Founded in 1681 by William Penn, Philadelphia was envisioned as a place where people from all walks of life and religious backgrounds could live harmoniously. Its name comes from a combination of the Greek words for love and brother: phileo and adelphos. Today, Philadelphia is known as the "City of Brotherly Love."
In addition to serving as host for the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War, Philadelphia was a center of culture and innovation throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, the city is home to more than 1.6 million people, making it the sixth-largest city in the United States. Historic charm and modern amenities blend in the bustling, walkable downtown area known as Center City, showcasing historical artifacts such as the Liberty Bell while nurturing dynamic culinary and art scenes.
Travelers from many areas visit Center City Market East in Philadelphia.
Opened in 1874, Philadelphia is home to the oldest zoo in the country.
Pat's King of Steaks is a famous cheesesteak restaurant in Bella Vista.
Phillies fans line up for a baseball game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
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Immersion in art, history and centuries of traditions
Old City , a neighborhood on the east side of Center City, is a window to the 1700s with old cobblestone streets and Independence Hall, where the country's Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. The Liberty Bell is located in a museum just across the street. “There are a lot of historical things that we normally show to visitors, but the city’s second-most visited attraction is the Reading Terminal Market, which also gets a lot of local people,” says Sandy Smith, a resident of more than 40 years and home and real estate editor for Philadelphia magazine. The daily indoor market is the city’s oldest and features more than 75 small, family-owned businesses in Center City Market East .
Fairmount and Spring Garden , two neighborhoods on the west side of Center City, are home to world-class museums like the Franklin Institute, a massive science center. At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, visitors can walk the famous steps featured in the film "Rocky" and see a statue of the iconic, fictional fighter. Mural Arts Philadelphia, one of the nation’s largest public art programs, has helped plan and paint more than 4,000 murals across the city. Philly is also home to the country's oldest zoo, which opened in 1874 near West Parkside .
Locals look forward to the St. Patrick's Day Parade, an annual tradition that began in 1771 and is now one of the city's oldest events. Another popular celebration, the Mummers Parade, occurs on New Year's Day. "It’s a folk tradition that dates back to the 1900s,” Smith says. “Groups perform skits, wear fancy costumes and play music up Broad Street to city hall. It’s an all-day affair.” Many individual neighborhoods also have their own events, such as the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival in Rittenhouse Square .
Visit the birthplace of the United States at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
Locals buy fresh groceries at Reading Terminal Market in Center City Market East.
The Philadelphia Rocky Statue is a local landmark in Fairmount.
Elvis marches down Broad alongside the Batmobile during the Philladelphia Mummers Parade.
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Rowhouses and street parking
Philadelphia has 150 neighborhoods with individual personalities. Some have specific cultural identities, such as Chinatown , while others, like Society Hill l, come with the vibrant nightlife of South Street and the excitement of Penn's Landing. Philly's art scene is prevalent in North Philadelphia in neighborhoods such as Fishtown , a haven for hip gastropubs, renowned restaurants and art galleries. Other neighborhoods subtly fade into surrounding Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties, offering a more suburban atmosphere. Some of the wealthiest suburbs of Philadelphia are located along The Main Line in Montgomery and Delaware Counties, which runs along the former Pennsylvania Railroad.
Philly’s population has steadily declined in the past few years, a fate many cities have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The city had a 3% population decline from 2020 to 2023, totaling more than 50,000 people. However, employment opportunities are still a big draw for incoming residents. Some of the city's biggest employers include Comcast and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, or CHOP. “We’re a major biomedical research and hospital center. We also have a strong legal profession,” Smith says. “Another reason is that college students move here, like it and stay. We’ve got a high quality of life and a reasonable cost of living. We get a lot of New Yorkers looking for a city experience without the price.”
The median housing price is about $240,000; buyers can expect to find primarily townhouses and rowhouses. “Rowhouses dominate Philadelphia like no other city,” Smith says, adding that this style makes up more than half of Philly’s housing stock. Narrow roads with street parking are the norm here, although some suburban enclaves feature larger lots and the added luxury of driveways and garages. Prices throughout the city can range from less than $50,000 for a fixer-upper to multi-million-dollar penthouse suites. Renovated single-family homes in urban areas cost between $200,000 and $500,000, while larger properties on the city's outskirts can range from $500,000 to more than $1 million.
Historic row homes line the residential streets of Society Hill in Philadelphia.
Many Philadelphia neighborhoods, such as Chinatown, feature beautiful cultural identities.
The Main Line, outside of Philadelphia proper, boasts beautiful sprawling historic estates.
Row homes of various styles make up over half of Philadelphia's housing stock.
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Sports and cheesesteaks are a way of life
Sports are an integral part of Philadelphia's culture. “This is a sports-mad town," Smith says. "The Eagles especially, but also the Phillies, the Flyers and the Big 5 in basketball." The Big 5 is a group of six NCAA Division I basketball schools that compete for the city’s collegiate championship. It originally included the University of Pennsylvania, La Salle University, Saint Joseph’s University, Temple University and Villanova University. Drexel University was added to the group at the start of the 2023-2024 season.
