Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Boulder leads 12 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
11
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
65% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Households earn $22,706 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 85" of snow per year
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $704k less ($215,500 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $603/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,853)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $22,706/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 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$22,706
$80,243 vs $57,537/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
65% lower
322.3 vs 908.7 per 100k
Boulder
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$704k less
$215,500 vs $919,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 16.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boulder leads 12 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 12 and Philadelphia wins 11. 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 Boulder to Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $215,500 median home), income ($80,243 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Philadelphia, PA are about 1,586 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.