Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Carrollton leads 18 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
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.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
85% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Households earn $37,843 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,300
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $112k less ($215,500 vs $327,300)
Rent averages $305/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,555)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $37,843/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 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Median Income
$37,843
$95,380 vs $57,537/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
85% lower
137.1 vs 908.7 per 100k
Carrollton
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 8.6% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 89.3°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.3 on the COL index
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$112k less
$215,500 vs $327,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Carrollton is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 18 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 18 and Philadelphia wins 5. 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 Carrollton to Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $215,500 median home), income ($95,380 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Philadelphia, PA are about 1,298 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.