Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 13 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $89k less ($215,500 vs $304,000)
Rent averages $479/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,729)
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $30,929/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 4.5%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
74% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Households earn $30,929 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 42°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$89k less
$215,500 vs $304,000
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$30,929
$88,466 vs $57,537/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
74% lower
235.7 vs 908.7 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
14.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 10 and San Tan Valley wins 13. 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 Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $304,000 median home), income ($57,537 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 2,060 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.