Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke leads 17 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Households earn $6,014 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Roanoke
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.6%)
Roanoke, VA
Pros
32% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Rent averages $333/mo less ($917 vs $1,250)
Homes cost $54k less ($162,000 vs $215,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.6%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Philadelphia by $6,014/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Income
$6,014
$57,537 vs $51,523/yr
Roanoke
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Violent Crime
32% lower
620.4 vs 908.7 per 100k
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$54k less
$162,000 vs $215,500
Roanoke
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 14.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 17 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 6 and Roanoke 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $162,000 median home), income ($57,537 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Roanoke, VA are about 321 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.