Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 14 of 23 categories
Carson
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
14
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.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,858 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 37°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Pittsburgh
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $444k less ($171,800 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $662/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,815)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $42,858/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$42,858
$103,045 vs $60,187/yr
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$444k less
$171,800 vs $616,000
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Pittsburgh
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.0°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 14 of 23 categories. Carson wins 9 and Pittsburgh wins 14. 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 Carson to Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $171,800 median home), income ($103,045 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Pittsburgh, PA are about 2,139 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.