Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 12 of 23 categories
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $136k less ($171,800 vs $307,700)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $6,296/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $6,296 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Pittsburgh
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$136k less
$171,800 vs $307,700
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$6,296
$66,483 vs $60,187/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
43% lower
242.1 vs 427.2 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 ✓ Lower | $1,175 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 37.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 12 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh wins 11 and Spokane Valley wins 12. 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $307,700 median home), income ($60,187 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,896 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.