Which is better, Philadelphia, PA or San Francisco, CA?

San Francisco, CA comes out ahead of Philadelphia, PA on 31 of 48 statistics where one end is better, to 17. San Francisco, CA leads on Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.

Which has more people, Philadelphia, PA or San Francisco, CA?

Philadelphia, PA has a population of 1,567,280 (7th of 477 US cities) and San Francisco, CA has 812,530 (17th of 477).

How do Philadelphia, PA and San Francisco, CA compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Philadelphia, PA $61,953 (306th of 434), San Francisco, CA $140,970 (38th of 434) among US cities. San Francisco, CA ranks better.

How do Philadelphia, PA and San Francisco, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Philadelphia, PA $243,100 (147th of 434), San Francisco, CA $1.39M (411th of 434) among US cities. Philadelphia, PA ranks better.

Where does Philadelphia, PA beat San Francisco, CA most clearly?

Philadelphia, PA ranks far ahead on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $243,100 vs $1.39M; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,397 vs $2,476; Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 96.8 vs 108.5.

Where does San Francisco, CA beat Philadelphia, PA most clearly?

San Francisco, CA ranks far ahead on Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $140,970 vs $61,953; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 11.2% vs 21.4%; Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 3.4 vs 14.3.

Philadelphia, PA vs San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA comes out ahead of Philadelphia, PA on 31 of 48 statistics where one end is better, to 17. San Francisco, CA leads on Crime & Safety.

48 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Philadelphia, PA

Wins: 17
Avg. percentile: 30
Categories led: 0

San Francisco, CA

Wins: 31
Avg. percentile: 43
Categories led: 1

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	Philadelphia, PA	San Francisco, CA
Population	1,567,280 7th of 477	812,530 17th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$61,953 306th of 434	$140,970 38th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$243,100 147th of 434	$1.39M 411th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	21.4% 362nd of 434	11.2% 135th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	102.6 tied 297th of 460	115.6 tied last of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$71,730 tied 121st of 460	$100,220 tied 10th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,397 227th of 434	$2,476 400th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	822.7 348th of 395	486.2 250th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Crime & SafetySan Francisco, CA · 5 statistics
EconomicsEven · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.

Statistic	Philadelphia, PA	San Francisco, CA
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$61,953 306th of 434	$140,970 38th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$243,100 147th of 434	$1.39M 411th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	21.4% 362nd of 434	11.2% 135th of 434
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	14.3 358th of 395	3.4 195th of 395
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,397 227th of 434	$2,476 400th of 434
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	96.8 tied 264th of 460	108.5 tied 441st of 460
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	89.1% 321st of 434	93.0% 150th of 434
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	113.1 tied 280th of 460	194.7 tied 438th of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	102.6 tied 297th of 460	115.6 tied last of 460
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	35.4% 198th of 434	60.3% 59th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	822.7 348th of 395	486.2 250th of 395
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$54,310 tied 123rd of 460	$74,260 tied 10th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$71,730 tied 121st of 460	$100,220 tied 10th of 460
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	1,022.3 390th of 395	374.1 314th of 395
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	114.4 tied 357th of 460	172.6 tied 439th of 460
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	297.8 268th of 395	465.5 340th of 395
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	4,307.4 377th of 395	2,932.4 317th of 395
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.1 tied 392nd of 460	106.2 tied 435th of 460
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	31.7 403rd of 434	30.4 390th of 434

See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, Philadelphia, PA or San Francisco, CA?: San Francisco, CA comes out ahead of Philadelphia, PA on 31 of 48 statistics where one end is better, to 17. San Francisco, CA leads on Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Philadelphia, PA or San Francisco, CA?: Philadelphia, PA has a population of 1,567,280 (7th of 477 US cities) and San Francisco, CA has 812,530 (17th of 477).
How do Philadelphia, PA and San Francisco, CA compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Philadelphia, PA $61,953 (306th of 434), San Francisco, CA $140,970 (38th of 434) among US cities. San Francisco, CA ranks better.
How do Philadelphia, PA and San Francisco, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Philadelphia, PA $243,100 (147th of 434), San Francisco, CA $1.39M (411th of 434) among US cities. Philadelphia, PA ranks better.
Where does Philadelphia, PA beat San Francisco, CA most clearly?: Philadelphia, PA ranks far ahead on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $243,100 vs $1.39M; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,397 vs $2,476; Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 96.8 vs 108.5.
Where does San Francisco, CA beat Philadelphia, PA most clearly?: San Francisco, CA ranks far ahead on Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $140,970 vs $61,953; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 11.2% vs 21.4%; Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 3.4 vs 14.3.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Philadelphia, PA or San Francisco, CA.

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