Question: where does the this is us family live?
Answer: Pittsburgh

Most episodes feature a storyline taking place in the present ( 2016 -- 2018 , contemporaneous with airing ) and a storyline taking place at a set time in the past ; but some episodes are set in one time period or use multiple flashback time periods . Flashbacks often focus on Jack and Rebecca c. 1980 both before and after their babies ' birth , or on the family when the Big Three are children ( at least ages 8 -- 10 ) or adolescents ; these scenes usually take place in Pittsburgh , where the Big Three are born and raised . Various other time periods and locations have also served a settings . As adults , Kate lives in Los Angeles , Randall and his family are in New Jersey , and Kevin relocates from Los Angeles to New York City .