City comparison
Safety is where Philadelphia and Dallas split most clearly. Dallas scores 66 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,472 in Dallas.
Dallas is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Philadelphia makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Dallas is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Dallas has rougher pockets and Philadelphia has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
Philadelphia, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Dallas, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Philadelphia and Dallas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 5% cheaper than Dallas
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Dallas
$1,472/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,472 in Dallas, so Philadelphia is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $75, or $900 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Dallas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Dallas's median income is 14% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Dallas
Winner$70,518
Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Dallas (about $8,565 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, Dallas 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
26% lower crime
Dallas's crime index is 26% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
250 (100 = avg)
Dallas
Winner184 (100 = avg)
Dallas's crime index is 184 versus 250 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% lower in Dallas. 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, Dallas 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
6% more comfortable
Dallas weather is 6% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
63°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 94/100
Dallas
Winner77°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Philadelphia averages about 63°F (70°F highs); Dallas averages about 77°F (84°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 63°F. Dallas sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Dallas scores 6% 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 Philadelphia if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 14% higher ($70,518), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Dallas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 26% lower than Philadelphia (184 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
Dallas runs 77°F typical weather against 63°F in Philadelphia (comfort scores 100 vs 94). Housing is $1,472/month versus $1,397/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
Philadelphia rent at $1,397/month is still below Dallas's $1,472, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $70,518 in Dallas versus $61,953 in Philadelphia.
If climate drives your move, Philadelphia is the stronger match (63°F typical weather versus 77°F). If an employer or family tie already points to Dallas, treat $1,472/month rent and $70,518 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 Dallas, plus other cities in PA and TX.
