Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

City of Brotherly Love with gritty charm

Northeast Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metro

U.S. News (2025)

#68 Best Places to Live

Livability (2025)

#35 Top 100 Best Places to Live

WhereAtHome Score

72.6

C-

out of 100

Overview

Philadelphia offers major-city amenities at prices well below New York or Boston. The birthplace of American democracy has reinvented itself with a vibrant food scene, strong universities, and healthcare sector. Historic neighborhoods and walkable streets add character.

Key Highlights

  • Birthplace of American democracy
  • World-class museums and cultural institutions
  • More affordable than NYC or Boston
  • Strong healthcare and education sectors
  • Vibrant food scene and Reading Terminal Market
  • Walkable historic neighborhoods

Key Metrics

Population 2024

1,573,916

Source: Census ACS

Median Home Value 2026

$234,630

Source: Zillow ZHVI

Median Household Income 2023

$52,649

Source: Census ACS

Average Commute 2023

32.8 min

Source: Census ACS

Walk Score 2025

74

Source: Walk Score

Crime Level 2024

High

Source: FBI CDE

School Rating

2025

C (4.5/10)

Source: Curated

Cost of Living Index 2025

102 (100 = U.S. avg)

Source: Curated

2024 Presidential Election

Philadelphia County (county-level results)

79%
20%
Democrat 568,571
Republican 144,311
Leans D+58.8

Source: County-level results from MIT Election Data + Science Lab. Learn more

Climate

Summer High

87°F

Winter Low

26°F

Annual Rainfall

47"

Sunny Days

207

Amenities & Infrastructure

300+ Parks

Green spaces and recreation

25 Major Hospitals

Healthcare access

20 Universities

Higher education institutions

Public Transit Available

Bus, rail, or metro service

Major Employers

University of Pennsylvania Comcast Jefferson Health Children's Hospital

Score Breakdown

6 of 6 score factors available. Missing factors are excluded and available weights are rescaled.

Housing Affordability 87.5/100

Median home value relative to national average (Weight: 20%)

Income vs Housing 61.8/100

How affordable housing is relative to local incomes (Weight: 20%)

Commute Time 34.4/100

Average commute time compared to national average (Weight: 15%)

Crime 20/100

Overall crime levels based on FBI crime statistics (Weight: 20%)

Walkability 74/100

Walk Score — ease of daily errands on foot (Weight: 15%)

Purchasing Power 42.1/100

Median income relative to national average, adjusted for cost of living (Weight: 10%)

WhereAtHome Score 72.6

Location

Philadelphia, PA (39.9526, -75.1652)
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Start Comparison

Last Updated: 2026-07-01

Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow, FBI Crime Data Explorer, Walk Score, and Niche.

Nearby Cities

Camden

NJ

C

Lindenwold

NJ

C-

Chester

PA

Norristown

PA

C-

Glassboro

NJ

C-

Lansdale

PA

D+

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