Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oklahoma City, OK
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Oklahoma City leads 17 of 23 categories
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
681,088
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
6
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.
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
26% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (4.5%)
Rent averages $238/mo less ($1,012 vs $1,250)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Households earn $6,714 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Oklahoma City
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Oklahoma City by $6,714/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Income
$6,714
$64,251 vs $57,537/yr
Oklahoma City
Violent Crime
26% lower
676.0 vs 908.7 per 100k
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$19k less
$196,700 vs $215,500
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,700 ✓ Lower | $215,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,012 ✓ Lower | $1,250 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,251 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.5% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OKLAHOMA CITY | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.7" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 681,088 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oklahoma City's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oklahoma City leads 17 of 23 categories. Oklahoma City wins 17 and Philadelphia wins 6. 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 Oklahoma City to Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,700 vs $215,500 median home), income ($64,251 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oklahoma City, OK and Philadelphia, PA are about 1,259 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.