City comparison
No. Greensboro's crime index is 214 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 235 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Greensboro is cheaper. Median rent is $1,172 a month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia and Greensboro are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,172 in Greensboro, and median household income lands at $61,953 versus $61,515. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Greensboro is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, 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 Greensboro is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Greensboro at $1,172 average has pockets that run $972 and others at $1,572: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Philadelphia and Greensboro are 368 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,172 a month in Greensboro, down $225 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $61,515 in Greensboro, down $438 (1%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 214 in Greensboro, down 47 points (18%).
The move
Greensboro and Philadelphia are 368 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,172 a month in Greensboro to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, up $225 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $61,515 in Greensboro to $61,953 in Philadelphia, up $438 (1%).
The crime index goes from 214 in Greensboro to 261 in Philadelphia, up 47 points (22%).
Philadelphia, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Greensboro, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Philadelphia and Greensboro? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Greensboro rent is 16% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,397/mo
Greensboro
Winner$1,172/mo
Typical rent runs $1,172 a month in Greensboro versus $1,397 in Philadelphia, so Greensboro is 16% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,700, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Greensboro still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Philadelphia.
Planning to buy in Greensboro? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Philadelphia's median income is 1% higher than Greensboro
Philadelphia
Winner$61,953
Greensboro
$61,515
Median household income is $61,953 in Philadelphia versus $61,515 in Greensboro, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Philadelphia (about $438 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
18% lower crime
Greensboro's crime index is 18% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Greensboro
Winner214 (100 = avg)
Greensboro's crime index is 214 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% lower in Greensboro. 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, Greensboro 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
9% more comfortable
Greensboro weather is 9% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
Greensboro
Winner56°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 75/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); Greensboro averages about 56°F (67°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Greensboro averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Greensboro scores 9% 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Philadelphia is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($61,953). Start with Philadelphia if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Greensboro is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,172 a month. Choose Greensboro if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Greensboro if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (56°F) beat Philadelphia on this page's weather index by 9%. Philadelphia may pay more or cost less, but Greensboro is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Greensboro is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 18% lower than Philadelphia (214 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
Rent is the clearest fork: Greensboro at $1,172/month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia ($225 apart). Philadelphia median income is $61,953 against $61,515 in Greensboro, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Greensboro rent at $1,172/month is still below Philadelphia's $1,397, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 54°F in Philadelphia and 56°F in Greensboro.
If housing cost drives your move, Greensboro is the stronger match ($1,172/month rent against $1,397). If an employer or family tie already points to Philadelphia, treat $1,397/month rent and $61,953 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 Greensboro, plus other cities in PA and NC.
