Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 14 of 23 categories
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
St. Louis
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
69% less violent crime than St. Louis
Households earn $7,246 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Rent averages $215/mo less ($938 vs $1,153)
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pittsburgh by $7,246/yr
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$7,246
$60,187 vs $52,941/yr
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
69% lower
427.2 vs 1367.1 per 100k
St. Louis
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $174,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 ✓ Larger | 298,018 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 18.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 14 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh wins 14 and St. Louis 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $174,100 median home), income ($60,187 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and St. Louis, MO are about 561 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.