Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Philadelphia leads 16 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,537 ✓ Higher
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
57% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 8.6%)
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Median income trails Philadelphia by $3,097/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (8.6%)
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $119/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,369)
Households earn $3,097 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
Cons
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
Longer commutes — 32.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
57% lower
392.9 vs 908.7 per 100k
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Median Income
$3,097
$57,537 vs $54,440/yr
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$12k less
$215,500 vs $227,200
Philadelphia
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
8.6% vs 9.5% unemployment
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $57,537 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 8.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 86.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 16.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Philadelphia leads 16 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 7 and Philadelphia wins 16. 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 Bridgeport to Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $215,500 median home), income ($54,440 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Philadelphia, PA are about 130 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.