Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 15 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $35,544 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.2%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $192k less ($171,800 vs $363,800)
58% less violent crime than Anchorage
Rent averages $252/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,405)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 21°F
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $35,544/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$35,544
$95,731 vs $60,187/yr
Anchorage
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
58% lower
427.2 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$192k less
$171,800 vs $363,800
Pittsburgh
Summer Heat
15.6°F warmer
July avg high 83.0°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 36.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 44.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 15 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 8 and Pittsburgh wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anchorage to Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $171,800 median home), income ($95,731 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Pittsburgh, PA are about 3,160 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.