Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 12 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
12
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.
Glendale, CA
Pros
33% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Households earn $21,032 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/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 $820k less ($171,800 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $849/mo less ($1,153 vs $2,002)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $21,032/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$21,032
$81,219 vs $60,187/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
33% lower
287.2 vs 427.2 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$820k less
$171,800 vs $992,000
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 47.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale'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 12 of 23 categories. Glendale 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 Glendale to Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $171,800 median home), income ($81,219 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Pittsburgh, PA are about 2,130 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.