Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Toledo leads 13 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
10
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
Toledo
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
13% less violent crime than Toledo
Households earn $12,132 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 34°F
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Toledo
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 32.8 min average each way
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $117k less ($98,800 vs $215,500)
Rent averages $396/mo less ($854 vs $1,250)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cons
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Philadelphia by $12,132/yr
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Income
$12,132
$57,537 vs $45,405/yr
Philadelphia
Violent Crime
13% lower
908.7 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 84.6°F
Toledo
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$117k less
$98,800 vs $215,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 8.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 269,962 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Toledo leads 13 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 10 and Toledo wins 13. 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $98,800 median home), income ($57,537 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Toledo, OH are about 456 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.