Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kenosha, WI
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Kenosha leads 16 of 23 categories
Kenosha
Wisconsin
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,963 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
7
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.
Kenosha, WI
Pros
69% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Rent averages $171/mo less ($1,079 vs $1,250)
Households earn $7,426 more per year on average
Homes cost $21k less ($194,400 vs $215,500)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 31°F
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
Median income trails Kenosha by $7,426/yr
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kenosha
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Kenosha
Median Income
$7,426
$64,963 vs $57,537/yr
Kenosha
Violent Crime
69% lower
285.7 vs 908.7 per 100k
Kenosha
Median Home Value
$21k less
$194,400 vs $215,500
Kenosha
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kenosha, WI | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $194,400 ✓ Lower | $215,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,079 ✓ Lower | $1,250 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,963 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kenosha School District | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.3°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.2" | 16.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,493 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenosha's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Kenosha is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 16 of 23 categories. Kenosha 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 Kenosha to Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($194,400 vs $215,500 median home), income ($64,963 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kenosha, WI and Philadelphia, PA are about 684 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.