Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Knoxville leads 13 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
191,857
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
9
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.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.8%)
19% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Rent averages $207/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,250)
Homes cost $31k less ($184,200 vs $215,500)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Philadelphia by $9,228/yr
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Households earn $9,228 more per year on average
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
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Knoxville
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Violent Crime
19% lower
740.3 vs 908.7 per 100k
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$31k less
$184,200 vs $215,500
Knoxville
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Median Income
$9,228
$57,537 vs $48,309/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $215,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,250 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $57,537 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 50.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 13 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 13 and Philadelphia wins 9. 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 Knoxville to Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $215,500 median home), income ($48,309 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Philadelphia, PA are about 555 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.