Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Carrollton leads 14 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
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.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
68% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Households earn $35,193 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,300
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $156k less ($171,800 vs $327,300)
Rent averages $402/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,555)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Carrollton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $35,193/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.7%)
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Median Income
$35,193
$95,380 vs $60,187/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
68% lower
137.1 vs 427.2 per 100k
Carrollton
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$156k less
$171,800 vs $327,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 17.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 14 of 23 categories. Carrollton 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 Carrollton to Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $171,800 median home), income ($95,380 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Pittsburgh, PA are about 1,067 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.