City comparison
No. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Raleigh split most clearly. Raleigh scores 119 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,572 in Raleigh.
Raleigh is not a close call here. It leads on 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 Raleigh is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Raleigh has rougher pockets and Philadelphia has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and Raleigh are 345 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $175 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $23,442 (38%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 142 in Raleigh, down 119 points (46%).
The move
Raleigh and Philadelphia are 345 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $175 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $23,442 (27%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 261 in Philadelphia, up 119 points (84%).
Philadelphia, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Philadelphia and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 11% cheaper than Raleigh
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Philadelphia is 11% 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 $2,100, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Philadelphia still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Raleigh.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
38% higher
Raleigh's median income is 38% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 38% higher in Raleigh (about $23,442 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
46% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 46% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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
20% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 20% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Raleigh
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Philadelphia averages about 59°F (67°F highs); Raleigh averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Raleigh scores 20% 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
Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 38% higher ($85,395), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 46% lower than Philadelphia (142 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
Philadelphia carries the heavier crime signal on this page (31/100 safety vs 49/100 in Raleigh). That 18-point spread matters more than the $175 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Philadelphia rent at $1,397/month is still below Raleigh's $1,572, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Philadelphia and 67°F in Raleigh.
Raleigh clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Philadelphia deserves a serious look only when you already know the Philadelphia block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
Ready to move to Raleigh?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Raleigh when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Raleigh, plus other cities in PA and NC.
