Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $208k less ($171,800 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $572/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,725)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $34,175/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 5.0%)
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Richardson, TX
Pros
66% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Households earn $34,175 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Pittsburgh
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$208k less
$171,800 vs $379,800
Richardson
Median Income
$34,175
$94,362 vs $60,187/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
66% lower
146.7 vs 427.2 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh wins 8 and Richardson wins 15. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $379,800 median home), income ($60,187 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Richardson, TX are about 1,058 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.