

Columbus, OH vs Pittsburgh, PA
Columbus, OH and Pittsburgh, PA are even: each comes out ahead on 20 of 40 statistics where one end is better. Columbus, OH leads on Economics. Pittsburgh, PA leads on Crime & Safety.
40 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 20
- Avg. percentile
- 51
- Categories led
- 1
- Wins
- 20
- Avg. percentile
- 47
- Categories led
- 1
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.
| Statistic | Columbus, OH | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 944,402 15th of 477 | 308,597 67th of 477 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $66,082 264th of 434 | $65,742 270th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $252,900 162nd of 434 | $205,800 99th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 18.1% 301st of 434 | 20.1% 337th of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 95.5 167th of 460 | 94.7 151st of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $67,270 196th of 460 | $65,230 231st of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,295 192nd of 434 | $1,261 tied 181st of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 374.1 193rd of 395 | 472.3 242nd of 395 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Crime & SafetyPittsburgh, PA · 5 statistics
- EconomicsColumbus, OH · 14 statistics
Biggest differences
The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.
| Statistic | Columbus, OH | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 93.6 tied 4th of 460 | 100.7 tied 304th of 460 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 93.6% 127th of 434 | 90.4% 266th of 434 |
| Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 382.1 313th of 395 | 222.6 201st of 395 |
| Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 87.9 176th of 460 | 72.0 78th of 460 |
| Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 98.9 tied 208th of 460 | 97.7 tied 112th of 460 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 38.2% 172nd of 434 | 49.1% 92nd of 434 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 480.5 341st of 395 | 311.0 282nd of 395 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $252,900 162nd of 434 | $205,800 99th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 374.1 193rd of 395 | 472.3 242nd of 395 |
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 95.5 296th of 460 | 107.7 349th of 460 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 21.5 169th of 434 | 22.7 217th of 434 |
| Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $51,340 181st of 460 | $49,650 231st of 460 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 18.1% 301st of 434 | 20.1% 337th of 434 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $67,270 196th of 460 | $65,230 231st of 460 |
| Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 2,502.1 283rd of 395 | 2,328.6 260th of 395 |
| Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 8.9 309th of 395 | 10.1 331st of 395 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 95.5 167th of 460 | 94.7 151st of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,295 192nd of 434 | $1,261 tied 181st of 434 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $66,082 264th of 434 | $65,742 270th of 434 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Columbus, OH or Pittsburgh, PA?
- Columbus, OH and Pittsburgh, PA are even: each comes out ahead on 20 of 40 statistics where one end is better. Columbus, OH leads on Economics. Pittsburgh, PA leads on Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Columbus, OH or Pittsburgh, PA?
- Columbus, OH has a population of 944,402 (15th of 477 US cities) and Pittsburgh, PA has 308,597 (67th of 477).
- How do Columbus, OH and Pittsburgh, PA compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Columbus, OH $66,082 (264th of 434), Pittsburgh, PA $65,742 (270th of 434) among US cities. Columbus, OH ranks better.
- How do Columbus, OH and Pittsburgh, PA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
- Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Columbus, OH $252,900 (162nd of 434), Pittsburgh, PA $205,800 (99th of 434) among US cities. Pittsburgh, PA ranks better.
- Where does Columbus, OH beat Pittsburgh, PA most clearly?
- Columbus, OH ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 93.6 vs 100.7; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 93.6% vs 90.4%; Violent Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 374.1 vs 472.3.
- Where does Pittsburgh, PA beat Columbus, OH most clearly?
- Pittsburgh, PA ranks far ahead on Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 222.6 vs 382.1; Price Level (Housing Rents) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 72.0 vs 87.9; Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 97.7 vs 98.9.
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