City comparison
No. Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Richmond is cheaper. Median rent is $1,372 a month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Richmond split most clearly. Richmond scores 92 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 $1,372 in Richmond.
Richmond 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 Richmond is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Richmond has rougher pockets and Philadelphia has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and Richmond are 207 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,372 a month in Richmond, down $25 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $64,587 in Richmond, up $2,634 (4%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 169 in Richmond, down 92 points (35%).
The move
Richmond and Philadelphia are 207 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, up $25 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $2,634 (4%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 261 in Philadelphia, up 92 points (54%).
Philadelphia, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Philadelphia and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Richmond rent is 2% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,397/mo
Richmond
Winner$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,372 a month in Richmond versus $1,397 in Philadelphia, so Richmond is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $25, or $300 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 Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Richmond's median income is 4% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Richmond
Winner$64,587
Median household income is $64,587 in Richmond versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Richmond (about $2,634 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
35% lower crime
Richmond's crime index is 35% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Richmond
Winner169 (100 = avg)
Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% lower in Richmond. 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, Richmond 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
Richmond weather is 13% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
Richmond
Winner57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Richmond 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 Richmond 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
Richmond is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,372 a month. Choose Richmond 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 4% higher ($64,587), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 57°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Richmond is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 35% lower than Philadelphia (169 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Richmond: Richmond scores 44/100 versus 31/100 in Philadelphia, with matched rent near $1,372/month. I would vet the exact ZIP in Philadelphia before trading 13 safety points for an identical lease.
Median income is $64,587 in Richmond versus $61,953 in Philadelphia — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Richmond 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.
Weather averages land near 54°F in Philadelphia and 57°F in Richmond.
Common questions
Ready to move to Richmond?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Richmond when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Richmond, plus other cities in PA and VA.
