StrollPlace city guide
Compare Philadelphia by the everyday route between your front door, neighborhood corridor, and transit stop.
Philadelphia brings together the dense center between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, rowhouse neighborhoods, university districts and greener areas farther from the core.
Photo 1 of 4
Philadelphia — Philadelphia skyline 20240528 (cropped 2-1) · Archival photograph; current conditions may differ.
Philadelphia — Philadelphia skyline 20240528 (cropped 2-1) · Archival photograph; current conditions may differ.
Creator: 颐园居 · resized / WebP
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
A look at housing costs and homeownership in Philadelphia. Figures may differ from today’s market. Select an info icon for details and reporting periods.
Median value of owner-occupied homes in the survey area.
Displayed values are rounded.
Sources & data notes4% below the state median
Median monthly rent, including estimated utility costs.
Displayed values are rounded.
Sources & data notes16% above the state median
Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
Displayed values are rounded.
Sources & data notesThe middle household income estimate for the reporting period.
Displayed values are rounded.
Sources & data notes21% below the state median
Scouting guide
Practical checks to run before you commit to a home. Mark each one as you go, flag anything to follow up and add notes. Your progress is saved in this browser.
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Rowhouses, apartments in converted buildings, purpose-built rentals and condominiums create different maintenance and access questions.
Tour the actual unit, including stairs, storage, heating and cooling, and street access.
For an older home, arrange an appropriate inspection and distinguish visible finishes from the condition of major systems.
Compare ownership and renting using the full monthly expense, and verify taxes and any abatements or exemptions for the particular property.
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SEPTA connects Philadelphia through rail, bus and trolley services, with different schedules and stopping patterns.
A station name is only the start of a commute comparison: include the walk, wait, transfer and return journey.
For South Jersey, investigate PATCO and the connection beyond the station.
Check the current service notices before making a housing decision; a route that works for weekday office hours may be less convenient for late shifts or weekends.
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Try a neighborhood on foot along its everyday commercial corridor, then turn onto the block where you might live.
The feel of a busy restaurant street can differ from the adjacent residential streets.
Parks, recreation centers and Free Library branches provide useful anchors for a scouting visit.
In hilly areas near the Schuylkill, walk the route rather than judging the effort from a map.
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Use the City’s address-based services to check trash and recycling collection, property information and permits.
When comparing suburban or New Jersey addresses, verify the municipality and service providers separately.
Ask the owner which utilities are included and how heating, water and waste charges are handled.
Before moving, check whether a truck needs a temporary parking arrangement and whether a shared entrance or narrow stairway affects delivery.
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Book a scouting visit that includes both a weekday commute and an evening return.
Plan moving access for narrow streets and the actual doorway, and account for seasonal heat, cold or rain.
Take photographs of the property condition at handover and keep service confirmations together.
If your search spans state lines, compare the complete household budget and registration tasks instead of assuming the same rules apply across the metro.
Buying a Philadelphia rowhouse: look above the ceiling and behind the renovationA practical research sequence for attached homes, property records and future upkeep.Sep 27, 2026
Philadelphia transport: choose the right rail system for your addressSEPTA rail and trolleys, PATCO across the river, and why the final station walk matters.Sep 27, 2026
A Philadelphia budget: Wage Tax, rowhouse bills and the cost of crossing the boundaryTurn a housing quote into a take-home-pay comparison, with a dated tax example and clearly labeled assumptions.Sep 27, 2026Information on this page is compiled from multiple sources and provided for general information. It may be incomplete or out of date, and we do not guarantee its accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. Independently verify important details with the original source, relevant authority, or a qualified professional before making decisions.
Statistics keep their reporting periods. Survey estimates are not current asking prices or quotes for an individual property. Displayed values are rounded.
Philadelphia — Philadelphia skyline 20240528 (cropped 2-1) · Archival photograph; current conditions may differ.
Creator: 颐园居 · resized / WebP
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
Bella Vista — Phila Harper house · Archival photograph; current conditions may differ.
Creator: Dthomsen8 · resized / WebP
License: Public domain
Germantown — Cliveden Mansion, Philadelphia, HABS PA-1184-88 · Archival photograph; current conditions may differ.
Creator: Jack Boucher · resized / WebP
License: Public domain
Manayunk — Manayunk, Philadelphia · Archival photograph; current conditions may differ.
Creator: Ii2nmd · resized / WebP
License: CC0
