City comparison
No. Boston's crime index is 147 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 175 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
The income gap between Philadelphia and Boston is significant: $61,953 median household versus $97,344. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,397 in Philadelphia and $2,147 in Boston.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Philadelphia costs less and Boston pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Philadelphia at $1,397 average has pockets that run $1,197 and others at $1,797: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Philadelphia and Boston are 271 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $750 a month (54%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $97,344 in Boston, up $35,391 (57%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 147 in Boston, down 114 points (44%).
The move
Boston and Philadelphia are 271 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $750 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $35,391 (36%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 261 in Philadelphia, up 114 points (78%).
Philadelphia, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Boston, MA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Philadelphia and Boston? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 35% cheaper than Boston
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Boston
$2,147/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $2,147 in Boston, so Philadelphia is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $750/month back in your pocket ($9,000/year). Over five years that's $45,000 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Boston, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Philadelphia is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Philadelphia? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
57% higher
Boston's median income is 57% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Boston
Winner$97,344
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 57% higher in Boston (about $35,391 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Boston is the stronger labor market on paper. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
44% lower crime
Boston's crime index is 44% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Boston
Winner147 (100 = avg)
Boston's crime index is 147 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 44% lower in Boston. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Boston is the easier city. Philadelphia can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
15% more comfortable
Philadelphia weather is 15% more comfortable than Boston
Philadelphia
Winner59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Boston
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Philadelphia averages about 59°F (67°F highs); Boston averages about 55°F (61°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Boston averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Philadelphia scores 15% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Boston if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 35% cheaper here at about $1,397 a month. Choose Philadelphia if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Philadelphia if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (59°F) beat Boston on this page's weather index by 15%. Boston may pay more or cost less, but Philadelphia is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Boston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 57% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Boston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 44% lower than Philadelphia (147 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,397/month in Philadelphia versus $2,147 in Boston. Median income reads $61,953 in Philadelphia and $97,344 in Boston, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Philadelphia rent at $1,397/month is still below Boston's $2,147, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $97,344 in Boston versus $61,953 in Philadelphia.
If housing cost drives your move, Philadelphia is the stronger match ($1,397/month rent against $2,147). If an employer or family tie already points to Boston, treat $2,147/month rent and $97,344 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Boston, plus other cities in PA and MA.
