Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson 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
Richardson
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($215,500 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $475/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,725)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $36,825/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 5.0%)
Richardson, TX
Pros
84% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Households earn $36,825 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$164k less
$215,500 vs $379,800
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.5 on the COL index
Richardson
Median Income
$36,825
$94,362 vs $57,537/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
84% lower
146.7 vs 908.7 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 16 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 7 and Richardson 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $379,800 median home), income ($57,537 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Richardson, TX are about 1,289 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.