Philadelphia - PA vs Denver - CO: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Denver - CO is roughly 44% more expensive than Philadelphia - PA in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Denver - CO (30 days vs 15), suggesting more buyer leverage there. Denver - CO sees more listings with price cuts (36.7% vs 26.3%), a sign of softening seller expectations.

Philadelphia vs Denver: 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 $3,077 in Denver, a gap of $939 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,903 in Philadelphia and $1,900 in Denver, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.1 times rent in Philadelphia and 1.6 times rent in Denver, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 16.9 years of rent in Philadelphia and 24.4 in Denver; 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 -4.8% in Denver; over just the last three months the change was +0.7% in Philadelphia and +0.3% in Denver.

Homes sell for 100.1% of list price in Philadelphia and 98.9% in Denver, after 15 and 30 days on the market, with price cuts on 26% and 37% of listings. All three signs point the same way: buyers have more room to negotiate in Denver.

The number of homes for sale is up 9% on a year ago in Philadelphia and down 1% on a year ago in Denver.

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.