Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Spokane leads 14 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Spokane
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
227,922
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($215,500 vs $286,900)
Cons
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 6.2%)
Median income trails Spokane by $5,779/yr
Spokane, WA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.2%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Rent averages $190/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,250)
Households earn $5,779 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$71k less
$215,500 vs $286,900
Spokane
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Spokane
Median Income
$5,779
$63,316 vs $57,537/yr
Spokane
Violent Crime
26% lower
674.9 vs 908.7 per 100k
Spokane
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $286,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $63,316 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 227,922 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 14 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 9 and Spokane wins 14. 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $286,900 median home), income ($57,537 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Spokane, WA are about 2,145 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.