Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 St. Louis leads 14 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
St. Louis
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
34% less violent crime than St. Louis
Households earn $4,596 more per year on average
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 5.4%)
Longer commutes — 32.8 min average each way
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Rent averages $312/mo less ($938 vs $1,250)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Homes cost $41k less ($174,100 vs $215,500)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Philadelphia by $4,596/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Income
$4,596
$57,537 vs $52,941/yr
Philadelphia
Violent Crime
34% lower
908.7 vs 1367.1 per 100k
St. Louis
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$41k less
$174,100 vs $215,500
St. Louis
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 298,018 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
St. Louis is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 14 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 9 and St. Louis 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $174,100 median home), income ($57,537 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and St. Louis, MO are about 812 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.