Pittsburgh or Scranton: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Scranton wins on more indicators: 5 of 11 against 4.
- Money: tie 2:2
- Climate and risks: Scranton 2:3
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Pittsburgh
Indicator
Scranton
Money
Tie (2 : 2)Per capita income
higher is better
✓$72,165
202427% higher
✗$56,666
202421% lower
Typical rent
lower is better
✗$1,467
2026-09-308% higher
✓$1,362
2026-09-307% lower
Typical home value
lower is better
✓$228,201
2026-09-302% lower
✗$233,948
2026-09-303% higher
Price level
lower is better
✗94.7 100 = US average
20241% higher
✓93.6 100 = US average
20241% lower
Climate and risks
Better: Scranton (2 : 3)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✗53 AQI
202433% higher
✓40 AQI
202425% lower
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✗10 days per year
2024
✓0 days per year
2024
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✓35 days per year
2016-202513% lower
✗40 days per year
2016-202515% higher
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
tie
14 days per year
2016-2025
14 days per year
2016-2025
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
lower is better
✗0.6 days per year
2016-202520% higher
✓0.5 days per year
2016-202517% lower
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
26 days per year
2016-2025
25 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2,786 °C·days per year
2016-2025
2,946 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
578 °C·days per year
2016-2025
525 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
123 days per year
2016-2025
115 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
13 days per year
2016-2025
12 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,072 mm per year
2016-2025
1,090 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)
9.2 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
15.1 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
15.2 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
66 %
2021-2025
67 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✓18 days per year
2021-202514% lower
✗21 days per year
2021-202516% higher
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
304 km
2006-2025
143 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
2,429,917 people
2024
574,009 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: Pittsburgh, Scranton.