Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Philadelphia.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Philadelphia?
Philadelphia planning snapshot: population 1,573,916, housing index 87 (below the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $232,400, median rent $1,323, and income near $60,698. Expect 86°F summer highs, 28°F winter lows, and about 33-minute one-way commutes. Official citywide FBI crime rates are currently unavailable, so treat safety as a neighborhood-level check.
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 87U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $232,400U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,323U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $60,698U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.9%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 33 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- UnavailableFBI gap
- Summer high
- 86°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Philadelphia compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 1,573,916City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $60,698Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year23% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 87ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year13% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $232,400City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year23% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,323City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg ($1,348)U.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.9%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 33 min32% above U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 7976% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- UnavailableFBI CDE gap
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 CDE monthly rates - Property crime rate
- UnavailableFBI CDE gap
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 CDE monthly rates - Summer high
- 86°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear U.S. avg (87°F)U.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 28°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals6.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 44.1 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals34% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 244As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals9% below U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Philadelphia grew 3.0% from 1,528,283 in 2010 to 1,573,916 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Philadelphia expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Philadelphia's housing cost index is 87 versus 100 nationally — below the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($232,400 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,323 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 87 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $232,400 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,323 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Philadelphia?
Typical ownership costs center near $232,400, while median gross rent is about $1,323 a month. Against a median household income of $60,698, rent alone is roughly 26% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $232,400
- Median rent $1,323/month
- Median household income $60,698
What is the job market like in Philadelphia?
County unemployment recently ran 4.9% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Philadelphia is about $60,698 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.9% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $60,698
How long is the typical commute in Philadelphia?
Average one-way commute time is about 33 minutes, with Walk Score near 79/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 33 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 79/100
Is Philadelphia safer than similar U.S. cities?
MapsToIt could not publish a usable FBI agency crime rate for Philadelphia in the latest pull. Treat safety as a block-by-block research task and check local PD reports.
- FBI citywide rates: data unavailable
What is the climate like year-round in Philadelphia?
Normals show summer highs near 86°F, winter lows near 28°F, about 44.1 inches of rain, and roughly 244 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 86°F
- Winter low 28°F
- 44.1 in rain · 244 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in Philadelphia?
Newcomers often start with Center City, Fishtown, University City — tour at commute hour before signing. Neighborhood lists are curated research starting points, not rankings.
- Center City
- Fishtown
- University City
Appalachian ridges and legacy industrial river towns create varied housing stock. Expect summer highs near 86°F and winter lows around 28°F. Average one-way commute time is about 33 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 79/100. Labor-market readings near 4.9% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Crime rates are marked unavailable for this municipality in our FBI CDE pull; do not rely on a citywide index.
Philadelphia (pop. 1,573,916) sits in Pennsylvania. With median income around $60,698 and a cost index of 87, the market reads below the national housing-cost baseline. Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $232,400 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Newcomers often start housing searches in Center City and Fishtown, then compare against University City once a commute target is clear. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Philadelphia with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Center City
- Fishtown
- University City
- South Philly
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Philadelphia city, 1600000US4260000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Philadelphia County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: data unavailable — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 CDE monthly rates
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00013739 PHILADELPHIA INTL AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10
Canonical profile · All Pennsylvania cities · Full city index