Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Philadelphia leads 14 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
14
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
Trenton
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
11% less violent crime than Trenton
Households earn $13,093 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (8.6%)
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $104k less ($111,200 vs $215,500)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Philadelphia by $13,093/yr
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 8.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Income
$13,093
$57,537 vs $44,444/yr
Philadelphia
Violent Crime
11% lower
908.7 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Philadelphia
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
8.6% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Median Home Value
$104k less
$111,200 vs $215,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 47.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Philadelphia leads 14 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 14 and Trenton wins 9. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $111,200 median home), income ($57,537 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Trenton, NJ are about 25 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.