City comparison
No. Fresno's crime index is 195 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 211 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,421 in Fresno.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Fresno split most clearly. Fresno 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 $1,421 in Fresno.
Fresno 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 Fresno is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Fresno has rougher pockets and Philadelphia has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and Fresno are 2,402 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,421 a month in Fresno, up $24 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $70,991 in Fresno, up $9,038 (15%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 195 in Fresno, down 66 points (25%).
The move
Fresno and Philadelphia are 2,402 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,421 a month in Fresno to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $24 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $70,991 in Fresno to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $9,038 (13%).
The crime index goes from 195 in Fresno to 261 in Philadelphia, up 66 points (34%).
Philadelphia, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Fresno, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Philadelphia and Fresno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 2% cheaper than Fresno
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Fresno
$1,421/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,421 in Fresno, so Philadelphia is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $24, or $288 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 Fresno? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Fresno's median income is 15% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Fresno
Winner$70,991
Median household income is $70,991 in Fresno versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Fresno (about $9,038 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, Fresno 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
25% lower crime
Fresno's crime index is 25% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Fresno
Winner195 (100 = avg)
Fresno's crime index is 195 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% lower in Fresno. 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, Fresno 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
20% more comfortable
Fresno weather is 20% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Fresno
Winner73°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Philadelphia averages about 59°F (67°F highs); Fresno averages about 73°F (83°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Fresno sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Fresno scores 20% 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 2% 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 15% higher ($70,991), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 73°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fresno is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 25% lower than Philadelphia (195 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
Fresno runs 73°F typical weather against 59°F in Philadelphia (comfort scores 100 vs 83). Housing is $1,421/month versus $1,397/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
Philadelphia rent at $1,397/month is still below Fresno's $1,421, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $70,991 in Fresno versus $61,953 in Philadelphia.
If climate drives your move, Philadelphia is the stronger match (59°F typical weather versus 73°F). If an employer or family tie already points to Fresno, treat $1,421/month rent and $70,991 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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