Your EZ Home Search Moving Guide: Get to Know Philadelphia PA

Question: what’s the fourth-largest city in the United States? If you said Philadelphia, you’ve clearly been looking at this historic city, whether for school, work, or to live in general. We can’t call the City of Brotherly Love “up-and-coming” (it’s too old for that!), but it is seeing an uptick in interest from millennials and young professionals seeking to escape the higher costs of New York and New Jersey without sacrificing the urban lifestyle they’ve come to love.

So if Philadelphia is on your radar, you’re in the right place. Get to know more about what to expect from this Pennsylvania city if you decide to call it home.

Philadelphia Fun Facts

Philadelphia may be centuries old, but the people living there aren’t. The average age of a resident is 34, which speaks to its youthful appeal and the high number of colleges.

Living here, you might feel like you need to learn a new dialect. There are some unique ways of pronouncing words and phrases that you’ll need to know to fit in like a local. We’re talking wooder, iggles, jawn, and jimmies. That’ll get you started.

The city has always attracted people from across the globe as a place to live. One unique aspect of Philadelphia is it has the second-largest Italian and Irish populations after New York City.

And even though it’s a highly developed urban city, Philly isn’t a total concrete jungle. Philadelphia’s park system consists of over 9,200 acres, with its largest park, Fairmount, covering over 4100 acres. In sum, you’ve got about 63 city parks.

History is definitely all around you in Philadelphia. Take America’s first hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital, founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond.

Other nicknames for Philadelphia include Philly, the City of Neighborhoods, the Birthplace of America, the City That Loves You Back, and Quaker City.

An Okay Cost of Living

Whether or not you’ll find Philadelphia affordable probably depends on where you move from. It’s about 10% more expensive than the state average and 5% more expensive than the national average.

So if you’re coming from places like New York City, you can find huge cost savings, especially when looking at housing. Here, the real estate market is about 14% more affordable than the national average and even 4% more affordable than Pennsylvania’s average.

Where you might find yourself spending a lot more is on transportation. Parking is notoriously a problem in Philadelphia, as we will discuss under traffic.

As this is a highly dense and popular place to live, you will generally spend more out-of-pocket for all your daily needs, from groceries to utilities. However, these aren’t significantly more than the national average.

The St. Louis Federal Reserve said the median household income for a Philadelphia resident in 2021 was $52,822. Meanwhile, MIT estimates that a family of four with one adult working and two kids at home would need to make $69,331 after tax to cover all the essential expenses.

A Packed Population

We’re talking about the nation’s fourth-largest city here. Of course, there’s going to be a lot of people living in Philadelphia! The state’s largest city had a 2021 population estimate of over 1.5 million residents.

But is it still growing? From 2010 to 2020, Philly added around 73,000 residents, but from 2020 to 2021, the population dropped 1.7%. As Philadelphia is highly developed, come on, there’s actually not a lot of room for infill housing. So overall, the population is pretty stable. But with all the college kids coming and going, it can feel like it’s in flux.

Experience All Four Seasons

Not everyone can handle a cold winter, so if you’re not a fan of ice and snow, Philadelphia may not be the place for you.

Philly has an average of 207 sunny days per year, but it also gets around 47 inches of rain per year, which is more than the national average. For snow, you can expect to see an average of 20 inches. This is less than the national average but enough to expect a good coating and solid winter blizzard from time to time.

Seasonally, temperatures will run from 28F to 87F, so be prepared with a four-season closet. Summers will feel sticky and hot, perhaps leaving you longing for a July dip in the Schuylkill River (not recommended). The Atlantic Ocean is about 60 miles to the east, which can help moderate the climate but also draws in moisture.

A Storied History

Huge books have been written about the history of Philadelphia, so we won’t go into great detail here. The area was long settled by Native American tribes, with the Lenape probably being the most prominent. Early colonists from the Netherlands, Sweden, and England entered the Delaware Valley area in the early 1600s. King Charles II of England granted Quaker William Penn a charter for the Pennsylvania colony in 1681. His settlement of Philadelphia thrived and became a massive shipbuilding center for the American colonies.

The economic prosperity attracted many of the area’s early colonists. These include some of its most famous, like Benjamin Franklin, who published the Pennsylvania Gazette. The Pennsylvania State House, known as Independence Hall, held its first assembly in 1735.

Philadelphia was an epicenter for disagreements between the colonists and the British nationalists. City residents were among the first to hear the Declaration of Independence. It served as the nation’s capital in the years following the Revolutionary War.

Its importance in American history continued in the Civil War, where it supplied weapons, uniforms, and worship for the Union effort. Suffragettes like Susan B Anthony led movements for women’s rights. Prosperity in The Gilded Age saw the construction of elaborate mansions along the rail lines.

