Cleveland, OH vs Pittsburgh, PA
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | ClevelandCleveland, OH | PittsburghPittsburgh, PA | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Soft | Average | |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | High Risk | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | High Autonomy | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
20.4% of workers in Pittsburgh, PA work from home, versus 10.1% in Cleveland, OH, according to 2023 Census figures. That gap sits alongside a wider income divide: median household income reaches $64,137 in Pittsburgh against $39,187 in Cleveland, and per-capita income is $43,590 versus $27,078. The cost of living index, with 100 as the U.S. average, reads 90 in Pittsburgh and 59 in Cleveland, a difference the data puts at 53% higher for Pittsburgh. Median rent follows the same direction, at $1,221 in Pittsburgh and $894 in Cleveland.
Educational attainment separates the pair sharply. A bachelor's degree or higher is held by 47.8% of adults in Pittsburgh, which lands in the 77th percentile, while Cleveland's 21.3% sits in the 21st percentile. Traffic deaths per 100,000 people tell a different story: Cleveland records 14, in the 42nd percentile, and Pittsburgh records 7, in the 13th percentile. Violent crime per 100,000 people is 1,358 in Cleveland and 472 in Pittsburgh, and property crime runs 3,934 against 2,355.
Some measures land close together. Unemployment is 3.9% in Cleveland and 3.6% in Pittsburgh, and average commute times differ by little, at 22.9 minutes and 23.1 minutes. Both cities carry an A+ housing affordability grade and an A+ healthcare access grade, and each scores 100/100 on healthcare access.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
Looking at homes in Cleveland or Pittsburgh?
Get a property report for a specific address.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Pittsburgh, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 596th pctl | 9039th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Cleveland, OH 59; Pittsburgh, PA 90; Pittsburgh is 53% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $94,1002nd pctl | $193,20026th pctl | Median home value: Cleveland, OH $94,100; Pittsburgh, PA $193,200; Pittsburgh is 2.1 times higher. |
| Median rent | $89419th pctl | $1,22152nd pctl | Median rent: Cleveland, OH $894; Pittsburgh, PA $1,221; Pittsburgh is 37% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $39,1873rd pctl | $64,13737th pctl | Median household income: Cleveland, OH $39,187; Pittsburgh, PA $64,137; Pittsburgh is 64% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $23,3995th pctl | $37,53526th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Cleveland, OH $23,399; Pittsburgh, PA $37,535; Pittsburgh is 60% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $34,3965th pctl | $55,17726th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Cleveland, OH $34,396; Pittsburgh, PA $55,177; Pittsburgh is 60% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Affordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Pittsburgh needs about
$114,400
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 59 vs 90). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Pittsburgh, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.9%62nd pctl | 3.6%48th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +0.2%26th pctl | +1.1%50th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Cleveland, OH +0.2%; Pittsburgh, PA +1.1%; Pittsburgh is 0.9 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $27,07812th pctl | $43,59065th pctl | Per-capita income: Cleveland, OH $27,078; Pittsburgh, PA $43,590; Pittsburgh is 61% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 30.8%97th pctl | 19.5%81st pctl | Poverty rate: Cleveland, OH 30.8%; Pittsburgh, PA 19.5%; Cleveland is 11.3 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 22.9 min46th pctl | 23.1 min47th pctl | About the same |
| Work from home | 10.1%47th pctl | 20.4%84th pctl | Work from home: Cleveland, OH 10.1%; Pittsburgh, PA 20.4%; Pittsburgh is 10.3 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Weak | Stable | Economic opportunity: Cleveland, OH D-; Pittsburgh, PA C-; Pittsburgh is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Pittsburgh, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 1,35899th pctl | 47284th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Cleveland, OH 1,358; Pittsburgh, PA 472; Cleveland is 2.9 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,93497th pctl | 2,35585th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Cleveland, OH 3,934; Pittsburgh, PA 2,355; Cleveland is 67% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Dangerous | About the same |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Cleveland, OH B+; Pittsburgh, PA A+; Pittsburgh is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Pittsburgh, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Comfortable | Comfortable | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Poor | Tap water: Cleveland, OH A+; Pittsburgh, PA F; Cleveland is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Pittsburgh, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | lowState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | lowState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | B-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | A-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | B-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | B+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Net exporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Pittsburgh, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 2 mi2nd pctl | 1 mi1st pctl | Nearest large city: Cleveland, OH 2 mi; Pittsburgh, PA 1 mi; Cleveland is 60% higher. |
| Target proximity | Good | Fair | About the same |
| To borderDistance to international border | 101 mi10th pctl | 170 mi18th pctl | Distance to international border: Cleveland, OH 101 mi; Pittsburgh, PA 170 mi; Pittsburgh is 68% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 389 mi62nd pctl | 282 mi54th pctl | Distance to coastline: Cleveland, OH 389 mi; Pittsburgh, PA 282 mi; Cleveland is 38% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Pittsburgh, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 367,52398th pctl | 303,62097th pctl | Population: Cleveland, OH 367,523; Pittsburgh, PA 303,620; Cleveland is 21% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 4,72891st pctl | 5,48393rd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Cleveland, OH 4,728; Pittsburgh, PA 5,483; Pittsburgh is 16% higher. |
| Median age | 36.336th pctl | 33.517th pctl | Median age: Cleveland, OH 36.3; Pittsburgh, PA 33.5; Cleveland is 2.8 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3%21st pctl | 47.8%77th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Cleveland, OH 21.3%; Pittsburgh, PA 47.8%; Pittsburgh is 26.5 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.111th pctl | 26th pctl | About the same |
More about Cleveland's residents · Pittsburgh's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | ClevelandCleveland, OH | PittsburghPittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+28 | D+10 |
| 2024 presidential | D +55.0 pts | D +19.0 pts |
Full politics data: Cleveland · Pittsburgh
Moving between Cleveland and Pittsburgh
- Median rent: $894 in Cleveland, $1,221 in Pittsburgh
- Median home value: $94,100 in Cleveland, $193,200 in Pittsburgh
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 59 in Cleveland, 90 in Pittsburgh
- Median household income: $39,187 in Cleveland, $64,137 in Pittsburgh
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $34,396 in Cleveland, $55,177 in Pittsburgh
- Unemployment: 3.9% in Cleveland, 3.6% in Pittsburgh
- Average commute: 22.9 min in Cleveland, 23.1 min in Pittsburgh
- Violent crime per 100k: 1,358 in Cleveland, 472 in Pittsburgh
Weigh these by what matters to you
ReloMaps in ChatGPT can look at Cleveland and Pittsburgh against your own priorities, like budget, commute or climate.
Use ReloMaps in ChatGPT →Found a home in Cleveland or Pittsburgh?
A property report covers the address itself: the block, the neighbourhood data, risks and more, beyond these city-wide figures.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Compare a different pair
People also compare
More places like Cleveland and Pittsburgh
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
ReloMaps may earn a commission from affiliate links at no extra cost to you.