City comparison
No. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 195 in Fresno, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 211, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,421 in Fresno.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Fresno and Pittsburgh. Fresno averages 74°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 $1,421 versus $1,261.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Pittsburgh costs less and Fresno pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Pittsburgh in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Fresno and Pittsburgh are 2,145 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,421 a month in Fresno to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $160 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $70,991 in Fresno to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $5,249 (7%).
The crime index goes from 195 in Fresno to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 37 points (19%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Fresno are 2,145 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,421 a month in Fresno, up $160 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $70,991 in Fresno, up $5,249 (8%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 195 in Fresno, up 37 points (23%).
Fresno, CA
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 Fresno and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 11% cheaper than Fresno
Fresno
$1,421/mo
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,421 in Fresno, so Pittsburgh is 11% 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 $1,920, 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 Fresno.
Planning to buy in Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Fresno's median income is 8% higher than Pittsburgh
Fresno
Winner$70,991
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Median household income is $70,991 in Fresno versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Fresno (about $5,249 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
19% lower crime
Pittsburgh's crime index is 19% lower than Fresno
Fresno
195 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 195 in Fresno (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 19% lower in Pittsburgh. 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, Pittsburgh is the easier city. Fresno can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Fresno weather is 64% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Fresno
Winner74°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Fresno averages about 74°F (84°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Fresno sits near 74°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. Fresno 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 8% higher ($70,991), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 74°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Pittsburgh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% 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.
Pittsburgh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 19% lower than Fresno (158 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.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,421/month rent in Fresno at 74°F versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh at 51°F. Income runs $70,991 vs $65,742, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
With only $160 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,261 in Pittsburgh and $1,421 in Fresno.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Fresno; Pittsburgh only makes sense when 51°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Pittsburgh when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fresno and Pittsburgh, plus other cities in CA and PA.
