Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 17 of 21 categories
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($171,800 vs $305,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Rent averages $159/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,312)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Median income trails Worcester by $2,824/yr
Worcester, MA
Pros
96% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $2,824 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.7%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Pittsburgh
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$134k less
$171,800 vs $305,600
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Pittsburgh
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 83.0°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$2,824
$63,011 vs $60,187/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
96% lower
16.5 vs 427.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 19.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 17 of 21 categories. Pittsburgh wins 17 and Worcester wins 4. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $305,600 median home), income ($60,187 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Worcester, MA are about 442 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.