Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 South Fulton leads 15 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
South Fulton
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,488 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
107,865
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Rent averages $211/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,461)
Homes cost $27k less ($215,500 vs $242,200)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails South Fulton by $19,951/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 7.8%)
South Fulton, GA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Households earn $19,951 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (7.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 42°F
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cons
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,461/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$27k less
$215,500 vs $242,200
South Fulton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
South Fulton
Median Income
$19,951
$77,488 vs $57,537/yr
South Fulton
Violent Crime
48% lower
470.5 vs 908.7 per 100k
South Fulton
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
7.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | South Fulton, 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 | $242,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,461⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $77,488 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 7.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 32.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 107,865 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
South Fulton is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Fulton leads 15 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 8 and South Fulton wins 15. 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 South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $242,200 median home), income ($57,537 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and South Fulton, GA are about 683 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.