Pittsburgh vs Scranton
Compare Pittsburgh, PA and Scranton, PA on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $968/mo in Pittsburgh and $909/mo in Scranton, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,161/mo and $1,039/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (258 vs 247 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 83°F and 83°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Scranton; if walkable daily life matters more, Pittsburgh screens stronger on the walkability proxy (25 vs 8). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Scranton leads 80 to 75 on the cost and climate screen.
Pittsburgh leads 81 to 75 on the work screen.
Pittsburgh leads 52 to 47 on the daily life screen.
Pittsburgh leads 50 to 45 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Pittsburgh is roughly $170,000 in Scranton using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh | Scranton | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $968/mo | $909/mo | Scranton |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,161/mo | $1,039/mo | Scranton |
| Median home value | $192,000 | $164,000 | Scranton |
| State income tax | 3.1% | 3.1% | Tie |
| Average commute | 28.7 min | 24.4 min | Scranton |
| Safety score | 61/100 | 61/100 | Tie |
| School score | 6/10 | 3/10 | Pittsburgh |
| Walkability estimate | 25/100 | 8/100 | Pittsburgh |
| Outdoor score | 5/10 | 6/10 | Scranton |
| Restaurants per 100k | 186.2 | 189.2 | Scranton |
| Mountain distance | 1 mi | 34 mi | Pittsburgh |
| Coast distance | 190 mi | 88 mi | Scranton |
What stands out
Pittsburgh stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 13 miles
Pittsburgh tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Scranton stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 3 miles
- Named beach within 50 miles
- Mountain access within 34 miles
Scranton tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Common questions
Is Pittsburgh cheaper than Scranton?
On public benchmarks Scranton is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $968/mo in Pittsburgh vs $909/mo in Scranton; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,161/mo vs $1,039/mo; state income tax is 3.1% vs 3.1%.
Is Pittsburgh or Scranton safer?
Pittsburgh screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 61/100 for Pittsburgh and 61/100 for Scranton (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Pittsburgh or Scranton?
School screens show 6/10 for Pittsburgh vs 3/10 for Scranton, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Pittsburgh and Scranton?
Pittsburgh: summer highs near 83°F, winter lows near 21°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Scranton: 83°F / 19°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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