Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Philadelphia leads 14 of 23 categories
Compton
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,191 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (7.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 42°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $274k less ($215,500 vs $489,400)
29% less violent crime than Compton
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $214/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,464)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Compton by $12,191/yr
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Income
$12,191
$69,728 vs $57,537/yr
Compton
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
7.9% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Violent Crime
29% lower
908.7 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$274k less
$215,500 vs $489,400
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 230⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 239⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 86.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Philadelphia leads 14 of 23 categories. Compton wins 9 and Philadelphia wins 14. 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 Compton to Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $215,500 median home), income ($69,728 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Philadelphia, PA are about 2,393 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.