If you’re moving to Philadelphia soon, the pros and cons of living in Philadelphia discussed in this article will guide you.
In this article, I’ll also answer key questions being asked by other people thinking of living in Philadelphia.
If this sounds like what you’re looking for, read on!
What’s so Great About Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is nicknamed the City of Brotherly Love. This nickname is derived from two Greek words – “Phileo” which means love and “Adelphos” which means brother.
William Penn, the founder of Philadelphia envisioned a state devoid of persecution and religious segregation. He wanted a city with high religious tolerance.
Ever since Philadelphia has maintained a commendable level of religious tolerance.
According to the World Population Review, Philadelphia has a population of 1,585,480. The city also ranks as Pennsylvania’s largest city and 5th largest in the United States.
Philadelphia is special for its richness in history and culture. You’ll find many museums and art institutes around the city.
Some of them include the Independence Hall, Benjamin Franklin Museum, the Liberty Bell, and Betsy Ross House.
Philadelphia is also popular for its greenery and great food. If you live in Philadelphia, you’ll enjoy the scenery that comes with visiting parks.
If you’re a foodie, you can also explore the culinary skills of chefs in the best restaurants in Philadelphia.
Summary of Pros and Cons of Living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Here’s a quick summary of the advantages and disadvantages of living in Philadelphia.
| Pros and Cons Of Living in Philadelphia | Cons of Living in Philadelphia |
| Great Education | High Crime Rate |
| Many Places to Visit | High Property Rate |
| Great Beer | Drug Abuse |
| Philadelphia is Diverse | Traffic is Frustrating |
| Efficient Bus System | Winter Gets Very Cold |
Pros of Living in Philadelphia, PA
1. Great Education
Philadelphia has a B rating for education. This is a very commendable score on a national level. While Philadelphia focuses solely on academics, students engage in many extracurricular activities.
Activities like art, drama, choir, and quizzes make up the extracurricular work.
Math, English, Sciences, and Social Studies are also made compulsory for junior high. With a 15:1 student-to-teacher ratio, the city is considered better than most U.S. cities.
For higher institutions, here are the best colleges in Philadelphia to consider.
2. Many Places to Visit
You can’t run out of places to visit in Philly. Since Philadelphia is rich in culture and history, many of them were preserved for tourists like you.
If you ever want to tour the city, here’s a list of 52 things to do in Philadelphia. You can book a tour guide to help you.
3. Great Beer
Philadelphia is home to some of the earliest micro-brewing companies. There’s always great beer in Philadelphia. The same goes for beer drinkers. You can find classic beer drinkers, heavy drinkers, and the reckless bunch. Here are some breweries in Philly to check out:
- Source Urban Brewery
- Attic Brewing Company
- Brewery ARS
- Dock Street Brewery
- Human Robot
- Philadelphia Brewing Company
4. Philadelphia is Diverse
As was initially intended when Philadelphia came to being, the city is the 4th most diverse city out of 100 cities in the country. Here’s a breakdown of the races you’ll find in Philly:
- Blacks – 44.4%
- Whites – 35.8%
- Latino – 13.6%
- Asian – 7.2%
The diversity index of Philadelphia is 65.6% (which is not far from Jersey City with the highest index of 75.5%).
5. Efficient Bus System
Philadelphia is one city where you can live without a car. In 2014, Philly ranked 5th best for public transit in the United States. Since then, it has evolved for the better.
Today, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transport Authority (SEPTA) boasts of 300 million rides each year. According to a resident, he’s been in Philadelphia since 2005 without cars. That’s how efficient SEPTA is.
Philadelphia also ranked No 3 for walk score. Residents can walk to many places and still take buses anywhere in Philly. SEPTA is also budget-friendly, so you don’t have to spend much on transit bills.
Cons of Living in Philadelphia, PA
1. High Crime Rate
Homicide is becoming prevalent in Philadelphia. In 2021, Philly recorded 559 murders (way beyond New York statistics). This is disturbing since New York’s population is 5 times larger than that of Philly.
