Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Tyler leads 19 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
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
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Tyler
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.3%)
Tyler, TX
Pros
57% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Rent averages $137/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,250)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 42°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Tyler
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Median Income
$5,519
$63,056 vs $57,537/yr
Tyler
Violent Crime
57% lower
391.2 vs 908.7 per 100k
Tyler
Median Home Value
$10k less
$205,200 vs $215,500
Tyler
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.6% unemployment
Tyler
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $63,056 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 47.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tyler leads 19 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 4 and Tyler wins 19. 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $205,200 median home), income ($57,537 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Tyler, TX are about 1,241 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.