Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Denton leads 15 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
8
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.
Denton, TX
Pros
78% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $14,384 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 42°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $81k less ($215,500 vs $296,100)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Denton by $14,384/yr
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Median Income
$14,384
$71,921 vs $57,537/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
78% lower
204.2 vs 908.7 per 100k
Denton
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 89.3°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.3 on the COL index
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$81k less
$215,500 vs $296,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, 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 | $296,100 | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Denton is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 15 of 23 categories. Denton 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 Denton to Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $215,500 median home), income ($71,921 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Philadelphia, PA are about 1,303 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.