Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Pittsburgh to New York
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Pittsburgh has a lower median household income ($65,742) but significantly more affordable housing, with median gross rent at $1,261 and median home value at $205,800. New York City reports higher income ($80,483) but substantially higher housing costs: $1,821 median gross rent and $777,600 median home value. Commute times are shorter in Pittsburgh (25 minutes) versus NYC (44 minutes). While NYC applies a simplified state income tax reference of 5.50% in the model, Pittsburgh’s state tax is excluded per data boundaries. The trade-off centers on income versus housing affordability and commute length, with no universal winner implied.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to New York → PittsburghMoving from Pittsburgh to New York
Median Rent Impact
+$560/mo
Moving to New York costs ~$6,720 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.5%
~$5,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in New York.
Daily Commute Difference
+19 min / day
Difference of ~158 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTPIT → NYC
39/ 100
The offer needs work
The destination absorbs more of the offer.Estimated annual life delta−$496after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainThe deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort
Watch closelyThe cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate New York City resident income tax
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Pittsburgh is about $6,720 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Pittsburgh household income$65,742
New York household income$80,483
Pittsburgh gross rent$1,261
New York gross rent$1,821
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Pittsburgh | New York |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 304,759 | 8,483,844 |
| Median household income | $65,742 | $80,483 |
| Median gross rent | $1,261 | $1,821 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $205,800 | $777,600 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 5.5% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 25 minutes in Pittsburgh and 44 minutes in New York. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Median household income
- Median gross rent
- Median owner-occupied home value
- One-way commute time
What each city wins
Pittsburgh
Median rent is 23% of median income.. Watch lower home values may reflect older housing stock or limited new construction..
New York
The deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort. Watch the cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate new york city resident income tax.
Frequently asked questions
How do housing costs compare between Pittsburgh and New York City?
Pittsburgh’s median gross rent is $1,261 per month and median home value is $205,800, while New York City’s are $1,821 and $777,600 respectively, based on 2024 ACS 5-year estimates.
What is the difference in commute times between the two cities?
Pittsburgh has a derived one-way commute estimate of 25 minutes, compared to New York City’s 44 minutes, both calculated from weighted midpoints in the 2024 ACS table B08303.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.