Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond leads 17 of 23 categories
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
Richmond
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($215,500 vs $308,300)
Cons
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 6.1%)
Longer commutes — 32.8 min average each way
Richmond, VA
Pros
63% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 42°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$93k less
$215,500 vs $308,300
Richmond
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Median Income
$2,069
$59,606 vs $57,537/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
63% lower
336.9 vs 908.7 per 100k
Richmond
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $308,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $59,606 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 47.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 8.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 227,171 |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 17 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 6 and Richmond wins 17. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $308,300 median home), income ($57,537 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Richmond, VA are about 213 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.