hills High and helped outfit the school with a state-of-the-art fitness center and weight room in 2025.
Edgewood STEAM Academy is a unique learning environment for students to learn and grow.
Reflect on meaningful moments until we meet again at Dickson Preparatory STEAM Academy.
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Shopping and dining in Rankin, Swissvale and Homestead
While many old, red-brick commercial buildings in Rankin are vacant, some still house beloved local businesses. Emil’s Lounge is a casual spot that’s served massive sandwiches and Eastern European-inspired sides since the 1960s. Some historic ethnic clubs, like the Rankin Croatian Home, serve drinks and homecooked dinners to modern members just like they did decades ago. Another Croatian community center, a Catholic church on Third Avenue, has been turned into Mary’s Vine. While it still looks like a historic church on the outside, diners head inside to browse fine dining menus, sip some wine and smoke cigars. Smaller houses of worship, like Tried Stone Baptist Church, still hold religious services throughout the borough. There’s a Family Dollar just up Braddock Avenue in Swissvale, but residents head about a mile away to Giant Eagle for most groceries. Many other grocery stores, big box stores like Target and dozens of different retailers and restaurants are a few miles away at The Waterfront shopping center in Homestead.
Residents of Rankin enjoy shopping for everyday items at Target.
Head to Emil's Lounge for their warm hospitality and massive sandwiches.
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Rankin’s community centers and the Great Allegheny Passage
Woodland Hills Impact Center used to be Rankin’s elementary school. Today, it’s a hub for after-school care, holiday celebrations, movie nights and the occasional roller-skating night in the gymnasium. The neighboring Rankin Christian Center also offers childcare, plus a food pantry and frequent craft and fitness classes for seniors. The Great Allegheny Passage, also called the GAP, runs along the Monongahela River across Rankin Bridge. “The GAP goes quite a distance. People walk it, but you can also bike ride all the way to the city or to Washington D.C. It’s very extensive,” Lori Bost says. Crossing the Rankin Bridge also reveals the looping tracks of Kennywood Park, peeking above the tree line on the other side of the Mon Valley. Pittsburgh’s favorite amusement park is less than 3 miles from Rankin. Frick Park, a destination park packed with forested hiking trails and dozens of playgrounds and athletic facilities, is within 4 miles of home between Regent Square and Squirrel Hill.
Rankin residents head over to the Great Allegheny Passage Trail for their daily exercise.
Kennywood Park has been offering Rankin residents modern thrills since 1898.
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Events at the Carrie Blast Furnaces
The inactive Carrie Blast Furnaces are technically in neighboring Swissvale, but the access road hugs the Monongahela River on Rankin’s southern border. Though residents aren’t heading to the mills to engage in the grueling steelmaking process these days, they may go there to get creative. Guided tours of the grounds reveal wiry sculptures and murals hidden throughout the rust-covered industrial facilities. Visitors can sign up for metal arts workshops through the Rivers of Steel organization. The annual Festival of Combustion is the ultimate showcase of the site’s new identity, combining fiery metal working displays with food trucks, vendors and do-it-yourself crafting for a day of Steel City-flavored fun each October.
Check out industry from the past at Festival of Combustion.
The Historical Carrie Blast Furnaces is where the annual Pittsburgh Irish Festival is held.
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Flood risk on the Mon
While most of the borough is unaffected, some low-lying, largely industrial areas near the Monongahela River are at higher risk of flash flooding. Buyers can consult maps to understand their potential need for insurance.
Photography Contributed By
Anna Dukovich
Video By
Ruo Zheng
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