But Philly has seen his first share of strife, too. The Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 swept through the city and killed around 500,000 citizens. After World War II, Philadelphia suffered an economic decline when highways encouraged suburbanization, supplanted industries, and the rail system. Shipbuilding started to wane.

Modern Philly is still a fun place to live and is experiencing a lot of revitalization thanks to developments like Center City and the Philadelphia Navy Yard. It’s been the subject or background for many movies and TV shows, which add to the city’s contemporary allure.

Exceptional Education

Learning has long been highly valued in the City of Brotherly Love. It seems like every time you turn around, you run into a university or college. And for a good reason! There are 85 colleges, seven schools of medicine, and more technical schools, leading to the nation’s highest per capita concentration of higher education. Nearly one out of every six doctors receives medical training at a Philadelphia school.

And not only does Philadelphia have a high quantity of colleges and universities, but their quality is also top-notch. The University of Pennsylvania consistently ranked among the top ten universities in the nation (no. 7 in 2022), and its Wharton School of Business is renowned worldwide.

Drexel University additionally pops up as one of the best colleges in the nation, ringing at number 105 in 2022. Its engineering, medical school, and law school are highly regarded. The private institution enrolls around 12,000 undergraduates and uniquely uses a quarterly academic calendar. The students mix in-class education with on-the-job experience before graduation. The co-op program pays the students.

The public Temple University enrolls around 26,000 students for undergraduate studies. It ranked number 121 in the nation for 2022. Not too far behind was Thomas Jefferson University, a private school ranked number 127.

Enough on higher education–how old is the public school system? The School District of Philadelphia is the eighth largest school district in the nation based on student enrollment. Almost 200,000 students attend one of its public, charter, or virtual schools. It had an 80% graduation rate in 2021. The educational quality will vary widely across the school district, but there are some highly acclaimed public schools inside the school system, like Julia R. Masterman High School, the nation’s no. 10 high school in 2022.

Private education is another option for Philly families. Around 20% of all local students attend one of the area’s 200+ private schools. Philly has an extensive Catholic-based education school system affiliated with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It also has some storied private boarding schools that go way back centuries, like Friends Select School and William Penn Charter School, that date to before 1700.

Job Market

A strong economy has long drawn people to settle in Philadelphia. Modern Philadelphia is a center for tech in life, science, talents, data, analytics, and startups. Today it ranks as producing the country’s fourth-highest gross domestic product (GDP).

In terms of which industry seems to be the strongest based on the number of persons employed, transportation, and professional services, are at the top of the list.

As you might expect, education and health services are equally high in-demand industries. Top employers were the University of Pennsylvania and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

But Philadelphia also has a robust finance and insurance sector and hospitality. And you’ll find Comcast, Crown Holdings, and Aramark headquartered in Philly.

Public Transportation Great, Driving Not So Much

Let’s start with the bright side. If you’re ready to ditch the car and enjoy walking around, Philly ranks as a top 10 walkable city on two different independent evaluator lists. Speed up getting around by using a bike path or the Indego bike share program.

Foot travel is backed by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, known locally as SEPTA, which has a comprehensive public transportation system using bus, subway, and commuter rail systems for the greater metro area. SEPTA oversees 13 regional rail lines, 8 light rail, and 131 bus routes. Amtrak also has 11 routes running out of the 30th St. station. It combined for the nation’s seventh-best mass transit system.

If you want to drive, several major roadways will help you get around Philadelphia. On the eastern city side, hop on I 95 to go north or south on the Atlantic seaboard. The Schuylkill Expressway divides West Philly from the city and can be an artery for getting around. Broad Street is the north-south backbone of inner Philadelphia. And if you need to head east-west, Roosevelt Boulevard/Expressway and the Vine Street Expressway can help you out.

But here’s the bad news. While Philadelphia was built around rail lines and has a great public transportation system, its roads weren’t necessarily built for cars. The result is very few parking spaces and high traffic jams. Get ready to pay a premium if you want to bring your car to Philadelphia. Most houses do not have garages, so you’re looking at on-street parking. It’s so notoriously bad there was a reality show about parking in Philly. And the Philadelphia Parking Authority’s reputation for strict enforcement is well-deserved.

Real Estate Market

Property taxes can add thousands to your bill, so knowing how they are calculated in Philadelphia is helpful. You’ll pay taxes to the city and the school district of Philadelphia each year. The 2022 tax year rate combined was 1.3998%. Your taxes are due on March 31 of each year.

You can’t change the tax rate, but you can learn how your property value is assessed. If you have any questions about this, look to the Office of Property Assessment.

