Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oakland, CA
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 14 of 23 categories
Oakland
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
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.
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,202 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 37°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $712k less ($171,800 vs $883,800)
78% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $696/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,849)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $34,202/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Oakland
Median Income
$34,202
$94,389 vs $60,187/yr
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
78% lower
427.2 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$712k less
$171,800 vs $883,800
Pittsburgh
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 83.0°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oakland, CA | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,800⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,849⚠ High | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,389 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.5 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 17.5% |
| 🔒 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 | 507⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 344⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 46.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oakland Unified | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.5" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 437,825 ✓ Larger | 303,843 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 47.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oakland's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 14 of 23 categories. Oakland wins 9 and Pittsburgh wins 14. 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 Oakland to Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,800 vs $171,800 median home), income ($94,389 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oakland, CA and Pittsburgh, PA are about 2,251 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.