Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 13 of 23 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $30,964 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $328k less ($171,800 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $646/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,799)
24% less violent crime than Jersey City
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $30,964/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Jersey City
Median Income
$30,964
$91,151 vs $60,187/yr
Jersey City
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
24% lower
427.2 vs 561.6 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$328k less
$171,800 vs $500,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 17.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 46.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 47.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 13 of 23 categories. Jersey City wins 10 and Pittsburgh wins 13. 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 Jersey City to Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $171,800 median home), income ($91,151 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Pittsburgh, PA are about 311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.