Just outside Pittsburgh, Wilkinsburg began as a burgeoning rail town built around the Pennsylvania Railroad. At one point, it was the most densely populated borough in the country, but like many Rust Belt communities, its population declined sharply after the steel industry's collapse in the 1970s and ‘80s. Today, the resilient community is home to fewer than 14,000 people and is working to rebuild itself with the help of local community groups. “As you drive into downtown Wilkinsburg, there’s a banner that hangs over the street that says, ‘Wilkinsburg has a future.’ I think that’s very telling to the community and what people are trying to do here,” says Suzanna Hare, a Realtor with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services with more than three years of experience in the industry. “The people that live here have that belief, and Wilkinsburg really does have a lot of things going for it.”
The Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation is leading the charge to reinvent the borough, having invested over $17 million into the community since 2010. While revitalization is ongoing, the process involves restoring Wilkinsburg’s 20th-century homes and its business district, all centrally located just outside of Pittsburgh’s East End. “The location is wonderful. You’re so close to Regent Square and Squirrel Hill, but you might be able to get a lot more for your money in Wilkinsburg and still have access to all those city amenities,” Hare says.
Martin Luther King Jr. is featured in a couple murals throughout the neighborhood Wilkinsburg.
Unique Murals and artwork are plentiful throughout Wilkinsburg.
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Wilkinsburg has renovated homes and programs to combat high vacancy rates
Wilkinsburg features a variety of architectural styles. Traditional Foursquares, Colonial Revivals and Victorian-style homes are the norm, and most properties sit side-by-side on narrow lots set above street level. Wilkinsburg has historically struggled with high vacancy rates, which the 2020 U.S. Census reports at around 15%. The borough has received several state grants to help combat the issue, and the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation has cleared more than 50 blighted properties since 2010. Programs like the Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program and Housing Acquisition, Repair & Preservation Program are also in place to help people acquire vacant homes and develop a plan to reuse them. “I see people buying up derelict properties with really big ideas of turning them around. I’m excited to see all those projects be completed,” Hare says.
The median price of single-family homes is $135,000, significantly less than the national median. “Investors might look at it and really see the potential there, and I’ve sold a few renovated homes myself,” Hare says. Renovated single-family homes tend to be more expensive, and updated properties closer to Regent Square can sell for upwards of $350,000. The borough is also working to replace more than 1,000 of its water service lines after the Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority received nearly $10 million in 2024 to swap out its lead water lines with copper.
Historical brick homes are well known on the back streets in Wilkinsburg.
Housing in Wilkinson offers both a suburban feel with the single-family style homes.
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The WCDC leads revitalization in downtown Wilkinsburg
Once filled with vacant storefronts, downtown Wilkinsburg is undergoing a dramatic transformation thanks to groups like the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation. In 2019, the WCDC received $3 million to help fund the revitalization of the borough’s business district. Since then, the historic Lohr Building and Wilkinsburg Train Station have been transformed into innovative mixed-use developments. The Lohr Building is also an important part of the borough’s growing arts scene. The Lohr Gallery highlights the work of local artists, while the Arts All Over program features a rotating cast of exhibits where residents can buy unique pieces.
Downtown hosts a mix of local shops, grocery stores and restaurants. More than 70 new businesses have opened since the WCDC was founded in 2010, including BB&Bur Pastry Kitchen and Bakery. “They have a giant case of all different kinds of brownies. When I close on a house, I give my clients brownies from there,” says Daniel Harris, an associate broker with Re/Max Realty Brokers. Wilkinsburg is also less than 5 miles from trendy East End neighborhoods like Regent Square and Squirrel Hill, both known for their vibrant commercial corridors.
The Pittsburgh Asian Market sits right on Penn Ave in the heart of Wilkinsburg.
Residents of Wilkinsburg head to Salvatore's Pizza House for a slice.
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Wilkinsburg School District receives Renew America’s Schools Prize grant
The Wilkinsburg School District earns an overall grade of C-plus from Niche and has an average student-teacher ratio of 10-to-1. The district includes a primary and intermediate school covering prekindergarten through sixth grade, and a partnership with Pittsburgh Public Schools allows students in seventh through 12th grade to attend Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy. In 2024, the two districts received a $15.3 million Renew America’s Schools Prize grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to help fund renovations at 20 schools, including Kelly Primary, Turner Intermediate and Westinghouse Academy. Renovations are ongoing and aim to increase energy efficiency across both school districts. Private school options in the borough include Pittsburgh Urban Christian School, which receives an A from Niche and serves prekindergarten through eighth grade.
Everyone is together at Westinghouse High School in Wilkinsburg.
Large historical single family houses are scattered throughout Wilkinsburg.
