Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Warren, MI
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 12 of 23 categories
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Warren
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$61,633 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
138,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
21% less violent crime than Warren
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.7%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Warren
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Warren, MI
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (541.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 5.7%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Pittsburgh
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
21% lower
427.2 vs 541.8 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.4% unemployment
Warren
Median Income
$1,446
$61,633 vs $60,187/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Warren, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 | $169,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 | $1,139 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $61,633 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 86.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | Warren Consolidated Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F ✓ Warmer | 32.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" | 29.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" | 27.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 ✓ Larger | 138,588 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 21.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Warren's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 12 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh wins 12 and Warren wins 11. 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 Warren or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $169,300 median home), income ($60,187 vs $61,633), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Warren, MI are about 212 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.