Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Lancaster leads 12 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
171,465
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
8% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Households earn $13,830 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (7.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $153k less ($215,500 vs $368,800)
Rent averages $326/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,576)
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 98°F
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 Lancaster by $13,830/yr
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 7.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Income
$13,830
$71,367 vs $57,537/yr
Lancaster
Violent Crime
8% lower
834.7 vs 908.7 per 100k
Lancaster
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Lancaster
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 89.3°F
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$153k less
$215,500 vs $368,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, 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 | $368,800⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 86.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster'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, Lancaster leads 12 of 23 categories. Lancaster wins 12 and Philadelphia wins 11. 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 Lancaster to Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $215,500 median home), income ($71,367 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Philadelphia, PA are about 2,369 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.