Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Midland leads 12 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
11
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.
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $30,261 more per year on average
15% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 37°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $109k less ($171,800 vs $280,700)
Rent averages $247/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,400)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $30,261/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.2%)
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Median Income
$30,261
$90,448 vs $60,187/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
15% lower
364.9 vs 427.2 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 83.0°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 94.8 on the COL index
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$109k less
$171,800 vs $280,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 12 of 23 categories. Midland wins 12 and Pittsburgh wins 11. 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 Midland to Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $171,800 median home), income ($90,448 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Pittsburgh, PA are about 1,359 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.