Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 18 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $137k less ($215,500 vs $352,600)
Rent averages $572/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,822)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $30,219/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 4.6%)
Surprise, AZ
Pros
88% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Households earn $30,219 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 42°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$137k less
$215,500 vs $352,600
Surprise
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$30,219
$87,756 vs $57,537/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
88% lower
109.1 vs 908.7 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 18 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 5 and Surprise wins 18. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $352,600 median home), income ($57,537 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Surprise, AZ are about 2,094 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.