Lancaster or Pittsburgh: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Pittsburgh wins on more indicators: 6 of 11 against 4.
- Money: Pittsburgh 0:4
- Climate and risks: Lancaster 4:2
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Lancaster
Indicator
Pittsburgh
Money
Better: Pittsburgh (0 : 4)Per capita income
higher is better
✗$68,628
20245% lower
✓$72,165
20245% higher
Typical rent
lower is better
✗$1,575
2026-09-307% higher
✓$1,467
2026-09-307% lower
Typical home value
lower is better
✗$386,393
2026-09-3069% higher
✓$228,201
2026-09-3041% lower
Price level
lower is better
✗98.3 100 = US average
20244% higher
✓94.7 100 = US average
20244% lower
Climate and risks
Better: Lancaster (4 : 2)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✓50 AQI
20246% lower
✗53 AQI
20246% higher
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✓3 days per year
202470% lower
✗10 days per year
2024233% higher
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✗66 days per year
2016-202591% higher
✓35 days per year
2016-202548% lower
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✓11 days per year
2016-202521% lower
✗14 days per year
2016-202526% higher
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
lower is better
✓0.4 days per year
2016-202533% lower
✗0.6 days per year
2016-202550% higher
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
13 days per year
2016-2025
26 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2,642 °C·days per year
2016-2025
2,786 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
712 °C·days per year
2016-2025
578 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
102 days per year
2016-2025
123 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
6 days per year
2016-2025
13 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,140 mm per year
2016-2025
1,072 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.3 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.3 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
15.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
15.1 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
65 %
2021-2025
66 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✗29 days per year
2021-202559% higher
✓18 days per year
2021-202537% lower
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
57 km
2006-2025
304 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
tie
0.00 per year
2006-2025
0.00 per year
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
563,293 people
2024
2,429,917 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Lancaster, Pittsburgh.