Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Midland leads 13 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
10
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.
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $32,911 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 42°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $65k less ($215,500 vs $280,700)
Rent averages $150/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $32,911/yr
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
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$32,911
$90,448 vs $57,537/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
60% lower
364.9 vs 908.7 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 89.3°F
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$65k less
$215,500 vs $280,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% | 86.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Midland is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 13 of 23 categories. Midland wins 13 and Philadelphia wins 10. 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 Midland to Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $215,500 median home), income ($90,448 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Philadelphia, PA are about 1,598 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.