Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 West Covina leads 12 of 22 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $449k less ($215,500 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $804/mo less ($1,250 vs $2,054)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $38,682/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 6.7%)
West Covina, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,682 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Philadelphia
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$449k less
$215,500 vs $664,500
West Covina
Median Income
$38,682
$96,219 vs $57,537/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
74% lower
239.3 vs 908.7 per 100k
West Covina
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.7% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, West Covina leads 12 of 22 categories. Philadelphia wins 10 and West Covina wins 12. 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $664,500 median home), income ($57,537 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and West Covina, CA are about 2,372 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.