Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Roswell, GA
🏆 Roswell leads 15 of 22 categories
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Roswell
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $308k less ($171,800 vs $479,400)
Rent averages $466/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,619)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Roswell
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $62,737/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.3%)
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Roswell, GA
Pros
Households earn $62,737 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $479,400
Higher rents — median is $1,619/mo
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Pittsburgh
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$308k less
$171,800 vs $479,400
Roswell
Median Income
$62,737
$122,924 vs $60,187/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
63% lower
160.1 vs 427.2 per 100k
Roswell
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
Roswell
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Roswell, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $479,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 ✓ Lower | $1,619⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $122,924 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% | 63.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 ✓ Larger | 92,770 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 70.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Roswell's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Roswell leads 15 of 22 categories. Pittsburgh wins 7 and Roswell 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 Roswell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $479,400 median home), income ($60,187 vs $122,924), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Roswell, GA are about 503 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.