Boston, MA vs Philadelphia, PA
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | BostonBoston, MA | PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Soft | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Elevated | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Average | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | High Autonomy | |
| Strategic | High Risk | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 36, Boston, MA has an air quality index well below Philadelphia, PA's 52, a 44% higher reading that places Boston in the 18th percentile and Philadelphia in the 85th. The 2023 Census figures show the cost of living index in Boston at 209 versus 101 in Philadelphia, a 2.1× difference, with median home values of $710,400 and $232,400 respectively. That 3.1× gap in housing costs carries into the comfortable income estimates for 2024: a single person in Boston needs $138,018 compared to $45,151 in Philadelphia, while a family of four requires $202,887 versus $66,372, both figures 3.1× higher in Boston.
Traffic deaths per 100,000 people run 6 in Boston against 17 in Philadelphia, a 2.7× difference that places Boston in the 10th percentile and Philadelphia in the 53rd. Healthcare access scores also diverge, with Boston at 100/100 in the 90th percentile and Philadelphia at 84/100 in the 49th, a 16-point gap. Median household income of $94,755 in Boston stands 56% higher than Philadelphia's $60,698, while per-capita income of $60,001 exceeds $37,669 by 59%. Unemployment runs 3.9% in Boston and 4.7% in Philadelphia, with job growth of +0.4% versus +1.8% in the latter.
Population figures for 2023 show Philadelphia at 1,582,432, which is 2.4× larger than Boston's 663,972, though Boston's density of 13,735 people per square mile is 17% higher. Bachelor's degree attainment reaches 54.1% in Boston against 34.6% in Philadelphia, a 19.5-point spread. Violent crime per 100,000 people is 573 in Boston and 822 in Philadelphia, a 43% higher rate, while property crime of 4,343 in Philadelphia is 2.3× the 1,870 recorded in Boston.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Boston, MA | Philadelphia, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 20992nd pctl | 10149th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Boston, MA 209; Philadelphia, PA 101; Boston is 2.1 times higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $710,40091st pctl | $232,40038th pctl | Median home value: Boston, MA $710,400; Philadelphia, PA $232,400; Boston is 3.1 times higher. |
| Median rent | $2,09393rd pctl | $1,32359th pctl | Median rent: Boston, MA $2,093; Philadelphia, PA $1,323; Boston is 58% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $94,75574th pctl | $60,69831st pctl | Median household income: Boston, MA $94,755; Philadelphia, PA $60,698; Boston is 56% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $138,01894th pctl | $45,15137th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Boston, MA $138,018; Philadelphia, PA $45,151; Boston is 3.1 times higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $202,88794th pctl | $66,37237th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Boston, MA $202,887; Philadelphia, PA $66,372; Boston is 3.1 times higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Affordable | Housing affordability: Boston, MA D; Philadelphia, PA A-; Philadelphia is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Philadelphia needs about
$36,200
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 209 vs 101). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Boston, MA | Philadelphia, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.9%62nd pctl | 4.7%87th pctl | Unemployment: Boston, MA 3.9%; Philadelphia, PA 4.7%; Philadelphia is 0.8 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +0.4%32nd pctl | +1.8%72nd pctl | Job growth (YoY): Boston, MA +0.4%; Philadelphia, PA +1.8%; Philadelphia is 1.4 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $60,00187th pctl | $37,66949th pctl | Per-capita income: Boston, MA $60,001; Philadelphia, PA $37,669; Boston is 59% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 16.9%73rd pctl | 22.0%87th pctl | Poverty rate: Boston, MA 16.9%; Philadelphia, PA 22.0%; Philadelphia is 5.1 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 30.2 min87th pctl | 32 min92nd pctl | Average commute: Boston, MA 30.2 min; Philadelphia, PA 32 min; Philadelphia is 2 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 18.8%80th pctl | 16.4%74th pctl | Work from home: Boston, MA 18.8%; Philadelphia, PA 16.4%; Boston is 2.4 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | Economic opportunity: Boston, MA B-; Philadelphia, PA D+; Boston is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Stable | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Boston, MA | Philadelphia, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 57389th pctl | 82296th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Boston, MA 573; Philadelphia, PA 822; Philadelphia is 43% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,87073rd pctl | 4,34398th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Boston, MA 1,870; Philadelphia, PA 4,343; Philadelphia is 2.3 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Flat | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Dangerous | Crime & safety: Boston, MA C-; Philadelphia, PA F; Boston is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Boston, MA A+; Philadelphia, PA B-; Boston is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Boston, MA | Philadelphia, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Healthcare access: Boston, MA A+; Philadelphia, PA A; Boston is graded higher. |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | Tap water: Boston, MA A; Philadelphia, PA B; Boston is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort isn't available for Philadelphia, PA; broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Boston, MA | Philadelphia, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | moderateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | lowState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | FState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | A-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | FState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | B+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Net exporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Boston, MA | Philadelphia, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi1st pctl | 4 mi3rd pctl | Nearest large city: Boston, MA 0 mi; Philadelphia, PA 4 mi; Philadelphia is 13.7 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Fair | Target proximity: Boston, MA F; Philadelphia, PA B-; Philadelphia is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 190 mi21st pctl | 259 mi35th pctl | Distance to international border: Boston, MA 190 mi; Philadelphia, PA 259 mi; Philadelphia is 36% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 0 mi0th pctl | 51 mi22nd pctl | Distance to coastline: Boston, MA 0 mi; Philadelphia, PA 51 mi; Philadelphia is 51 mi higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | High Risk | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Boston, MA | Philadelphia, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 663,97299th pctl | 1,582,432100th pctl | Population: Boston, MA 663,972; Philadelphia, PA 1,582,432; Philadelphia is 2.4 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 13,73599th pctl | 11,78199th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Boston, MA 13,735; Philadelphia, PA 11,781; Boston is 17% higher. |
| Median age | 33.216th pctl | 35.126th pctl | Median age: Boston, MA 33.2; Philadelphia, PA 35.1; Philadelphia is 1.9 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.1%84th pctl | 34.6%56th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Boston, MA 54.1%; Philadelphia, PA 34.6%; Boston is 19.5 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.221st pctl | 2.329th pctl | About the same |
More about Boston's residents · Philadelphia's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | BostonBoston, MA | PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+15 | D+19 |
| 2024 presidential | D +27.0 pts | D +35.0 pts |
Full politics data: Boston · Philadelphia
Moving between Boston and Philadelphia
- Median rent: $2,093 in Boston, $1,323 in Philadelphia
- Median home value: $710,400 in Boston, $232,400 in Philadelphia
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 209 in Boston, 101 in Philadelphia
- Median household income: $94,755 in Boston, $60,698 in Philadelphia
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $202,887 in Boston, $66,372 in Philadelphia
- Unemployment: 3.9% in Boston, 4.7% in Philadelphia
- Average commute: 30.2 min in Boston, 32 min in Philadelphia
- Violent crime per 100k: 573 in Boston, 822 in Philadelphia
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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