Philadelphia, PA vs Washington, DC

Washington, DC comes out ahead of Philadelphia, PA on 33 of 50 statistics where one end is better, to 16 with 1 ties. Washington, DC leads on Crime & Safety and Economics.

50 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 1 tie. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Philadelphia, PA
Wins
16
Avg. percentile
31
Categories led
0
Washington, DC
Wins
33
Avg. percentile
37
Categories led
2

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

StatisticPhiladelphia, PAWashington, DC
Population
1,567,280
7th of 477
698,733
22nd of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$61,953
306th of 434
$109,870
65th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$243,100
147th of 434
$737,100
376th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
21.4%
362nd of 434
15.4%
241st of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
102.6
tied 297th of 460
108.9
tied 384th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$71,730
tied 121st of 460
$91,930
tied 24th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,397
227th of 434
$1,954
354th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
822.7
348th of 395
746.8
329th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

  • Crime & SafetyWashington, DC · 5 statistics
  • EconomicsWashington, DC · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

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

StatisticPhiladelphia, PAWashington, DC
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$61,953
306th of 434
$109,870
65th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$243,100
147th of 434
$737,100
376th of 434
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
35.4%
198th of 434
64.2%
48th of 434
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,397
227th of 434
$1,954
354th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
21.4%
362nd of 434
15.4%
241st of 434
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
113.1
tied 280th of 460
151.1
tied 390th of 460
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
297.8
268th of 395
193.3
172nd of 395
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
96.8
tied 264th of 460
104.8
tied 362nd of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$71,730
tied 121st of 460
$91,930
tied 24th of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
102.6
tied 297th of 460
108.9
tied 384th of 460
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$54,310
tied 123rd of 460
$71,060
tied 30th of 460
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
89.1%
321st of 434
91.2%
241st of 434
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
4,307.4
377th of 395
3,070.2
329th of 395
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
114.4
tied 357th of 460
106.7
tied 329th of 460
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
1,022.3
390th of 395
650.5
371st of 395
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
822.7
348th of 395
746.8
329th of 395
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
31.7
403rd of 434
30.0
384th of 434
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
103.1
tied 392nd of 460
102.3
tied 371st of 460
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
14.3
358th of 395
16.6
368th of 395
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 Washington, DC?
Washington, DC comes out ahead of Philadelphia, PA on 33 of 50 statistics where one end is better, to 16 with 1 ties. Washington, DC leads on Crime & Safety and Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Philadelphia, PA or Washington, DC?
Philadelphia, PA has a population of 1,567,280 (7th of 477 US cities) and Washington, DC has 698,733 (22nd of 477).
How do Philadelphia, PA and Washington, DC compare on Median Household Income?
Median Household Income: Philadelphia, PA $61,953 (306th of 434), Washington, DC $109,870 (65th of 434) among US cities. Washington, DC ranks better.
How do Philadelphia, PA and Washington, DC compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Philadelphia, PA $243,100 (147th of 434), Washington, DC $737,100 (376th of 434) among US cities. Philadelphia, PA ranks better.
Where does Philadelphia, PA beat Washington, DC most clearly?
Philadelphia, PA ranks far ahead on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $243,100 vs $737,100; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,397 vs $1,954; Price Level (Housing Rents) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 113.1 vs 151.1.
Where does Washington, DC beat Philadelphia, PA most clearly?
Washington, DC ranks far ahead on Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $109,870 vs $61,953; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 64.2% vs 35.4%; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 15.4% vs 21.4%.

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