Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Riverside leads 12 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Riverside
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $270k less ($215,500 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $461/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,711)
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $25,911/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 6.1%)
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,911 more per year on average
35% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$270k less
$215,500 vs $485,500
Riverside
Median Income
$25,911
$83,448 vs $57,537/yr
Riverside
Violent Crime
35% lower
589.7 vs 908.7 per 100k
Riverside
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.6% unemployment
Riverside
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 316,076 |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Riverside leads 12 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 11 and Riverside wins 12. 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $485,500 median home), income ($57,537 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Riverside, CA are about 2,348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.