Neighborhoods

Remember, one of Philadelphia’s nicknames is the “City of Neighborhoods.” That’s because so many distinct communities come together to form the city of Philadelphia. There are over 100 connected neighborhoods in total. How can you possibly pick out the best ones? After all, we could list the advantages and disadvantages of every Philly neighborhood, and something about each would appeal to different people.

So we can’t list all the places, but here are a few distinct neighborhoods you’ll probably hear about that you could start looking into.

• Rittenhouse Square
• University City
• Fishtown
• Northern Liberties
• Society Hill
• Center City

You can also explore further our best neighborhoods to live in Philadelphia.

Stay safe in Philly

Most people want to feel safe in their homes, which is why knowing the local crime rate matters. All cities will have places with higher crime rates than others. But looking at the overall scores for Philadelphia, NeighborhoodScout calls the City of Brotherly Love the most dangerous place to live in America. Aggravated assault is one of the more common crimes living here.

It’s something Philadelphia’s Police Department has been working on for a long time. In fact, they publish their current crime stats to give residents an idea of what’s going on in the city.

Bucket-List Attractions

In terms of things to do, if you’re bored living in Philadelphia, that’s your own fault. For starters, there is an incredible treasure trove of iconic historical monuments. The rich past is part of what draws a high number of tourists into the city.

On top of that, you have an enriching arts culture that includes world-class museums and performing arts companies. And then you have sports, dining, parks…so much to name! We can’t fit it all in, but we have picked a few bucket list attractions in different categories to start getting you acclimated to Philadelphia.

History

Most known for its role in the American Revolution and Colonial America, its most notable landmarks are nationally significant.

• Independence Hall and Congress Hall
• Benjamin Franklin Museum
• Valley Forge National Historical Park
• Old City and its seven museums

Arts

Residents have long been patrons of the fine and performing arts, leading to expansive collections with the world’s finest artists.

• Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Barnes Foundation
• The Rodin Museum

Music

From the city that gave you the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Patty LaBelle, and Joan Jett, you’ll find the beat thrives here. Catch acts at these key venues.

• The Fillmore
• Franklin Music Hall
• Kimmel Center
• The Foundry

Parks

With one of the nation’s oldest park systems, some of these green spaces date back three centuries. It’s challenging to pick your favorite outdoor destinations, but here are a few to check out.

• Schuylkill River Trail
• Bartram’s Garden, America’s oldest botanical garden
• Fairmount Park, the city’s largest public park
• Wissahickon Valley Park

Miscellaneous

These notable additions may be odd or unique, but they’re a key part of Philly’s story and culture.

Mütter Museum (medical oddities)

The Eastern State Penitentiary

Philadelphia’s Italian Market on South Ninth Street

Running up the Rocky steps (Philadelphia Museum of Art)

Food

Philly as a dining destination may not come to mind initially, but the city has a rich food scene thanks to its multicultural background. Along the way, it’s created some signature dishes.

• Cheesesteak, wit or without (fried onions), with whiz (cheddar sauce), provolone, or white American cheese
• Philly Taco, a cheesesteak from Jim’s Steaks wrapped in a
• giant Lorenzo & Son’s pizza slice
• Hoagie (don’t call it a “sub”)
• Scrapple, a pork-based breakfast side
• Crab Fries, crinkle-cut with an Old Bay blend served with beer cheese
• Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews, Philly’s iconic candy bar
• Water Ice, like Italian ice, but not

Sports

Philly’s professional sports teams represent the city in each of the major sports. Plus, other iconic sporting events make Philly famous.

• NFL’s Eagles and NCAA’s Temple University – Lincoln Financial Field (aka the Linc)
• MLB’s Phillies – Citizens Bank Park
• NBA’s 76ers, NHL’s Flyers, and NHL’s Wings – Wells Fargo Center
• MLS’ Union – Subaru Park
• Army-Navy football game
• Broad Street Run (Runner’s World named it one of
• the fastest 10-mile courses in the country)
• Dad Vail Regatta (May)
• Philly Naked Bike Ride
• Philadelphia City 6 (previously the Big 5) NCAA basketball: Villanova, Saint Joseph’s, Temple, La Salle, Penn, and Drexel

Making Philly Your Home

The City of Brotherly Love will welcome you with open arms, and you’ll never have a shortage of ways to entertain yourself. With over 100 neighborhoods to explore, it’s a great idea to rely on local real estate knowledge and pick your agent’s brain about the different communities so you can find the one that’s right for you. And remember, there is an expansive public transportation system, so you can likely be where you want to work and play within 20 minutes, which opens up more options for places to live in Philly.