Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 13 of 23 categories
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Spokane
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $115k less ($171,800 vs $286,900)
37% less violent crime than Spokane
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
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
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Median income trails Spokane by $3,129/yr
Spokane, WA
Pros
Rent averages $93/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,153)
Households earn $3,129 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) 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
Violent Crime
37% lower
427.2 vs 674.9 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$115k less
$171,800 vs $286,900
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Spokane
Median Income
$3,129
$63,316 vs $60,187/yr
Spokane
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Spokane, 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 | $286,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $63,316 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 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 | 227,922 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 13 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh wins 13 and Spokane wins 10. 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 or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $286,900 median home), income ($60,187 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Spokane, WA are about 1,906 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.