Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Edinburg leads 16 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
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.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
70% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Rent averages $330/mo less ($920 vs $1,250)
Homes cost $56k less ($159,600 vs $215,500)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (7.2%)
Cons
Median income trails Philadelphia by $3,398/yr
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 97°F
Households earn $3,398 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Edinburg
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 7.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Violent Crime
70% lower
269.6 vs 908.7 per 100k
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$56k less
$159,600 vs $215,500
Edinburg
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Edinburg
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 89.3°F
Philadelphia
Median Income
$3,398
$57,537 vs $54,139/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $215,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,250 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $57,537 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 86.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 16 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 16 and Philadelphia wins 7. 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 Edinburg to Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $215,500 median home), income ($54,139 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Philadelphia, PA are about 1,625 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.