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Renovations at Hunter Park, community centers and Frick Park
Hunter Park is Wilkinsburg’s largest green space and features various athletic facilities, picnic pavilions and a playground. The borough plans to upgrade the park's amenities after receiving $150,000 in Local Share Account funding in 2024, although the project does not yet have a projected completion date. Wilkinsburg also received more than $120,000 in 2024 from the Commonwealth Financing Authority to help support the Rosa Parks Park Improvements Project, which aims to restore the park as a community gathering place after it was decommissioned years ago. Groups like Hosanna House and Community Forge support residents with educational and recreational programs, including summer camps for kids and technology classes for adults. There’s also a range of all-ages programming at the Wilkinsburg Public Library.
Wilkinsburg is less than 3 miles from the 644-acre Frick Park. As the largest park in the city of Pittsburgh, it’s home to unique amenities like the Frick Environmental Center, Lawn Bowling Greens and the beloved Blue Slide Playground. An expansive trail network winds through the park, leading walkers, hikers and cyclists through dense woodlands. “It’s a wonderful place. I’m a dog owner, and I love taking my dog there,” Hare says.
Residents should expect to see all four seasons, with humid summers and snowy winters that are typical across the Pittsburgh Metro Area.
Friends meet to shoot some hoops on the courts at Hunter Park.
Practice Roda Polo at Koenig Field and amaze your friends!
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Summer concert series and farmers market in Harold Young Sr. Parklet
Annual events highlight the borough’s strong sense of community. Popular festivities include Wilkinsburg Community Day, which features live music, bounce houses and local vendors in Hunter Park. In Harold Young Sr. Parklet, locals gather for the Wilkinsburg Thursday Market and summer concert series. Residents can get free health screenings at the Wilkinsburg Health & Wellness Fair, which brings doctors, nurses and other professionals to the borough each fall.
The murals in Wilkinsburg have been proudly showcased for decades.
All are welcome to enjoy Wilkinsburg Pennsylvania.
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Interstate 376 connects residents to downtown Pittsburgh
Wilkinsburg is developing an Active Transportation Plan to improve pedestrian infrastructure throughout the borough. The plan hopes to expand on its WalkWorks walking route, which opened in 2022 and identifies a safe route for residents to follow around downtown. Wilkinsburg also received $30,000 from the WalkWorks program in 2024 to improve its sidewalks and bike paths.
The Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway is a bus-only highway that passes through Wilkinsburg. Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus stops line the East Busway, and commuters can leave their cars in the Wilkinsburg Park and Ride before getting on the bus and heading into the city. PRT also offers bus service throughout the rest of the borough. For those who prefer to drive, Pennsylvania Route 8 and Interstate 376 converge in the southwestern corner of Wilkinsburg. Downtown Pittsburgh is less than a 10-mile drive away via I-376, and Pittsburgh International Airport is about 26 miles from the borough.
The PRT bus way and park and ride can be found towards the end of Penn Ave in Wilkinsburg.
The PRT passes through Wilkinsburg on various streets in the neighborhood.
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PA UCR Program shows a decrease in crime
Data from the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting Program shows an 8% decrease in the number of offenses reported to the Wilkinsburg Police Department between 2023 and 2024. The most common offense reported in 2024 was theft, representing nearly half the total number of reported offenses. There are several block clubs in the borough, and volunteers from the community work to address concerns and promote safety throughout Wilkinsburg.
Scott Ludwick compares real estate with fine art. "When I get together with a client who is buying or selling property, we start out with a blank canvas. As they tell me their wants and needs, a picture begins to develop... first the rough outline, and then we work together to bring that picture to life." Scott is an expert in developing that picture, and all of his clients benefit from his artistic skill in guiding them through a smooth transaction. If Scott's not selling a home, it's not uncommon for him to be traveling throughout the world. He has a great appreciation for all types of people and situations, so it's no wonder that he is one of Central Westmoreland County's leading real estate professionals. To Scott, every day in his market is different and he wouldn't trade the chance to meet and work with so many people for the world. He understands that each of his clients has their own unique needs and goals. An attentive and caring listener, Scott uses his careful eye and extensive study of people, places and emotions to best help his clients. People find his low-key, yet direct way of doing business refreshing in today's complex marketplace. With over 3,000 career transactions under his belt since 1982, Scott has the knowledge and experience that accounts for his success and repeat business. And, he is backed by an experienced team of Realtors, who work diligently to better serve the needs of Scott's many diverse clients. As in the creation of any fine art, Scott understands that the primary foundation is critical to the end result. With an extensive real estate education and GRI, CRS, ABR and CRB designations, he knows how to get the job done right. An associate broker, Scott also teaches the Buyer and Seller seminars at Westmoreland County Community College. Scott takes pride in keeping up with trends in the local market, financing and the latest in technology. He was the first real estate agent in the Pittsburgh area to have his own WWW Site and it has been high on the hit list since its inception. When you work with Scott Ludwick and his team, be assured of the highest possible service -- his goal is to Make Your Real Estate Transaction a Masterpiece!
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