Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 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
Washington
District of Columbia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $533k less ($171,800 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $664/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,817)
54% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.7%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $41,535/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $41,535 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Pittsburgh
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
54% lower
427.2 vs 925.9 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$533k less
$171,800 vs $705,000
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$41,535
$101,722 vs $60,187/yr
Washington
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 92.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 44.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 18.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 12 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh wins 12 and Washington 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $705,000 median home), income ($60,187 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Washington, DC are about 190 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.