Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Denton
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
11
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.
Denton, TX
Pros
52% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $11,734 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 37°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $124k less ($171,800 vs $296,100)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Denton
Rent averages $111/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,264)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Median income trails Denton by $11,734/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.8%)
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Median Income
$11,734
$71,921 vs $60,187/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
52% lower
204.2 vs 427.2 per 100k
Denton
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°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
$124k less
$171,800 vs $296,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton'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 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Denton wins 11 and Pittsburgh wins 11. 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 Denton to Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $171,800 median home), income ($71,921 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Pittsburgh, PA are about 1,070 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.