Living in Philadelphia, PA

Explore Philadelphia and see how it fits the life you want to build.

1,579,706 Population Philadelphia County County City Place Type Pennsylvania State
Overall Match6.6 / 10

Baseline match from currently available location scores. Choose priorities to personalize it.

Philadelphia at a Glance

Key facts and current data

Population1,579,706
Median Household Income$61,953
Median Home Value$243,100
Median Gross Rent$1,397
Median Age35.3
Average Household Size2.3
Unemployment8.1%
Work From Home18.4%
Homeownership51.8%
Housing Vacancy9.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year.

Philadelphia is a major population center where neighborhood choice can substantially change the day-to-day relocation experience. Unemployment is elevated enough that job location and industry-specific opportunities deserve closer review.

Experience the Area

Experience Life in Philadelphia Before You Move

Explore Short-Term Stays in Philadelphia →Stay options powered by Stay22 · affiliate

NarrowTheList highly recommends you spend a week or two in Philadelphia and experience everyday life before deciding whether it is the right place to call home. Use that time to explore neighborhoods, drive your normal routes, shop where residents shop, and get a feel for the area at different times of day.

NarrowTheList Ratings

Data-driven starter ratings. More categories appear automatically as new datasets are added.

Housing Value3.3 / 5Home values compared with local household income.
Employment2.8 / 5Lower unemployment produces a stronger rating.
Housing Stability3.0 / 5Combines homeownership and housing vacancy.
Remote Work Friendly3.7 / 5Based on the share of residents working from home.
Income Strength3.8 / 5Household income compared on a national scale.

These are location-wide baseline ratings, not your personal match score. Your own priorities can change which factors matter most.

Housing & Cost of Living in Philadelphia

Current housing indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau

Median Home Value$243,100
Median Gross Rent$1,397
Homeownership51.8%
Housing Vacancy9.2%
Housing Value6.6/10
Housing Stability6.0/10

Home values are moderately high relative to local household income, making neighborhood-level price differences important for buyers. Renters make up a substantial share of the local housing market.

Jobs, Income & Remote Work

Employment and household-income context for Philadelphia, PA

Median Household Income$61,953
Unemployment8.1%
Work From Home18.4%
Employment5.6/10
Remote Work Friendly7.4/10
Income Strength7.6/10

The reported unemployment rate is elevated enough to warrant a closer look at current local employment conditions. Working from home is relatively common among employed residents.

Population & Household Profile

Who lives in Philadelphia and how households are structured

Population1,579,706
Median Age35.3
Average Household Size2.3

Philadelphia is a large population center with enough scale for conditions to differ substantially across neighborhoods.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year. NarrowTheList presents these values as relocation context; conditions can vary within a community.

Climate & Weather in Philadelphia

Long-term NOAA climate normals and practical seasonal context

NOAA climate normals for Philadelphia point to hot summers, winters with regular freezing conditions, substantial annual rainfall and a meaningful winter snowfall season.

Average Summer High89.3°F
Average Winter Low27.8°F
Annual Rainfall50.7 in.
Annual Snowfall16.1 in.

Seasonal Life in Philadelphia

What the long-term climate pattern may mean for everyday living.

Spring

Spring is a good time to see how wetter conditions affect drainage, yards, commuting and the usability of outdoor spaces.

Summer

Summer is warm enough that shade and cooling still matter, but the typical high is below the extreme-heat range seen in many hotter U.S. markets.

Fall

Fall marks a substantial seasonal transition here. It is a useful time to judge how quickly temperatures change and whether that seasonal swing fits the lifestyle you want.

Winter

Freezing winter lows and meaningful snowfall make snow removal, winter driving, heating costs and cold-weather routines important parts of evaluating the area.

Source: NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Seasonal descriptions are relocation context derived from the available long-term normals, not a forecast.

Philadelphia is located in Philadelphia County, but city-level housing, income and neighborhood conditions can differ meaningfully from countywide averages. Philadelphia County. Current county foreclosure activity is classified as medium, adding another housing-market signal for buyers comparing conventional and distressed-property opportunities.

County Intelligence

Philadelphia & Philadelphia County

Medium Foreclosure Activity

Philadelphia is located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

NarrowTheList uses county-level information alongside local community data because many factors that matter when choosing a place to live are measured beyond city boundaries. Housing, property taxes, employment, healthcare access and other regional characteristics can add useful context to the picture of life in Philadelphia.

Current NarrowTheList data for Philadelphia shows a population of about 1,579,706. These local figures become more useful when read together with county-level tax, housing, foreclosure and demographic conditions rather than treated as isolated city statistics.

Foreclosure Activity: Medium. Current signal uses NarrowTheList foreclosure-opportunity data until direct county delinquency and foreclosure datasets are connected.

For someone comparing homes, county boundaries can matter because taxes, public services, court and recording systems, assessment practices and housing-market conditions are often administered or reported at the county level. NarrowTheList keeps that county relationship attached to the community so future tax, foreclosure, housing and demographic data can be interpreted in the correct geographic context.

County relationship Philadelphia County
How NarrowTheList uses it

County information is used as a supporting geographic layer, not as a substitute for local data. As more county datasets are added, NarrowTheList can use them to improve comparisons, ratings and relocation insights for Philadelphia.

For someone considering a move to Philadelphia, the available data currently points to employment conditions that make job-specific research important. These signals are most useful when considered alongside the specific neighborhood, commute and housing type that fit the household making the move.

Nearby Cities & Communities

Nearby incorporated cities, towns, villages and other municipalities shown by straight-line distance.

Palmyra, NJ 5.2 miles away Camden, NJ 5.2 miles away Rockledge, PA 5.5 miles away Merchantville, NJ 6.0 miles away Jenkintown, PA 6.0 miles away Riverton, NJ 6.3 miles away Woodlynne, NJ 6.7 miles away Narberth, PA 6.9 miles away Millbourne, PA 7.1 miles away Collingswood, NJ 7.1 miles away Oaklyn, NJ 7.9 miles away East Lansdowne, PA 8.1 miles away