Boston or Philadelphia: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Boston wins on more indicators: 6 of 11 against 5.
- Money: Philadelphia 1:3
- Climate and risks: Boston 5:2
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Boston
Indicator
Philadelphia
Money
Better: Philadelphia (1 : 3)Per capita income
higher is better
✓$104,104
202429% higher
✗$80,403
202423% lower
Typical rent
lower is better
✗$2,987
2026-09-3057% higher
✓$1,903
2026-09-3036% lower
Typical home value
lower is better
✗$725,639
2026-09-3088% higher
✓$386,048
2026-09-3047% lower
Price level
lower is better
✗108.3 100 = US average
20246% higher
✓102.6 100 = US average
20245% lower
Climate and risks
Better: Boston (5 : 2)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✓43 AQI
202419% lower
✗53 AQI
202423% higher
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✓5 days per year
202467% lower
✗15 days per year
2024200% higher
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✓33 days per year
2016-202549% lower
✗66 days per year
2016-202598% higher
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✗7 days per year
2016-2025165% higher
✓3 days per year
2016-202562% lower
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
lower is better
✗0.3 days per year
2016-2025
✓0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
16 days per year
2016-2025
8 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2,783 °C·days per year
2016-2025
2,204 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
566 °C·days per year
2016-2025
906 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
103 days per year
2016-2025
99 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
8 days per year
2016-2025
4 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,102 mm per year
2016-2025
1,115 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.1 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.3 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
15.3 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
15.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
66 %
2021-2025
63 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✓20 days per year
2021-202552% lower
✗41 days per year
2021-2025109% higher
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
3 km
2006-2025
4 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
lower is better
✓0.00 per year
2006-2025
✗0.05 per year
2006-2025
Strongest earthquake in the period
no data for one of the places
no data
4.8 magnitude
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
5,025,517 people
2024
6,330,422 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Boston, Philadelphia.