City comparison
No. Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $2,007 in Jersey City.
The income gap between Philadelphia and Jersey City is significant: $61,953 median household versus $97,710. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,397 in Philadelphia and $2,007 in Jersey City.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Philadelphia costs less and Jersey City 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 Jersey City are 78 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $2,007 a month in Jersey City, up $610 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $97,710 in Jersey City, up $35,757 (58%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 135 in Jersey City, down 126 points (48%).
The move
Jersey City and Philadelphia are 78 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,007 a month in Jersey City to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $610 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $97,710 in Jersey City to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $35,757 (37%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Jersey City to 261 in Philadelphia, up 126 points (93%).
Philadelphia, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Jersey City, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Philadelphia and Jersey City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 30% cheaper than Jersey City
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Jersey City
$2,007/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $2,007 in Jersey City, so Philadelphia is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $610/month back in your pocket ($7,320/year). Over five years that's $36,600 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 Jersey City, 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
58% higher
Jersey City's median income is 58% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Jersey City
Winner$97,710
Median household income is $97,710 in Jersey City versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 58% higher in Jersey City (about $35,757 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, Jersey City 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
48% lower crime
Jersey City's crime index is 48% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Jersey City
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 48% lower in Jersey City. 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, Jersey City 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
5% more comfortable
Philadelphia weather is 5% more comfortable than Jersey City
Philadelphia
Winner54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
Jersey City
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); Jersey City averages about 53°F (58°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Jersey City averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Philadelphia scores 5% 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 Jersey City 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 30% 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 (54°F) beat Jersey City on this page's weather index by 5%. Jersey City 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
Jersey City is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 58% higher here ($97,710). Start with Jersey City if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Jersey City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 48% lower than Philadelphia (135 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Jersey City leads on safety (51/100 vs 31/100 in Philadelphia). Typical rent is $2,007 in Jersey City and $1,397 in Philadelphia; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Philadelphia rent at $1,397/month is still below Jersey City's $2,007, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,397 in Philadelphia and $2,007 in Jersey City.
Jersey City is ahead on safety (51/100 vs 31/100); Philadelphia is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,397/month rent plus $61,953 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Jersey City, plus other cities in PA and NJ.
