Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 15 of 22 categories
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Homes cost $42k less ($171,800 vs $213,300)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 37°F
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.7%)
Median income trails Pittsburgh by $3,033/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$3,033
$60,187 vs $57,154/yr
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
43% lower
427.2 vs 752.4 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$42k less
$171,800 vs $213,300
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Portsmouth
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $213,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 15 of 22 categories. Pittsburgh wins 15 and Portsmouth wins 7. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $213,300 median home), income ($60,187 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Portsmouth, VA are about 315 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.