7 Reasons Why Living in Philly is Better than Other Major Cities

1. Affordability

One of the greatest things about living in Philadelphia is that you get all of the perks of living in a big city but you don’t get the insanely high price tags. The housing market is great for buyers who are looking for affordable cost of living.

According to Bright MLS, the median sales price in the city in 2021 is $265,000. That’s up 10% from last year, which means if that trend continues you’ll get a great return on your investment. You dollar will go much further in Philadelphia as opposed to other major cities like Washington DC and New York.

In addition to affordable housing, you won’t break the bank when you go out to restaurants and bars in Philadelphia. There’s an incredible food scene that you can enjoy without spending your entire paycheck.

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2. Neighborhood Feel

Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods and each one has their own individual charm. Philly is a unique city in that way - you’re in one of the biggest cities in the nation but it has a small town feel in some areas. With so many different types of neighborhoods, there is something for everyone.

There are the quaint tree lined and cobblestone streets in Society Hill, to the bustling streets of center city mixed in with the historic row homes in Rittenhouse Square, to the small-town feel in Chestnut Hill or Manayunk right outside center city.

Another major perk of living in Philadelphia is the walkability. You can walk from river to river in an afternoon, experiencing many different neighborhoods as you walk!

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3. Parks & Open Spaces

Need a little break from the chaos of center city life? Philadelphia has several parks with tons of open space. When William Penn laid out the plan for the city, he designated 5 squares for public parks that you can find throughout the city. They are Rittenhouse Square, Washington Square, Logan Square, Franklin Square and City Hall.

In addition to those main squares, there are more than 300 neighborhood parks in the city. So no matter where you live, you’ll be close to a place to walk your dog, have a picnic or just relax under the trees.

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4. Higher Education

Philadelphia is home to so many colleges and universities that it’s hard to even name them all. But some of the most well renowned include University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), Temple University, Drexel University, St. Joe’s University, Thomas Jefferson University, La Salle, Arcadia, Villanova, Moore College of Art and Design, etc.

Many people come to Philadelphia for college and end up never leaving because they love the city so much!

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5. Location to Other Cities

This article is all about why it’s better to live in Philadelphia instead of other major cities, but they’re still fun to visit! Philadelphia’s location makes it so easy to drive or take a train to other Northeast cities like New York, Baltimore and Washington D.C. You can even get to Boston or Pittsburgh if you’re up for a bit of a longer road trip.

Not into car rides? Hop on a train from the famous 30th Street Station located in University City neighborhood.

Looking to go even further away? Philadelphia’s International Airport is just minutes outside the city and you can go literally anywhere in the world whenever you want. When you get the itch to travel, living in Philly makes it easy to do.

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6. Historical Culture

When it comes to history, Philadelphia has plenty of it! It’s the birthplace of America for starters. It was the original capitol of the United States and it’s where the Founding Fathers created the country, the Constitution was written, the Declaration of Independence was signed, Betsy Ross created the first American flag, it was home to Benjamin Franklin, and the list goes on.

Today, you can visit those historical sites, most of which are located in Old City. Check out Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross House, Elfreth’s Alley, which is America’s oldest residential street, and much more.

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7. Sports

It’s no secret that Philadelphia has some of the most passionate sports fans in the game. What can we say, we love our home teams! Philadelphia has incredible sports teams and there’s always a sporting event to go to.

Philly is home to the Philadelphia Eagles football team, 76ers basketball team, Phillies baseball team and the Flyers hockey team.

All of the sporting events take place at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex which is home to the Wells Fargo Center, Lincoln Financial Field, Citizens Bank Park, and the entertainment center Xfinity Live!

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