Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Salem
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $178k less ($171,800 vs $349,500)
20% less violent crime than Salem
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Salem by $7,353/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Salem, OR
Pros
Households earn $7,353 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Pittsburgh
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
20% lower
427.2 vs 532.2 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$178k less
$171,800 vs $349,500
Salem
Median Income
$7,353
$67,540 vs $60,187/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 ✓ Lower | $1,224 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 14 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh wins 14 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $349,500 median home), income ($60,187 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Salem, OR are about 2,182 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.