City comparison
No. Louisville's crime index is 209 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 207 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Louisville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,120 a month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia and Louisville 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 $1,120 in Louisville, and median household income lands at $61,953 versus $66,849. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Louisville 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 Louisville is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Louisville at $1,120 average has pockets that run $920 and others at $1,520: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Philadelphia and Louisville are 580 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,120 a month in Louisville, down $277 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $66,849 in Louisville, up $4,896 (8%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 209 in Louisville, down 52 points (20%).
The move
Louisville and Philadelphia are 580 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,120 a month in Louisville to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, up $277 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $66,849 in Louisville to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $4,896 (7%).
The crime index goes from 209 in Louisville to 261 in Philadelphia, up 52 points (25%).
Philadelphia, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Louisville, KY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Philadelphia and Louisville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Louisville rent is 20% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,397/mo
Louisville
Winner$1,120/mo
Typical rent runs $1,120 a month in Louisville versus $1,397 in Philadelphia, so Louisville is 20% 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 $3,324, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Louisville 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 Louisville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Louisville's median income is 8% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Louisville
Winner$66,849
Median household income is $66,849 in Louisville versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Louisville (about $4,896 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
20% lower crime
Louisville's crime index is 20% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Louisville
Winner209 (100 = avg)
Louisville's crime index is 209 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% lower in Louisville. 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, Louisville 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
13% more comfortable
Louisville weather is 13% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Louisville
Winner63°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 94/100
Philadelphia averages about 59°F (67°F highs); Louisville averages about 63°F (71°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Louisville averages around 63°F. Louisville scores 13% 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 Louisville 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
Louisville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,120 a month. Choose Louisville 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 8% higher ($66,849), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 63°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Louisville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 20% lower than Philadelphia (209 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: Louisville scores 38/100 versus 31/100 in Philadelphia. Rent is $1,120/month in Louisville and $1,397/month in Philadelphia, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Philadelphia and 63°F in Louisville.
Louisville is ahead on safety (38/100 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.
Typical rent stays $1,120 in Louisville and $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Louisville, plus other cities in PA and KY.
