Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 12 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Households earn $18,839 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,000
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $211k less ($171,800 vs $383,000)
40% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Rent averages $311/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,464)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Colorado Springs by $18,839/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$18,839
$79,026 vs $60,187/yr
Colorado Springs
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
40% lower
427.2 vs 715.6 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$211k less
$171,800 vs $383,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 44.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 303,843 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 12 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 11 and Pittsburgh wins 12. 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 Colorado Springs to Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $171,800 median home), income ($79,026 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Pittsburgh, PA are about 1,319 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.