City comparison
Yes. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 169 in Richmond, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,372 in Richmond.
Pittsburgh and Richmond are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,261 in Pittsburgh and $1,372 in Richmond, and median household income lands at $65,742 versus $64,587. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Pittsburgh is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Richmond makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Pittsburgh is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Pittsburgh and Richmond are 241 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,372 a month in Richmond, up $111 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $64,587 in Richmond, down $1,155 (2%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 169 in Richmond, up 11 points (7%).
The move
Richmond and Pittsburgh are 241 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $111 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, up $1,155 (2%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 11 points (7%).
Pittsburgh, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Pittsburgh and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 8% cheaper than Richmond
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Richmond
$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,372 in Richmond, so Pittsburgh is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $111, or $1,332 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Pittsburgh's median income is 2% higher than Richmond
Pittsburgh
Winner$65,742
Richmond
$64,587
Median household income is $65,742 in Pittsburgh versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Pittsburgh (about $1,155 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
7% lower crime
Pittsburgh's crime index is 7% lower than Richmond
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Richmond
169 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 169 in Richmond (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 7% lower in Pittsburgh. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Pittsburgh, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Richmond. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Richmond weather is 28% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Richmond
Winner57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Richmond scores 28% 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 and professional growth
Pittsburgh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% higher here ($65,742). Start with Pittsburgh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Pittsburgh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 7% lower than Richmond (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.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Richmond if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (57°F) beat Pittsburgh on this page's weather index by 28%. Pittsburgh may pay more or cost less, but Richmond is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,372/month rent in Richmond at 57°F versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh at 51°F. Income runs $64,587 vs $65,742, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
With only $111 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,261 in Pittsburgh and $1,372 in Richmond.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Richmond; 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 Pittsburgh and Richmond, plus other cities in PA and VA.
