Philadelphia - PA vs Boston - MA: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Boston - MA is roughly 88% more expensive than Philadelphia - PA in typical home value.

Philadelphia vs Boston: what the numbers say

At today's 7.40% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $2,138 a month in principal and interest in Philadelphia and $4,019 in Boston, a gap of $1,881 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,903 in Philadelphia and $2,987 in Boston, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.1 times rent in Philadelphia and 1.3 times rent in Boston, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 16.9 years of rent in Philadelphia and 20.2 in Boston; the lower ratio in Philadelphia means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved +5.4% in Philadelphia and +3.0% in Boston; over just the last three months the change was +0.7% in Philadelphia and +0.6% in Boston.

Homes sell for 100.1% of list price in Philadelphia and 101.3% in Boston, after 15 and 14 days on the market, with price cuts on 26% and 24% of listings. All three signs point the same way: buyers have more room to negotiate in Philadelphia.

The number of homes for sale is up 9% on a year ago in Philadelphia and up 14% on a year ago in Boston.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-15), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.