Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock 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
Round Rock
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $122k less ($215,500 vs $337,500)
Rent averages $336/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,586)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Round Rock by $34,351/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 3.8%)
Round Rock, TX
Pros
86% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Households earn $34,351 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $337,500
Higher rents — median is $1,586/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$122k less
$215,500 vs $337,500
Round Rock
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Round Rock
Median Income
$34,351
$91,888 vs $57,537/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
86% lower
130.7 vs 908.7 per 100k
Round Rock
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Round Rock
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $337,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,586⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $91,888 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 19.6% ✓ 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 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% | 42.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 120,465 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Round Rock is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 19 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 4 and Round Rock 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 Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $337,500 median home), income ($57,537 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Round Rock, TX are about 1,424 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.