Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 16 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 37°F
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.7%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Homes cost $44k less ($171,800 vs $215,500)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$2,650
$60,187 vs $57,537/yr
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
53% lower
427.2 vs 908.7 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$44k less
$171,800 vs $215,500
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $60,187 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 303,843 |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 16 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 7 and Pittsburgh wins 16. 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 Philadelphia to Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $171,800 median home), income ($57,537 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Pittsburgh, PA are about 257 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.