Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Philadelphia leads 13 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($215,500 vs $415,300)
15% less violent crime than Tacoma
Rent averages $239/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,489)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $21,548/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 5.4%)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $21,548 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Violent Crime
15% lower
908.7 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$200k less
$215,500 vs $415,300
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$21,548
$79,085 vs $57,537/yr
Tacoma
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Philadelphia leads 13 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 13 and Tacoma wins 10. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $415,300 median home), income ($57,537 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Tacoma, WA are about 2,381 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.