City comparison
Yes. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 158 in Pittsburgh, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 147, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,470 in Arlington.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Arlington and Pittsburgh. Arlington averages 67°F while Pittsburgh averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,470 versus $1,261.
Arlington is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Pittsburgh makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Arlington is the stronger move.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Pittsburgh in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Arlington and Pittsburgh are 1,086 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $209 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $9,429 (13%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 158 in Pittsburgh, up 26 points (20%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Arlington are 1,086 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,470 a month in Arlington, up $209 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $75,171 in Arlington, up $9,429 (14%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 132 in Arlington, down 26 points (16%).
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Pittsburgh, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Arlington and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 14% cheaper than Arlington
Arlington
$1,470/mo
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,470 in Arlington, so Pittsburgh is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,508, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Pittsburgh still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Arlington.
Planning to buy in Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Arlington's median income is 14% higher than Pittsburgh
Arlington
Winner$75,171
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Median household income is $75,171 in Arlington versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Arlington (about $9,429 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Arlington is the stronger labor market on paper. Pittsburgh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
16% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 16% lower than Pittsburgh
Arlington
Winner132 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
158 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 158 in Pittsburgh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 16% lower in Arlington. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Arlington is the easier city. Pittsburgh can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Arlington weather is 64% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Arlington
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Arlington sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Arlington scores 64% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Pittsburgh if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 14% higher ($75,171), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Arlington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 16% lower than Pittsburgh (132 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,261 a month. Choose Pittsburgh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Arlington runs 67°F typical weather against 51°F in Pittsburgh (comfort scores 100 vs 61). Housing is $1,470/month versus $1,261/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
Arlington still pays more locally ($75,171 median income vs $65,742), which can offset the lease if your field pays Arlington rates.
Typical rent stays $1,261 in Pittsburgh and $1,470 in Arlington.
If climate drives your move, Pittsburgh is the stronger match (51°F typical weather versus 67°F). If an employer or family tie already points to Arlington, treat $1,470/month rent and $75,171 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Arlington?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Arlington when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Arlington and Pittsburgh, plus other cities in TX and PA.
