City comparison
Philadelphia, PA versus Arlington, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,810 a month in Philadelphia and $1,723 in Arlington, and median household income lands at $57,537 versus $71,736. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.
Philadelphia takes safety and weather, while Arlington takes affordability and job market. The widest gap is typical weather, where Philadelphia leads by 96% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.
Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Philadelphia can feel further apart than Philadelphia and Arlington do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Philadelphia and Arlington reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.
Philadelphia, PA
Arlington, TX
Rent
5% cheaper
Arlington rent is 5% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,810/mo
Arlington
Winner$1,723/mo
Typical rent runs $1,723 a month in Arlington versus $1,810 in Philadelphia, so Arlington is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $87, or $1,044 a year — noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Median income
25% higher
Arlington's median income is 25% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$57,537
Arlington
Winner$71,736
Median household income is $71,736 in Arlington versus $57,537 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Arlington — about $14,199 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Arlington is the stronger labor market on paper. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
31% lower crime
Philadelphia's crime index is 31% lower than Arlington
Philadelphia
Winner75 (100 = avg)
Arlington
109 (100 = avg)
Philadelphia's crime index is 75 versus 109 in Arlington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% lower in Philadelphia. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Philadelphia is the easier city. Arlington can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
School scores
Neck and neck
Philadelphia and Arlington are about even on school scores.
Philadelphia
A- · 84/100
Arlington
A- · 84/100
School composites are effectively even (A- in Philadelphia, A- in Arlington). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.
Typical weather
96% more comfortable
Philadelphia weather is 96% more comfortable than Arlington
Philadelphia
Winner75°F typical
Arlington
92°F typical
Philadelphia scores 96% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 75°F in Philadelphia and 92°F in Arlington. Philadelphia reads as warm weather most of the year; Arlington reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Philadelphia is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Arlington can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Philadelphia if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (75°F) beat Arlington on this page's weather index by 96%. Arlington may pay more or cost less, but Philadelphia is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Philadelphia is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 31% lower than Arlington (75 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Arlington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,723 a month. Choose Arlington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Arlington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 25% higher here ($71,736). Start with Arlington if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
If weather is your priority, Philadelphia is the clear choice.
If the job market matters more to you, Arlington pulls ahead.
For most movers comparing these two cities, Arlington offers the better overall package.
Common questions
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