Aging in Place and Downsizing in Pittsburgh: Why One-Floor Homes Are Hard to Find

Short answer: Allegheny County is older than the U.S. as a whole. But very few homes are set up for aging in place. Ranch and one-floor homes are in short supply, so people who want to stay put or downsize in Pittsburgh need to plan early.

Pittsburgh is getting older

The numbers are clear. Allegheny County has more older adults than the country does.

• 21.9% of people in Allegheny County are 65 or older
• 18.9% of people in the U.S. are 65 or older
• Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Vintage 2025 estimates

That gap matters. More older owners means more people asking the same question: can I stay in this house, or is it time to move?

Most homes were not built for aging in place

Aging in place means staying in your own home as you get older. For that to work, a home needs a few basics. Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies calls out three:

• One-floor living (a bedroom and full bath on the main floor)
• A no-step entry
• Wide halls and doors

Very few homes have all three.

• Fewer than 4% of U.S. homes had all three features
• This is national data from 2011, the last year full data was available
• Source: Harvard JCHS, Housing America's Older Adults 2023

Even with a looser bar, it is not great.

• 47% of people ages 65 to 79 lived in homes with one-floor living and a no-step entry (as of 2019)
• 54% of people 80 and older did
• Source: Harvard JCHS, Housing America's Older Adults 2023

So about half of people in their late 60s and 70s are making do with stairs and steps.

Why this hits Pittsburgh homes hard

Think about a typical Pittsburgh street. A lot of what we have is older housing stock:

• Two-story and three-story homes with the bedrooms upstairs
• Steps from the sidewalk up to the front door
• Hilly lots with steep driveways
• Narrow halls and doors in older homes
• Laundry in the basement

These homes have charm. But they are hard to live in if stairs get tough. That is true in the city and in older suburbs like Mt. Lebanon, Dormont, Brookline, Bellevue and Wilkinsburg.

Ranch homes and one-floor homes in Allegheny County

Ranch homes are the easiest fit for aging in place. They show up more in the suburbs built after World War II. Places to look include:

• South Hills: Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair, Baldwin, Whitehall
• North Hills: Ross, McCandless, Hampton, Shaler
• East: Monroeville, Penn Hills, Plum
• West: Moon Township, Robinson

Outside Allegheny County, people also look in:

• Washington County: Peters Township, Canonsburg, South Strabane
• Butler County: Cranberry Township, Adams Township
• Beaver County: Center Township, Hopewell
• Westmoreland County: North Huntingdon, Murrysville, Hempfield

A ranch is not always perfect. Many have steps at the front door or a basement laundry. Look closely at what you are getting.

Option 1: Stay and make changes

Aging in place can work if the house can be changed. Common updates:

• A first-floor bedroom or bath
• A ramp or regraded walkway for a no-step entry
• Grab bars and a walk-in shower
• Moving laundry up from the basement
• Wider doors where walls allow

Some homes can take these changes. Some cannot, because of the lot, the layout or the cost. Get a contractor to look before you decide.

Option 2: Downsize in Pittsburgh

Downsizing means selling and moving to a smaller or easier home. It can mean:

• A ranch in the same school district
• A condo or patio home with an elevator or one-floor plan
• A newer townhome with a first-floor owner's suite
• A move closer to family

Since one-floor homes are in short supply, the good ones can go fast. Know what you want before you start looking.

If you are selling the family home

Many people who downsize are selling a home they have owned a long time. A few things to keep in mind:

• Price it right from day one. Our market is flattening, and overpricing costs time. See 4 Pricing Mistakes in a Flattening Pittsburgh Market.
• Your buyer pays today's mortgage rate. Price for the payment they can afford. See Are 7.5% Mortgage Rates the New Normal?
• Think about timing. Some people buy first, some sell first. Each has trade-offs.

If you are buying your next home

• Rates matter even if you are downsizing, unless you pay cash
• Make a list of must-haves: main-floor bedroom, full bath, no-step entry
• Check the driveway and walkway, not just the inside
• Ask where the laundry is

Common questions

What does aging in place mean?
It means staying in your own home as you get older. To do that safely, a home usually needs one-floor living, a no-step entry and wide halls and doors.

Is Pittsburgh older than the rest of the country?
Yes. 21.9% of Allegheny County is 65 or older, compared to 18.9% of the U.S. (Census QuickFacts, Vintage 2025).

How many homes are ready for aging in place?
Very few. Fewer than 4% of U.S. homes had one-floor living, a no-step entry and wide halls in 2011, per Harvard JCHS. That is national data, not Pittsburgh only.

Where can I find ranch homes near Pittsburgh?
Look in post-war suburbs like Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair, Ross, McCandless, Monroeville and Moon Township. Peters Township, Cranberry Township and Murrysville are options outside Allegheny County.

Should I renovate or downsize?
It depends on your house. If you can add a first-floor bedroom, bath and no-step entry at a fair cost, staying may work. If the lot or layout makes that hard, downsizing may make more sense.

Is it a good time to sell a big home in Pittsburgh?
The market is flattening, so pricing matters more than it did a few years ago. A well-priced home still sells.

Matt Durbin | eXp Realty
(412) 998-8896 | Broker: (888) 397-7352
MAD.Homes

Sources:

• U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Allegheny County and U.S., Vintage 2025: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/alleghenycountypennsylvania,US/AGE775224
• Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Housing America's Older Adults 2023: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/reports/files/Harvard_JCHS_Housing_Americas_Older_Adults_2023_Revised_040424.pdf