Living in Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh is the 68th-largest city in the US, home to about 308,000 people in 2025. Its population has been roughly flat since 2020. Prices across the metro area run below the national average (94.7 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 307,632+1.5% since 2020
- Median home value
- $205,8003.1 years of median income
- Median rent
- $1,261/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $65,742median, per year
- Price level
- 94.7US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 36° / 83°lows 21° / 63°
- Average commute
- 23 min22% work from home
- State income tax
- 3.07%top rate, flat
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County: Allegheny County
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Elevation: about 764 ft
Metro area: Pittsburgh, PA
Cost of living in Pittsburgh
The median home in Pittsburgh is worth $205,800 and the median household earns $65,742 a year, so a typical home costs about 3.1 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,261 a month, about 23% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area at 94.7, with housing at 72.0 and goods at 100.7 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $71,000 here. Pennsylvania taxes wages at a top rate of 3.07% (a flat rate). The average combined state and local sales tax in Pennsylvania is 6.34%.
What would my salary be worth in Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh weather
Average highs run from 36°F in January to 83°F in July, and January nights average 21°F. It gets 40 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 44 inches of snow. Nights drop below freezing about 114 times a year. The most comfortable months are May to October.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Pittsburgh
People and work
The median resident is 33.6 years old, and 49% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 48% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 23 minutes; 22% of workers work from home and 12% take public transit.
- Median age
- 33.6108th youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 49%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 48%of households
- People per sq mile
- 5,55655.4 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 12%10% walk, 1.2% bike
- Unemployment
- 6.1%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 20.1%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1942median year
Who moves to Pittsburgh, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Philadelphia (Philadelphia County), Erie (Erie County) and Chicago (Cook County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Philadelphia (Philadelphia County), San Jose (Santa Clara County) and Chicago (Cook County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
FEMA rating for Allegheny County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: inland flooding, ice storm, cold wave, tornado.
Home prices
+3.4% in a year
Up 37% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Pittsburgh, PA area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
43% good days
5 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Pittsburgh, PA area (365 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Pittsburgh
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- PNC Park in Pittsburgh
- Carnegie Mellon University 4 miles
- Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh
- Pennsylvania Western University 27 miles
- Duquesne University 2 miles
- Robert Morris University 11 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Pittsburgh
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh International Airport PIT | 13 mi | 4,862,376 |
| Arnold Palmer Regional Airport LBE | 34 mi | 76,437 |
| Akron-Canton Airport CAK | 81 mi | 380,232 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Pittsburgh
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | 4 mi | 20,370 | $29,362 | 86% |
| Community College of Allegheny County | in town | 9,544 | $9,510 | 26% |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 4 mi | 7,304 | $35,780 | 94% |
| Duquesne University | 2 mi | 5,350 | $37,704 | 76% |
| Robert Morris University | 11 mi | 2,896 | $21,445 | 64% |
| Point Park University | in town | 2,331 | $26,028 | 54% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Pittsburgh
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before April 23, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around October 12 and the first frost comes around October 23.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Pittsburgh Intl. Airport, PA, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Pittsburgh.
Wildfire smoke in Pittsburgh
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Pittsburgh on about 117 days a year, including about 24 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Pittsburgh
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 138,188 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Pittsburgh
Downtown Pittsburgh is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh School District | Pre-K to 12 | 19,571 | 56 | 11.8 |
Other districts within 10 miles: North Allegheny School District (8,613 students), Mount Lebanon School District (5,504 students), Canon-McMillan School District (5,480 students), North Hills School District (4,627 students), Baldwin-Whitehall School District (4,481 students), Fox Chapel Area School District (4,296 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Pittsburgh's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Pittsburgh's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Waterbury, CT81% matchCompare
- Springfield, MA80% matchCompare
- Fort Wayne, IN80% matchCompare
- Indianapolis, IN80% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near Pittsburgh
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Ski resorts near Pittsburgh
- Boyce Park 14 miles
- Seven Springs Mountain Resort 48 miles
- Hidden Valley Resort 48 miles, 2,884 ft
- Laurel Mountain Ski Resort 49 miles
Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.
Pros and cons of living in Pittsburgh
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data Homes are affordable for locals: the median home costs 3.1 years of median household income, lower than in three quarters of the cities we cover.
- Data Everyday prices in the metro run 5% below the US average (BEA).
- Data 12% of workers take public transit, so living without a car is realistic.
Cons
- Data Winters are snowy: about 44 inches a year.
Pittsburgh report card from locals
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Pittsburgh through locals' eyes
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Cities near Pittsburgh
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OH | 90 mi | 189,691 | $122,000 | 93.4 | Compare |
| Parma, OH | 111 mi | 78,581 | $170,100 | 93.9 | Compare |
| Cleveland, OH | 113 mi | 363,608 | $102,000 | 93.9 | Compare |
| Erie, PA | 117 mi | 91,838 | $115,200 | 91.0 | Compare |
| Frederick, MD | 155 mi | 92,059 | $401,500 | 108.9 | Compare |
| Columbus, OH | 161 mi | 938,396 | $252,900 | 95.5 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Looking at the suburbs? Franklin Park, Jefferson Hills and Plum lead our ranking of the best suburbs of Pittsburgh.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Pittsburgh with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Pittsburgh a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show prices below the national average, homes that cost under four years of median income, 6 comfortable months a year, short commutes; the trade-offs are heavy snow. Compare Pittsburgh side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Pittsburgh?
The Census Bureau estimates Pittsburgh had 307,632 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 303,054 in April 2020 (+1.5%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Pittsburgh?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $71,000 in the Pittsburgh area. The median household here earns $65,742.
When is the best time to visit Pittsburgh?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, May to October are the most comfortable months. July averages 83°F and January 36°F for daytime highs.
What county is Pittsburgh in?
Pittsburgh is in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Pittsburgh in?
Pittsburgh is on Eastern Time (UTC-5, or UTC-4 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Pittsburgh?
About 764 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does Pennsylvania have a state income tax?
Yes. Pennsylvania has a flat income tax with a top rate of 3.07% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Pittsburgh. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Pittsburgh, PA metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Pittsburgh Intl. Airport, PA station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.