Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 13 of 23 categories
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
Portland
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $351k less ($171,800 vs $523,100)
41% less violent crime than Portland
Rent averages $377/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,530)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $25,689/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $25,689 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Pittsburgh
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
41% lower
427.2 vs 720.1 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$351k less
$171,800 vs $523,100
Portland
Median Income
$25,689
$85,876 vs $60,187/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 93.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 16.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 13 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh wins 13 and Portland wins 10. 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 Pittsburgh to Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $523,100 median home), income ($60,187 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Portland, OR are about 2,159 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.