Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 12 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
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.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $32k less ($139,600 vs $171,800)
Rent averages $103/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,153)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Pittsburgh
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pittsburgh by $12,097/yr
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.7%)
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
83% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Households earn $12,097 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)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Memphis
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$32k less
$139,600 vs $171,800
Memphis
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$12,097
$60,187 vs $48,090/yr
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
83% lower
427.2 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 94.4 |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $171,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,153 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $60,187 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ 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 | — | 11.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 303,843 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 47.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 12 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 10 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 Memphis to Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $171,800 median home), income ($48,090 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Pittsburgh, PA are about 658 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.