Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 14 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
14
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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 37°F
Households earn $2,814 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($171,800 vs $321,800)
42% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 98°F
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Median income trails Fresno by $2,814/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Income
$2,814
$63,001 vs $60,187/yr
Fresno
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
42% lower
427.2 vs 735.5 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$150k less
$171,800 vs $321,800
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.7% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ 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 | 19.3:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 303,843 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 14 of 23 categories. Fresno 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 Fresno to Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $171,800 median home), income ($63,001 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Pittsburgh, PA are about 2,146 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.