Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $45,827 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $381k less ($171,800 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $553/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,706)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $45,827/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.8%)
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$45,827
$106,014 vs $60,187/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
33% lower
285.6 vs 427.2 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Arvada
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$381k less
$171,800 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 17.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 46.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 44.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 14 and Pittsburgh wins 9. 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 Arvada to Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $171,800 median home), income ($106,014 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Pittsburgh, PA are about 1,326 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.