King of Prussia vs Philadelphia

Which is the better fit for you?

King of Prussia, PA
79
Area Score
Top 1% nationally
Philadelphia, PA
60
Area Score
Top 44% nationally

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King of Prussia receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.

If you are moving

What the difference in prices, rent, homes and weather comes to, using the published figures for the two places. Add your income to see what it would take to keep pace.

Moving from King of Prussia to Philadelphia

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Everyday prices
About the same
Regional price level 102.4 against 102.4 (US = 100). Both places sit in the same price region, so the index cannot tell them apart.
Income to keep the same purchasing power
Enter your household income to see it.
A new two-bedroom lease
−$1,056 a month
HUD benchmarks it at $1,434 in Philadelphia against $2,490 in King of Prussia.
The median home
44% less
$243,100 in Philadelphia against $436,200 in King of Prussia.
The weather you would swap
Winters 5°F milder
Normal January lows are 27°F in Philadelphia against 22°F in King of Prussia; July highs are 88°F against 84°F (summers 4°F hotter).

These are differences between published figures, not a forecast of your budget. Income and sales taxes, commuting, schools, insurance and the job you would actually get are not in them, and a price index describes a metropolitan area, so two places in one metro read the same. HUD’s rent is a benchmark for a new lease, not a listing.

Signals

King of Prussia
Philadelphia
Opportunity: King of Prussia is the more favorable of the two.
Opportunity
90 · Top 1%
vs
60 · Top 41%
Growth: Philadelphia is the more favorable of the two.
Growth
56 · Top 38%
vs
59 · Top 30%
Climate: Philadelphia is the more favorable of the two.
Climate
64 · Bottom 33%
vs
71 · Top 45%
Physical resilience: King of Prussia is the more favorable of the two.
Physical resilience
91 · Top 10%
vs
71 · Top 34%
Housing affordability: King of Prussia is the more favorable of the two.
Housing affordability
81 · Top 10%
vs
69 · Top 44%
Schools: King of Prussia is the more favorable of the two.
Schools
78 · Top 15%
vs
21 · Bottom 14%
Access: Philadelphia is the more favorable of the two.
Access
95 · Top 38%
vs
99 · Top 16%
Economic stability: King of Prussia is the more favorable of the two.
Economic stability
77 · Top 9%
vs
36 · Bottom 16%

Measured values

MetricKing of PrussiaPhiladelphiaSource period
Population25,8571,579,7062024 ACS 5-Year
Median household income$117,912 — more favorable$61,9532024 ACS 5-Year
Per capita income$61,139 — more favorable$38,9052024 ACS 5-Year
Population density3,044/sq mi11,760/sq mi2024 ACS 5-Year
Median home value$436,200$243,1002024 ACS 5-Year
Median gross rent$2,077$1,397 — more favorable2024 ACS 5-Year
Market rent, two bedroom$2,490$1,434 — more favorableFY2026
Cost of living index102.4102.42023
Homeownership rate46.0%51.8%2024 ACS 5-Year
Unemployment rate3.2% — more favorable4.9%July 2026
Employment change (year over year)+2.9% — more favorable+2.7%July 2026
Bachelor's degree or higher65.7% — more favorable35.4%2024 ACS 5-Year
Poverty rate4.1% — more favorable20.5%2024 ACS 5-Year
Housing units permitted (12 months)1,9324,59912 months ending July 2026
Permits per 1,000 residents2.22.9 — more favorable12 months ending July 2026
Permit change (year over year)−7.4%+72.8% — more favorable12 months ending July 2026
Average July high84°F88°F1991-2020 Normals
Average January low22°F27°F1991-2020 Normals
Annual precipitation45.3"45.0"1991-2020 Normals
Distance to major airport17 mi11 mi — more favorableNASR current cycle
Average commute26.3 min — more favorable34.1 min2024 ACS 5-Year
Median age36.335.32024 ACS 5-Year
Public schools53002024-25 school year
Students per teacher12.5 — more favorable15.02024-25 school year
Math proficiency64.0% — more favorable27.5%2018-19 school year
Reading proficiency72.8% — more favorable43.0%2018-19 school year
Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility46.6%91.5%2024-25 school year

A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.

The number of units permitted is not marked because the larger place always permits more; the per-resident rate is the fair comparison.

Your best match

Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.

King of Prussia
—
King of Prussia: Your Score
79
Area Score
Philadelphia
—
Philadelphia: Your Score
60
Area Score

Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.

Full profiles: King of Prussia, PA · Philadelphia, PA · How this is calculated: methodology