City comparison
No. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 209 in Louisville, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Louisville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,120 a month versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Safety is where Louisville and Pittsburgh split most clearly. Pittsburgh scores 51 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,120 in Louisville and $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Louisville is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, 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 Louisville is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Pittsburgh has rougher pockets and Louisville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Louisville and Pittsburgh are 343 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,120 a month in Louisville to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, up $141 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $66,849 in Louisville to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $1,107 (2%).
The crime index goes from 209 in Louisville to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 51 points (24%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Louisville are 343 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,120 a month in Louisville, down $141 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $66,849 in Louisville, up $1,107 (2%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 209 in Louisville, up 51 points (32%).
Louisville, KY
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 Louisville and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Louisville rent is 11% cheaper than Pittsburgh
Louisville
Winner$1,120/mo
Pittsburgh
$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,120 a month in Louisville versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh, so Louisville 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 $1,692, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Louisville still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Pittsburgh.
Planning to buy in Louisville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Louisville's median income is 2% higher than Pittsburgh
Louisville
Winner$66,849
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Median household income is $66,849 in Louisville versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Louisville (about $1,107 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
24% lower crime
Pittsburgh's crime index is 24% lower than Louisville
Louisville
209 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 209 in Louisville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 24% 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. Louisville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
23% more comfortable
Louisville weather is 23% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Louisville
Winner56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Louisville averages about 56°F (65°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Louisville averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Louisville scores 23% 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
Louisville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,120 a month. Choose Louisville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 2% higher ($66,849), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 56°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 better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 24% lower than Louisville (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
Louisville carries the heavier crime signal on this page (38/100 safety vs 46/100 in Pittsburgh). That 8-point spread matters more than the $141 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (46/100 in Pittsburgh vs 38/100 in Louisville), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,120 in Louisville and $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Louisville deserves a serious look only when you already know the Louisville block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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