The violent crime rate is 50.8 in Philadelphia (above the 22.7 U.S.average). The property crime rate is 46.6 (above the 35.4 U.S. average).
2. High Property Rate
The cost of renting or buying a home in Philadelphia has become a matter of great concern. In five years, the value of properties has risen by 63%. In 2022, the value rose by 11.0%.
If you’re going to live in Philadelphia, you can start making preparations early. Consider the neighborhood you would want to live in, then vary house deals carefully.
Don’t be quick to decide until you’ve checked out many options.
3. Drug Abuse
According to the NSDUH report, an average of 825,000 residents aged 12 years and above used illicit drugs over 5 years.
In 2016, over 100,000 people in Philadelphia died from an opioid overdose. This was the 2nd highest overdose rate found in the United States.
There are laws in Philadelphia that license the use of liquor. All these contribute to the rate of drug abuse in Philly.
4. Traffic is Frustrating
It was not always this way in Philadelphia. Traffic has built up over the years. It’s worse during the rush hour when everyone’s trying to get to work.
According to Business Journals, the city ranks 13th globally for traffic congestion. According to the same report, an average Philly commuter spent 90 hours in traffic in 2021.
Traffic doesn’t only make you lose time. You also lose money. Business Journals report that traffic cost Philadelphia drivers $1,404 each in 2021.
5. It Gets Very Cold in Winter
Philadelphia does not experience cold for long periods. However, when the season comes, it could get really cold. The coldest weather in Philadelphia goes as low as 10°F or below. This can go on from December to March.
Finally …
After carefully considering the pros and cons of living in Philadelphia, it’s still your decision to make. If the pros outweigh the cons in your opinion, then living in Philadelphia will be great for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Living in Philadelphia
What cities would you recommend to live in, Philadelphia, Miami, or Boston?
Miami is a very beautiful city. On the downside, it gets very hot there in the summer.
Philadelphia is a good place to live, but you have to deal with traffic and the population.
Boston is also a great city. But you have to deal with the crowd and the high cost of living.
Each of these cities come with different pros and cons. In the end, it boils down to choosing which city suits you best.
What is the cost of living in Philadelphia?
The United States cost of living average is 100. The cost of living in Philadelphia is 101.2, a little over the national average.
According to Best Places, here’s the average rent in Philadelphia by bedroom size:
One-bedroom apartment
- Philadelphia – $1,021
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Metro – $1,071
- Pennsylvania – $872
Two-bedroom apartment
- Philadelphia – $1,238
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Metro – $1,298
- Pennsylvania – $1,077
Three-bedroom apartment
- Philadelphia – $1,531
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Metro – $1,605
- Pennsylvania – $1,360
Four-bedroom apartment
- Philadelphia – $1,752
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Metro – $1,832
- Pennsylvania – $1,514
Where are the safest neighborhoods to live in Philadelphia?
According to Niche, here are some best places to live in Philadelphia:
- Filter Square
- Bella Vista
- Graduate Hospital
- East Falls
- Old City
- Fairmount
- Woodland Terrace
- Spring Garden
Where are the dangerous neighborhoods to live in Philadelphia?
According to Area Vibes, the most dangerous neighborhoods to avoid in 2022 are:
- Tioga-Nicetown
- Alleghany West
- North Central
- Strawberry Mansion
- Harrowgate
- Haddington Carroll Park
- Fairhill
- Brewerytown
- Germantown
- Hunting Park
Can I find good jobs in Philadelphia?
Yes, but it depends on the jobs you’re interested in. Before now, Philadelphia was experiencing a constant growth in job opportunities.
However, the 2020 pandemic brought about a drop in job growth. Currently, there’s a 10.6% unemployment rate in Philadelphia. The United States average is 6.0%.
There are some common jobs residents are known for in Philadelphia. Though common, they are top-paying jobs with salaries over $100k in Philadelphia.
What are the tax rates in Philadelphia?
Sales tax is 8.0% in Philadelphia. The United States average is 7.3%. Income tax rate is 7.0% for Philadelphia. The United States average is 4.6%.
