Doylestown, PA vs Philadelphia, PA
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Sep 2026
Report card
| Category | DoylestownDoylestown, PA | PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Soft | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Very Safe | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Good | |
| Sovereignty | High Autonomy | High Autonomy | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 385 property crimes per 100,000 people, Doylestown, PA records a figure that places it in the 7th percentile, while Philadelphia, PA reports 4,343, an 11.3× higher rate that sits in the 98th percentile. Violent crime shows a similar gap: Doylestown’s 55 per 100,000 is in the 10th percentile, versus Philadelphia’s 822, which is 14.9× higher and in the 96th percentile. The 2023 Census figures also show a stark population contrast—Philadelphia’s 1,582,432 residents dwarf Doylestown’s 8,322, a difference of 1,574,110.
Poverty rates diverge sharply, with Philadelphia at 22.0% (87th percentile) compared to Doylestown’s 6.0% (18th percentile), a 16.0-point gap. Median age also differs: Doylestown’s 51 years is 15.9 years older than Philadelphia’s 35.1, placing the borough in the 94th percentile and the city in the 26th. Air quality index readings put Doylestown at 36 (18th percentile) and Philadelphia at 52 (85th percentile), a 44% higher value in the city. For a family of four, the comfortable income in Doylestown is $140,427, which is 2.1× higher than Philadelphia’s $66,372, with the borough in the 84th percentile and the city in the 37th.
Cost of living figures from 2023 reinforce the pattern: Doylestown’s index of 160 is 58% higher than Philadelphia’s 101, and median home values follow suit at $491,700 versus $232,400. Median household income in Doylestown reaches $93,672, 54% higher than Philadelphia’s $60,698, while per-capita income stands at $62,721 compared to $37,669. Unemployment is lower in Doylestown at 3.5% versus Philadelphia’s 4.7%, and the average commute runs 25.1 minutes in the borough versus 32 minutes in the city.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
Looking at homes in Doylestown or Philadelphia?
Get a property report for a specific address.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Doylestown, PA | Philadelphia, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 16082nd pctl | 10149th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Doylestown, PA 160; Philadelphia, PA 101; Doylestown is 58% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $491,70082nd pctl | $232,40038th pctl | Median home value: Doylestown, PA $491,700; Philadelphia, PA $232,400; Doylestown is 2.1 times higher. |
| Median rent | $1,75483rd pctl | $1,32359th pctl | Median rent: Doylestown, PA $1,754; Philadelphia, PA $1,323; Doylestown is 33% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $93,67273rd pctl | $60,69831st pctl | Median household income: Doylestown, PA $93,672; Philadelphia, PA $60,698; Doylestown is 54% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $95,52984th pctl | $45,15137th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Doylestown, PA $95,529; Philadelphia, PA $45,151; Doylestown is 2.1 times higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $140,42784th pctl | $66,37237th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Doylestown, PA $140,427; Philadelphia, PA $66,372; Doylestown is 2.1 times higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Affordable | Housing affordability: Doylestown, PA C+; Philadelphia, PA A-; Philadelphia is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Philadelphia needs about
$47,300
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 160 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 | Doylestown, PA | Philadelphia, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.5%43rd pctl | 4.7%87th pctl | Unemployment: Doylestown, PA 3.5%; Philadelphia, PA 4.7%; Philadelphia is 1.2 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +2.0%76th pctl | +1.8%72nd pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $62,72188th pctl | $37,66949th pctl | Per-capita income: Doylestown, PA $62,721; Philadelphia, PA $37,669; Doylestown is 67% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 6.0%18th pctl | 22.0%87th pctl | Poverty rate: Doylestown, PA 6.0%; Philadelphia, PA 22.0%; Philadelphia is 16.0 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 25.1 min61st pctl | 32 min92nd pctl | Average commute: Doylestown, PA 25.1 min; Philadelphia, PA 32 min; Philadelphia is 7 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 18.0%78th pctl | 16.4%74th pctl | Work from home: Doylestown, PA 18.0%; Philadelphia, PA 