City comparison
The income gap between Philadelphia and Raleigh is significant: $57,537 median household versus $78,631. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,810 in Philadelphia and $1,750 in Raleigh.
Raleigh is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety 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 Raleigh is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
Philadelphia, PA
Raleigh, NC
Rent
3% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 3% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,810/mo
Raleigh
Winner$1,750/mo
Typical rent runs $1,750 a month in Raleigh versus $1,810 in Philadelphia, so Raleigh is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $60, or $720 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 Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
37% higher
Raleigh's median income is 37% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$57,537
Raleigh
Winner$78,631
Median household income is $78,631 in Raleigh versus $57,537 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 37% higher in Raleigh (about $21,094 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, Raleigh 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
14% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 14% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
128 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner110 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 110 versus 128 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 14% lower in Raleigh. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Raleigh, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Philadelphia. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
School scores
Neck and neck
Philadelphia and Raleigh are about even on school scores.
Philadelphia
A- · 84/100
Raleigh
A- · 84/100
School composites are effectively even (A- in Philadelphia, A- in Raleigh). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better. At this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Philadelphia weather is 3% more comfortable than Raleigh
Philadelphia
Winner74°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh
81°F avg · 90°F highs · comfort 97/100
Philadelphia averages about 74°F (82°F highs); Raleigh averages about 81°F (90°F highs). Philadelphia sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Raleigh averages around 81°F. Philadelphia scores 3% 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 Raleigh 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
Pick Philadelphia if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (74°F) beat Raleigh on this page's weather index by 3%. Raleigh 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
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,750 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 37% higher here ($78,631). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 14% lower than Philadelphia (110 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
Raleigh wins overall on this comparison, taking 3 of the 5 categories against 1 for Philadelphia.
Raleigh's typical rent runs 3% lower than Philadelphia ($1,750/month vs $1,810/month), which is real money over a lease.
The main trade-off: Philadelphia scores 3% more comfortable on this page's weather index (about 74°F typical vs 81°F in Raleigh).
The decision comes down to whether you value cost of living more than weather. For most middle-income movers, Raleigh is the stronger choice.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Raleigh, plus other cities in PA and NC.
