Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Roswell, GA
🏆 Roswell leads 19 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Roswell
Georgia
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $264k less ($215,500 vs $479,400)
Rent averages $369/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,619)
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $65,387/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 4.3%)
Roswell, GA
Pros
Households earn $65,387 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $479,400
Higher rents — median is $1,619/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$264k less
$215,500 vs $479,400
Roswell
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Roswell
Median Income
$65,387
$122,924 vs $57,537/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
82% lower
160.1 vs 908.7 per 100k
Roswell
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Roswell, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $479,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,619⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $122,924 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 29.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% | 63.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 92,770 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 70.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Roswell's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Roswell is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 19 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 4 and Roswell wins 19. 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 Roswell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $479,400 median home), income ($57,537 vs $122,924), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Roswell, GA are about 654 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.