Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Redding leads 16 of 23 categories
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
Redding
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $128k less ($215,500 vs $343,000)
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 100°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 Redding by $9,786/yr
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.9%)
Redding, CA
Pros
29% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.9%)
Households earn $9,786 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,000
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$128k less
$215,500 vs $343,000
Redding
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Redding
Median Income
$9,786
$67,323 vs $57,537/yr
Redding
Violent Crime
29% lower
647.8 vs 908.7 per 100k
Redding
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.6% unemployment
Redding
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $343,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,278 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $67,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 0.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Redding is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Redding leads 16 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 7 and Redding wins 16. 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 Philadelphia to Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $343,000 median home), income ($57,537 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Redding, CA are about 2,459 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.