Bedford, PA vs Swissvale, PA

Bedford is moderately more affordable than Swissvale, with a 11.8% lower cost of living index. Bedford scores 69 compared to 78 for Swissvale, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Swissvale can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bedford is $674/month compared to $1,097/month in Swissvale — a 39% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bedford has cheaper rent, Swissvale actually has lower median home values ($141,300 vs $182,300).

Median household income in Bedford is $50,570 compared to $60,114 in Swissvale (-15.9%). While Swissvale is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bedford spend roughly 16% of their income on rent, less than the 21.9% in Swissvale.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51°F vs 52.4°F). Swissvale receives more rainfall at 41.3" per year compared to 36.7" in Bedford.