City comparison
No. Indianapolis's crime index is 216 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 246 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Indianapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,156 a month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia and Indianapolis 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 $1,156 in Indianapolis, and median household income lands at $61,953 versus $66,219. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Indianapolis is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, 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 Indianapolis is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Indianapolis at $1,156 average has pockets that run $956 and others at $1,556: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Philadelphia and Indianapolis are 583 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,156 a month in Indianapolis, down $241 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $66,219 in Indianapolis, up $4,266 (7%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 216 in Indianapolis, down 45 points (17%).
The move
Indianapolis and Philadelphia are 583 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,156 a month in Indianapolis to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, up $241 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $66,219 in Indianapolis to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $4,266 (6%).
The crime index goes from 216 in Indianapolis to 261 in Philadelphia, up 45 points (21%).
Philadelphia, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Indianapolis, IN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Philadelphia and Indianapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Indianapolis rent is 17% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,397/mo
Indianapolis
Winner$1,156/mo
Typical rent runs $1,156 a month in Indianapolis versus $1,397 in Philadelphia, so Indianapolis is 17% 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 $2,892, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Indianapolis's median income is 7% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Indianapolis
Winner$66,219
Median household income is $66,219 in Indianapolis versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Indianapolis (about $4,266 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
17% lower crime
Indianapolis's crime index is 17% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Indianapolis
Winner216 (100 = avg)
Indianapolis's crime index is 216 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 17% lower in Indianapolis. 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, Indianapolis 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
4% more comfortable
Indianapolis weather is 4% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Indianapolis
Winner60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Philadelphia averages about 59°F (67°F highs); Indianapolis averages about 60°F (68°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Indianapolis averages around 60°F. Indianapolis scores 4% 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
On these five categories Indianapolis takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Philadelphia because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Philadelphia only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Indianapolis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,156 a month. Choose Indianapolis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 7% higher ($66,219), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Indianapolis is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 17% lower than Philadelphia (216 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
Safety is the widest gap: Indianapolis scores 37/100 versus 31/100 in Philadelphia. Rent is $1,156/month in Indianapolis and $1,397/month in Philadelphia, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Median income is $66,219 in Indianapolis versus $61,953 in Philadelphia.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Indianapolis; Philadelphia only makes sense when you have walked the Philadelphia ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,397 rent.
Typical rent stays $1,156 in Indianapolis and $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Indianapolis when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Indianapolis, plus other cities in PA and IN.
