Philadelphia - PA vs Riverside - CA: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Riverside - CA is roughly 50% more expensive than Philadelphia - PA in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Riverside - CA (31 days vs 15), suggesting more buyer leverage there.

Philadelphia vs Riverside: what the numbers say

At today's 7.32% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $2,122 a month in principal and interest in Philadelphia and $3,189 in Riverside, a gap of $1,068 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,903 in Philadelphia and $2,533 in Riverside, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.1 times rent in Philadelphia and 1.3 times rent in Riverside, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 16.9 years of rent in Philadelphia and 19.1 in Riverside; 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 -1.9% in Riverside; over just the last three months the change was +0.7% in Philadelphia and +0.1% in Riverside.

Homes sell for 100.1% of list price in Philadelphia and 99.1% in Riverside, after 15 and 31 days on the market, with price cuts on 26% and 24% of listings. The signs are mixed: Philadelphia has more price cuts, while Riverside has longer time on the market and sales further below list.

The number of homes for sale is up 9% on a year ago in Philadelphia and down 5% on a year ago in Riverside.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-22), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.