Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Detroit, MI
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 14 of 23 categories
Detroit
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$37,761
Violent Crime Index
469⚠ High
Population
636,787 ✓ Larger
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187 ✓ Higher
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.
Detroit, MI
Pros
Homes cost $105k less ($66,700 vs $171,800)
Rent averages $164/mo less ($989 vs $1,153)
Cons
Median income trails Pittsburgh by $22,426/yr
Violent crime (1781.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4305.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (14.7% vs 5.7%)
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 9.0 pts lower (5.7%)
76% less violent crime than Detroit
Households earn $22,426 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Detroit
Median Home Value
$105k less
$66,700 vs $171,800
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$22,426
$60,187 vs $37,761/yr
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
76% lower
427.2 vs 1781.3 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
9.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 14.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Detroit, MI | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $66,700 ✓ Lower | $171,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $989 ✓ Lower | $1,153 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,761 | $60,187 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 14.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 469⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 205⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.9% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Detroit Public Schools Community District | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.0°F | 36.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.9" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 636,787 ✓ Larger | 303,843 |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Detroit's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 14 of 23 categories. Detroit 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 Detroit to Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($66,700 vs $171,800 median home), income ($37,761 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Detroit, MI and Pittsburgh, PA are about 210 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.