Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Philadelphia leads 12 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Households earn $9,860 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 35°F
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
Longer commutes — 32.8 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MA
Pros
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Rent averages $203/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,250)
Homes cost $17k less ($198,500 vs $215,500)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Philadelphia by $9,860/yr
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Income
$9,860
$57,537 vs $47,677/yr
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Violent Crime
2% lower
891.4 vs 908.7 per 100k
Springfield
Median Home Value
$17k less
$198,500 vs $215,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 235⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 50.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Philadelphia leads 12 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 12 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $198,500 median home), income ($57,537 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Springfield, MA are about 199 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.