Median household income increased 3.7 percent to reach $56,063 a year in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area in 2016. Among the benchmark regions, Pittsburgh had the second-lowest median household income above only Cleveland.
Median household income is a measure of standard of living. Examining the median household income over time can help us measure the purchasing power of the average household in the middle of the income distribution. Higher incomes are associated with better educational outcomes for children, improved health outcomes for all residents, and many other advantages.