Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 San Leandro leads 12 of 22 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,723
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $557k less ($215,500 vs $772,700)
Rent averages $747/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,997)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Leandro by $39,604/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 5.0%)
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,604 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 89°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$557k less
$215,500 vs $772,700
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
17.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Income
$39,604
$97,141 vs $57,537/yr
San Leandro
Violent Crime
40% lower
548.7 vs 908.7 per 100k
San Leandro
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,997⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $97,141 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 32.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 161⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 187⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 84.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 18.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Leandro leads 12 of 22 categories. Philadelphia wins 10 and San Leandro 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 San Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $772,700 median home), income ($57,537 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and San Leandro, CA are about 2,506 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.