Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 14 of 23 categories
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843
Sacramento
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $279k less ($171,800 vs $450,500)
43% less violent crime than Sacramento
Rent averages $439/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,592)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $18,767/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,767 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Pittsburgh
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
43% lower
427.2 vs 754.9 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$279k less
$171,800 vs $450,500
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sacramento
Median Income
$18,767
$78,954 vs $60,187/yr
Sacramento
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 14 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh wins 14 and Sacramento wins 9. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $450,500 median home), income ($60,187 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Sacramento, CA are about 2,195 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.