Pittsburgh vs Youngstown
Compare Pittsburgh, PA and Youngstown, OH on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Youngstown is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $754/mo versus $968/mo in Pittsburgh — a gap of about $214/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $860/mo against $1,161/mo. Across the four public-data screens Pittsburgh comes out ahead (266 vs 238 summed points), though Youngstown still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 83°F and 83°F respectively. Long-term hazard exposure also separates them: Youngstown screens more resilient on the FEMA National Risk Index composite (94 vs 78/100, higher = lower expected annual loss per resident). If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Youngstown; if walkable daily life matters more, Pittsburgh screens stronger on the walkability proxy (25 vs 17). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Youngstown leads 87 to 80 on the cost and climate screen.
Pittsburgh leads 81 to 75 on the work screen.
Pittsburgh leads 55 to 37 on the daily life screen.
Pittsburgh leads 50 to 39 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Pittsburgh is roughly $340,272 in Youngstown using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh | Youngstown | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $968/mo | $754/mo | Youngstown |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,161/mo | $860/mo | Youngstown |
| Median home value | $192,000 | $130,000 | Youngstown |
| State income tax | 3.1% | 2.8% | Youngstown |
| Average commute | 28.7 min | 24.1 min | Youngstown |
| Safety score | 61/100 | 59/100 | Pittsburgh |
| School score | 6/10 | 3/10 | Pittsburgh |
| Walkability estimate | 25/100 | 17/100 | Pittsburgh |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 186.2 | 145.7 | Pittsburgh |
| Mountain distance | 1 mi | 33 mi | Pittsburgh |
| Coast distance | 190 mi | 244 mi | Pittsburgh |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 78/100 | 94/100 | Youngstown |
| Inland flooding risk percentile (NRI) | 79th | 23th | Youngstown |
| Tornado risk percentile (NRI) | 30th | 55th | Pittsburgh |
| Winter weather risk percentile (NRI) | 33th | 55th | Pittsburgh |
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
Youngstown stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 48 miles
- Mountain access within 33 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Youngstown tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Common questions
Is Pittsburgh cheaper than Youngstown?
On public benchmarks Youngstown is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $968/mo in Pittsburgh vs $754/mo in Youngstown; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,161/mo vs $860/mo; state income tax is 3.1% vs 2.8%.
Is Pittsburgh or Youngstown safer?
Pittsburgh screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 61/100 for Pittsburgh and 59/100 for Youngstown (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Pittsburgh or Youngstown?
School screens show 6/10 for Pittsburgh vs 3/10 for Youngstown, 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 Youngstown?
Pittsburgh: summer highs near 83°F, winter lows near 21°F, disaster-risk band 1/3. Youngstown: 83°F / 17°F, disaster-risk band 1/3 (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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