Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Philadelphia leads 12 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Salt Lake City
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
201,269
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $243k less ($215,500 vs $458,600)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $14,820/yr
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 3.6%)
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (3.6%)
5% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Households earn $14,820 more per year on average
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$243k less
$215,500 vs $458,600
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$14,820
$72,357 vs $57,537/yr
Salt Lake City
Violent Crime
5% lower
864.2 vs 908.7 per 100k
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
3.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,254 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 227⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 201,269 |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Philadelphia leads 12 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 12 and Salt Lake City wins 11. 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $458,600 median home), income ($57,537 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Salt Lake City, UT are about 1,923 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.