Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 14 of 23 categories
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $153k less ($171,800 vs $324,800)
Rent averages $461/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,614)
26% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
17% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $3,857/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 37°F
Households earn $3,857 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Pittsburgh
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
26% lower
427.2 vs 575.8 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$153k less
$171,800 vs $324,800
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$3,857
$64,044 vs $60,187/yr
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 17.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 14 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh wins 14 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $324,800 median home), income ($60,187 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 946 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.