Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 12 of 23 categories
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843
Raleigh
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($171,800 vs $347,000)
13% less violent crime than Raleigh
Rent averages $218/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,371)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $18,444/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.5%)
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $18,444 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
13% lower
427.2 vs 488.8 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$175k less
$171,800 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Median Income
$18,444
$78,631 vs $60,187/yr
Raleigh
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.7% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 12 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh wins 11 and Raleigh wins 12. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $347,000 median home), income ($60,187 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Raleigh, NC are about 327 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.