Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 12 of 23 categories
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Reno
Nevada
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $290k less ($171,800 vs $462,100)
19% less violent crime than Reno
Rent averages $207/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,360)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Median income trails Reno by $12,886/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 5.0%)
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Reno, NV
Pros
Households earn $12,886 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 46°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Pittsburgh
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
19% lower
427.2 vs 529.6 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$290k less
$171,800 vs $462,100
Reno
Median Income
$12,886
$73,073 vs $60,187/yr
Reno
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Reno
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $73,073 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" | 33.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 ✓ Larger | 265,196 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 19.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 12 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh wins 12 and Reno wins 11. 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $462,100 median home), income ($60,187 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Reno, NV are about 2,093 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.