Cheesesteaks are another cultural touchstone. “Cheesesteaks and hoagies are essential to the Philly lifestyle,” Smith says, insisting, “It’s a hoagie, not a sub. Those are different things for people in Philly." The beefy, cheesy sandwiches originated in South Philadelphia with Pat's King of Steaks in 1930. Geno's Steaks later opened across the street and have been friendly rivals ever since. Pat's and Geno's are legends of Philadelphia, but locals have their own favorite mom-and-pop cheesesteak spots. Other unique Philly foods include the roast pork sandwich and tomato pie.
Those considering a move to Philly should also learn the local lingo. “Jawn is an all-purpose noun to identify anyone or anything,” Smith says. “Saying ‘I asked that jawn over there to put some jawn on that jawn’ is a grammatically correct sentence [here].”
The Finneran Pavilion is the home of the Villanova Wildcats basketball team.
Philadelphia residents embody the term fanatic when it comes to their local sports teams.
Founded in 1966, Geno's Steaks is one of the many iconic Philly Cheesesteak spots.
South Philadelphia East is Eagles country, home to Lincoln Financial Field.
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Gardens, rivers and trails
Philadelphians have 36 public gardens, arboreta and historic landscapes within a 30-mile radius, earning the city the nickname "America’s Garden Capital.” Fairmount Park, near Brewerytown , includes more than 2,000 acres of green space and is a popular spot for biking, walking, picnicking and rowing along the Schuylkill River. “Wissahickon Valley Park has a good network of trails people use for hiking, biking and even horseback riding,” Smith says. “In the summer, Spruce Street Harbor Park on the Delaware River has hammocks and boardwalks.” The Schuylkill River Trail provides another escape from city life, currently extending 75 miles. Once complete, the trail will stretch for 120 miles from Frackville to Center City.
Kayak with friends from the docks at Bartram's Garden to enjoy Philadelphia skyline views.
The Shuylkill River Trail is a popular place to bike or exercise for Brewerytown residents.
Philadelphia residents relax along the banks of the Schuylkill River on a warm summer night.
Philadelphia has a plethora of local gardens spread throughout the city.
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Pennsylvania’s top public high schools and highly rated universities
The School District of Philadelphia is the largest in the state and receives an overall C-plus rating from Niche. The district serves more than 198,000 students across 331 schools. Philadelphia's Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School is ranked the best in the state. Most top schools are located in surrounding counties, such as 2nd-ranked Conestoga High School in Chester County and 3rd-ranked Radnor High School in Delaware County. Private schools include Germantown Friends School, The Baldwin School and The Episcopal Academy, all graded A-plus by Niche.
Philadelphia is home to several top-tier Division I universities, including Drexel University, graded A-minus by Niche, and the University of Pennsylvania, one of the eight Ivy League Schools, graded A-plus. Temple University in North Philadelphia receives an A-minus, and Villanova University in Villanova receives an A-plus.
Villanova University, an Augustinian Catholic University, is one of the best in Philadelphia
Julia R. Masterman Demonstration School is one of the best middle schools in the state.
Dating to 1740, University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia is America's first university.
Drexel University is one of many universities spread throughout Philadelphia.
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SEPTA public transportation and other means of travel
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA, offers dozens of bus routes, trolley and light rail lines, servicing the entire city and surrounding counties. However, SEPTA's efficacy is up for debate, according to locals. Interstate 76, known locally as the Schuylkill Expressway, hugs the Schuylkill River to the west, while Interstate 95 follows the Delaware River to the east. “The Schuylkill Expressway is notorious for traffic. It’s frequently backed up and runs slow much of the day,” Smith says. “Outside the city, it’s only four lanes, and it can’t be widened.”
Locals cross into New Jersey via the Walt Whitman Bridge or the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Amtrak provides service at 30th Street Station in West Philadelphia, one of the busiest Amtrak stations in the country. Philadelphia International Airport serves more than 12 million passengers annually and is 7 miles from downtown. However, the airport has garnered the “worst large airport” superlative from J.D. Power’s North America Airport Satisfaction Study four years in a row.
Crime rates and community investment
According to FBI statistics, Philadelphia’s violent and property crime rates are well above national figures — and property crime is on the rise. Violent crime, however, is trending down, a shift that started after Mayor Cherelle Parker was elected in November 2023 on a law-and-order platform. Violent crime rates have steadily decreased since then.
In 2021, the city council created the Neighborhood Preservation Initiative, a $400 million investment to support affordable housing and commercial revitalization programs in Philly. According to the year-two summary published in March 2024, the economic impact has been $776 million, with nearly 13,000 households benefitting from the programs and more than 4,300 jobs created. Efforts include neighborhood economic development and infrastructure improvements, eviction prevention, housing production, homebuying assistance and housing preservation.
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