Is Philadelphia cheaper than Boston?

Yes. Typical rent in Philadelphia is $1,397 a month versus $2,147 in Boston — 35% cheaper. Median household income is $61,953 in Philadelphia compared with $97,344 in Boston, so Boston has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Philadelphia or Boston?

Philadelphia is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 72 in Boston — 56% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Philadelphia or Boston?

School composites are close: A- in Philadelphia and A- in Boston. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Philadelphia, PA vs Boston, MA

Philadelphia, PA versus Boston, MA 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 $1,397 a month in Philadelphia and $2,147 in Boston, and median household income lands at $61,953 versus $97,344. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Philadelphia takes affordability and safety, while Boston takes job market and weather. The widest gap is median income, where Boston leads by 57% — 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 Boston do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Philadelphia and Boston reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Philadelphia report Full Boston report

Philadelphia, PA

Rent: $1,397/mo
Median income: $61,953
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 74°F

Boston, MA

Rent: $2,147/mo
Median income: $97,344
Crime index: 72
Schools: A-
Weather: 68°F

Rent

35% cheaper

Philadelphia rent is 35% cheaper than Boston

Philadelphia

Winner

$1,397/mo

Boston

$2,147/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $2,147 in Boston, so Philadelphia is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $750/month back in your pocket — $9,000/year. Over five years that's $45,000 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Boston, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Philadelphia is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

57% higher

Boston's median income is 57% higher than Philadelphia

Philadelphia

$61,953

Boston

Winner

$97,344

What this means for your life

Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 57% higher in Boston — about $35,391 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, Boston 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

56% lower crime

Philadelphia's crime index is 56% lower than Boston

Philadelphia

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

Boston

72 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Philadelphia's crime index is 32 versus 72 in Boston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 56% 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. Boston 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 Boston are about even on school scores.

Philadelphia

A- · 84/100

Boston

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Philadelphia, A- in Boston). 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

6% more comfortable

Boston weather is 6% more comfortable than Philadelphia

Philadelphia

74°F typical

Boston

Winner

68°F typical

What this means for your life

Boston scores 6% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 74°F in Philadelphia and 68°F in Boston. Philadelphia reads as warm weather most of the year; Boston reads as mild, livable temperatures. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Philadelphia's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Boston is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Philadelphia

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 35% cheaper here at about $1,397 a month. Choose Philadelphia if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Philadelphia is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 56% lower than Boston (32 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.

Open the Philadelphia report →

Fit check

Who should choose Boston

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 57% higher ($97,344), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 68°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Boston report →

Bottom line

Philadelphia vs Boston, called

If the job market is your priority, Boston is the clear choice.

If safety matters more to you, Philadelphia pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Philadelphia offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Philadelphia vs Boston FAQ

Is Philadelphia cheaper than Boston?: Yes. Typical rent in Philadelphia is $1,397 a month versus $2,147 in Boston — 35% cheaper. Median household income is $61,953 in Philadelphia compared with $97,344 in Boston, so Boston has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Philadelphia or Boston?: Philadelphia is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 72 in Boston — 56% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Philadelphia or Boston?: School composites are close: A- in Philadelphia and A- in Boston. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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