Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CT
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 12 of 23 categories
Norwalk
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
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.
Norwalk, CT
Pros
80% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Households earn $37,692 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $320k less ($171,800 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $708/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,861)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $37,692/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Median Income
$37,692
$97,879 vs $60,187/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
80% lower
85.0 vs 427.2 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$320k less
$171,800 vs $491,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CT | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $491,800⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,861⚠ High | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,879 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 42 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.6% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk School District | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,050 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.0 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 12 of 23 categories. Norwalk 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 Norwalk to Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($491,800 vs $171,800 median home), income ($97,879 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CT and Pittsburgh, PA are about 346 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.