Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 13 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
13
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.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Households earn $11,905 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 37°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.2%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($171,800 vs $340,200)
47% less violent crime than Phoenix
Rent averages $169/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,322)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 104°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Median income trails Phoenix by $11,905/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Median Income
$11,905
$72,092 vs $60,187/yr
Phoenix
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
21.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
47% lower
427.2 vs 799.6 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$168k less
$171,800 vs $340,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ 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 | 15.7:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 303,843 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 13 of 23 categories. Phoenix wins 10 and Pittsburgh wins 13. 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 Phoenix to Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $171,800 median home), income ($72,092 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and Pittsburgh, PA are about 1,823 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.