Moving from Centennial, CO to Pittsburgh, PA

The drive from Centennial, CO to Pittsburgh, PA runs 1464 mi β€” about 26h 14m on interstate, longer with stops. Long-range relocations typically bring real shifts in cost of living, housing prices, climate, and job market. Below, each of those layers is pulled from its source (BEA, Census, Zillow, BLS, NOAA) for a direct comparison.

1464 mi Β· 26h 14m by car Β· PA β†’ OH β†’ IN β†’ IL β†’ IA β†’ NE β†’ CO

COL -10.5% Home values -63.4% Ξ” +2.2Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
1464 mi
Drive time
26h 14m
States
7
Fuel (25 mpg)
59 gal
Route throughPA β†’ OH β†’ IN β†’ IL β†’ IA β†’ NE β†’ CO
Primary highwaysI 80, I 80 EXPRESS, I 76
Major cities en routeAkron, Cleveland, Toledo, South Bend, Chicago

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

CentennialPittsburghU.S. avg
All items (RPP)105.78294.671100.0
Rents87.856107.711100.0
Goods100.957100.684100.0
Services146.91971.986100.0

Overall prices in Pittsburgh are 10.5% below Centennial β€” a mid-sized gap that shows up mostly in rent and services.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Centennial β€” typical home
$649,086
Pittsburgh β€” typical home
$237,533
Centennial β€” typical rent
$2,121/mo
Pittsburgh β€” typical rent
$1,554/mo

Housing gap is large: Pittsburgh typical home at $237,533 is 10.5% under Centennial at $649,086 (Zillow, 2026-03).

YoY change: Centennial -2.8%, Pittsburgh -0.4%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsCentennialPittsburgh
Annual avg temperature50Β°F52Β°F
January avg low19Β°F22Β°F
July avg high87Β°F83Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”β€”
Annual precipitation15.0"41.3"

Climate is roughly comparable on the annual mean β€” 50.2Β°F vs 52.4Β°F per NOAA 1991–2020 normals.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: DENVER CENTENNIAL AP, CO US, PITTSBURGH ALLEGHENY CO AP, PA US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023CentennialPittsburgh
Population107,386303,620
Median household income$128,167$64,137
Median age41.833.5
Bachelor's degree or higher37%24.6%
Avg household size2.592.21

Income gap is large: median household income drops 10.5% between Centennial and Pittsburgh (ACS 2023).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Centennial MSA β€” median wage
$58,490
Pittsburgh MSA β€” median wage
$47,360
Centennial MSA β€” employment
1,590,330
Pittsburgh MSA β€” employment
1,071,900

Top occupations in Pittsburgh MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 137,860 $43,230
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 96,800 $28,940
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 90,050 $39,900
Sales and Related Occupations 89,070 $35,000
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations 79,490 $75,790

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between Colorado and Pennsylvania

Colorado income tax
4.4% top marginal
Pennsylvania income tax
3.07% top marginal

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Pennsylvania's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • The Pennsylvania Turnpike between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg can see chain requirements in heavy winter storms.
  • Mountain passes on I-70 west of Denver and on I-25 near Raton can close for snow November through April β€” check CDOT alerts before departure.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Frequently asked

Is Pittsburgh more expensive than Centennial?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Pittsburgh is 10.5% lower than Centennial (94.671 vs 105.782, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

When is the best time to move from Centennial to Pittsburgh?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1464 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How does the job market in Pittsburgh compare to Centennial?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $47,360 in the Pittsburgh MSA vs $58,490 in the Centennial MSA, on total employment of 1,071,900 and 1,590,330 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

How far is Pittsburgh, PA from Centennial, CO?

The driving distance is 1464 mi and the route typically takes 26h 14m via I 80 and I 80 EXPRESS. The trip crosses 7 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

How much do homes cost in Pittsburgh compared to Centennial?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $237,533 in Pittsburgh vs $649,086 in Centennial β€” a 63.4% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

How does household income compare in Centennial vs Pittsburgh?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $64,137 in Pittsburgh vs $128,167 in Centennial β€” a 50.0% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Centennial.

City profiles: Centennial, CO Β· Pittsburgh, PA.

Related routes