Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Alexandria leads 15 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $55,642 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $440k less ($215,500 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $733/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,983)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $55,642/yr
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$55,642
$113,179 vs $57,537/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
76% lower
219.1 vs 908.7 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$440k less
$215,500 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 15 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 15 and Philadelphia wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $215,500 median home), income ($113,179 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Philadelphia, PA are about 133 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.