Philadelphia receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Philadelphia
Winston-Salem
Opportunity
61 · Top 38%
vs55 · Bottom 49%
Growth
53 · Bottom 49%
vs50 · Bottom 42%
Climate
71 · Top 47%
vs78 · Top 22%
Physical resilience
71 · Top 28%
vs62 · Top 39%
Housing affordability
69 · Top 48%
vs80 · Top 26%
Access
98 · Top 26%
vs92 · Bottom 24%
Economic stability
43 · Bottom 19%
vs42 · Bottom 16%
Measured values
| Metric | Philadelphia | Winston-Salem | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,579,706 | 252,037 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $61,953 | $59,268 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,905 | $37,345 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 11,760/sq mi | 1,885/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $243,100 | $233,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,397 | $1,087 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 51.8% | 55.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.8% | -0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.4% | 39.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 21.4% | 17.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 4,599 | 1,521 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 6.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 72.8% | -1.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 27°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.0" | 43.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 11 mi | 18 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 34.1 min | 22.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.3 | 35.9 | 2024 ACS 5-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.
Your best match
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Philadelphia
67
Your Score
67
Area Score
Winston-Salem
66
Your Score
65
Area Score
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Full profiles: Philadelphia, PA · Winston-Salem, NC · How this is calculated: methodology