City comparison
No. Reno's crime index is 151 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,556 in Reno.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Reno split most clearly. Reno scores 110 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 $1,556 in Reno.
Reno 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 Reno is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Reno has rougher pockets and Philadelphia has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and Reno are 2,347 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,556 a month in Reno, up $159 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $80,760 in Reno, up $18,807 (30%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 151 in Reno, down 110 points (42%).
The move
Reno and Philadelphia are 2,347 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $159 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $18,807 (23%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 261 in Philadelphia, up 110 points (73%).
Philadelphia, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Reno, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Philadelphia and Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 10% cheaper than Reno
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Reno
$1,556/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,556 in Reno, so Philadelphia is 10% 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 $1,908, 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 Reno.
Planning to buy in Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
30% higher
Reno's median income is 30% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Reno
Winner$80,760
Median household income is $80,760 in Reno versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Reno (about $18,807 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, Reno 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
42% lower crime
Reno's crime index is 42% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Reno
Winner151 (100 = avg)
Reno's crime index is 151 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% lower in Reno. 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, Reno 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
33% more comfortable
Reno weather is 33% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
Reno
Winner62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); Reno averages about 62°F (71°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Reno averages around 62°F. Reno scores 33% 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 10% 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 30% higher ($80,760), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 62°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Reno is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 42% lower than Philadelphia (151 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 Reno leads on safety (47/100 vs 31/100 in Philadelphia). Typical rent is $1,556 in Reno and $1,397 in Philadelphia; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Philadelphia rent at $1,397/month is still below Reno's $1,556, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 54°F in Philadelphia and 62°F in Reno.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Reno; Philadelphia only makes sense when you have walked the Philadelphia ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,397 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Reno when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Reno, plus other cities in PA and NV.