16.4%; Doylestown is 1.6 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | Economic opportunity: Doylestown, PA B-; Philadelphia, PA D+; Doylestown is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Stable | Job market: Doylestown, PA A-; Philadelphia, PA B-; Doylestown is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Doylestown, PA | Philadelphia, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 5510th pctl | 82296th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Doylestown, PA 55; Philadelphia, PA 822; Philadelphia is 14.9 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3857th pctl | 4,34398th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Doylestown, PA 385; Philadelphia, PA 4,343; Philadelphia is 11.3 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Very Safe | Dangerous | Crime & safety: Doylestown, PA A+; Philadelphia, PA F; Doylestown 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: Doylestown, PA A+; Philadelphia, PA B-; Doylestown is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Doylestown, PA | 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. | About the same |
| Tap water | Fair | Clean | About the same |
| 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 and walkability aren't available for Philadelphia, PA; broadband 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
Both are in Pennsylvania, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Pennsylvania →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Doylestown, PA | Philadelphia, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 65 mi43rd pctl | 4 mi3rd pctl | Nearest large city: Doylestown, PA 65 mi; Philadelphia, PA 4 mi; Doylestown is 15.9 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Fair | Fair | About the same |
| To borderDistance to international border | 241 mi29th pctl | 259 mi35th pctl | Distance to international border: Doylestown, PA 241 mi; Philadelphia, PA 259 mi; Philadelphia is 8% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 58 mi23rd pctl | 51 mi22nd pctl | Distance to coastline: Doylestown, PA 58 mi; Philadelphia, PA 51 mi; Doylestown is 14% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Doylestown, PA | Philadelphia, PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,32227th pctl | 1,582,432100th pctl | Population: Doylestown, PA 8,322; Philadelphia, PA 1,582,432; Philadelphia is 1,574,110 larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 3,85886th pctl | 11,78199th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Doylestown, PA 3,858; Philadelphia, PA 11,781; Philadelphia is 3.1 times higher. |
| Median age | 5194th pctl | 35.126th pctl | Median age: Doylestown, PA 51; Philadelphia, PA 35.1; Doylestown is 15.9 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 60.4%88th pctl | 34.6%56th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Doylestown, PA 60.4%; Philadelphia, PA 34.6%; Doylestown is 25.8 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 1.93rd pctl | 2.329th pctl | Average household size: Doylestown, PA 1.9; Philadelphia, PA 2.3; Philadelphia is 19% larger. |
More about Doylestown'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 | DoylestownDoylestown, PA | PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+1 | D+19 |
| 2024 presidential | D +1.0 pts | D +35.0 pts |
Full politics data: Doylestown · Philadelphia
Moving between Doylestown and Philadelphia
- Median rent: $1,754 in Doylestown, $1,323 in Philadelphia
- Median home value: $491,700 in Doylestown, $232,400 in Philadelphia
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 160 in Doylestown, 101 in Philadelphia
- Median household income: $93,672 in Doylestown, $60,698 in Philadelphia
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $140,427 in Doylestown, $66,372 in Philadelphia
- Unemployment: 3.5% in Doylestown, 4.7% in Philadelphia
- Average commute: 25.1 min in Doylestown, 32 min in Philadelphia
- Violent crime per 100k: 55 in Doylestown, 822 in Philadelphia
Weigh these by what matters to you
ReloMaps in ChatGPT can look at Doylestown and Philadelphia against your own priorities, like budget, commute or climate.
Use ReloMaps in ChatGPT →Found a home in Doylestown or Philadelphia?
A property report covers the address itself: the block, the neighbourhood data, risks and more, beyond these city-wide figures.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Compare a different pair
People also compare
More places like Doylestown and Philadelphia
- 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: 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.
ReloMaps may earn a commission from affiliate links at no extra cost to you.