Philadelphia was recently named the sixth-largest city in the United States with Phoenix, Arizona coming in at number two. The city is known for its historical, cultural and recreational attractions, especially when it comes to cities on the east coast. Living in Philadelphia gives you access to all of the metropolitan conveniences like public transportation without taking away the small-town charm.
Exploring 7 reasons why you should think about moving to Philadelphia
Culture, Art and Music
Philadelphia’s cultural institutions like their museums are at the top of the list due to their quality. The Barnes Foundation, for instance, is one of the most comprehensive collections of post-impressionist, impressionist and early modernist paintings. The Philadelphia Orchestra stays at the top of the list of best orchestras on Earth, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a beautiful work of art on its own with various art pieces within its walls from all around the world.
Live music, art, theater, music festivals, the Academy of Natural Sciences and other attractions make Philly the perfect place to live with all of the opportunities to live life to the fullest.
Food and Drink
Philadelphia offers many culinary attractions that are available at all price points. Many other cities in America try their best to replicate the Philly cheesesteak that the city is known for, but nothing can compare to getting one from Philadelphia itself. Alongside cheesesteaks, soft pretzels and bagels are other notable foods at the top of the list that the city is known for.
Philadelphia also offers sensational international food with diverse options for visitors and residents alike to enjoy. It has restaurants that span a variety of cuisines, including but not limited to Ethiopian, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Indian, Peruvian, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese and beyond. There is also fine dining to be enjoyed. Time Magazine ranked the Beddia Pizzeria as one of the top restaurants in the country, while Bon Appetit has won numerous awards for its cuisine. The city is also home to a number of distilleries and breweries for those who enjoy a good drink.
Housing
Living in Philadelphia is surprisingly affordable even with its popularity. Though prices have risen with the times in the last decade, the city still remains to be one of the most attractive locations for homebuyers and renters who are concerned about the cost of living. Your dollar will go further in Philadelphia than in many other major metropolitan locations, especially on the East Coast.
Philly boasts a large metropolitan center that is far more than the bustling and densely populated area of Center City, offering diverse types of available housing options. Everything from single-family stone mansions to Georgian-style townhouses to 50th-floor luxury condos are to be found throughout the city. Most budgets will do well in these locations because the median sale price of homes is around $250,000.
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Unique Topography
No matter what kind of land or location you prefer, you’re sure to find something to like in Philadelphia. There are more than 300 neighborhood parks, 40 historic sites, 166 miles of walking trails, 60 community gardens, courts, playgrounds, orchards, farms and other interesting features that help to make the city what it is. If you want to get out of the city, there are other topographies for you to enjoy within a few-hour radius of Philadelphia. These include the New Jersey beaches, the Pocono Mountains, farmlands located in Lancaster County and beyond. By moving to Philadelphia, you can immerse yourself in nature.
Historical Importance
Philadelphia offers many legendary historical sites to visit and was named the nation’s first world heritage site in the year 2015 with notable historic events that took place in the area. Some of the most prominent include George Washington crossing the Delaware River and the birth of the American Flag painstakingly crafted by Betsy Ross. The city is also home to Ben Franklin’s kite experiment and John Coltrane’s rise to fame in the jazz industry.
When it comes to historical sites to pay a visit to, there are a number of them to add to your must-see list. Independence Hall, which is where the Declaration of Independence was signed, exists here, as well as the Museum of the American Revolution and the Liberty Bell. In Philadelphia, you’ll also find Elfreths’ Alley, known as the oldest residential street in America bursting with Federalist and Georgian charm.
Higher Education
Philadelphia is home to dozens and dozens of higher learning opportunities, with some of the brightest minds on the planet choosing Philadelphia as the place for continuing their education. There are many schools within the city and many accessible options nearby, such as the University of Pennsylvania, including the Wharton School of Business, as well as Temple University, Drexel University and Villanova University.
With its many options, Philadelphia is one of the best locations for recent graduates who are looking to continue their education at a reputable institution in a sought-after location.
Perfectly Positioned
Speaking of location, Philadelphia has one of the best locations—situated along I-95 in northeastern USA, which makes it easy to hop onto one of the nation’s largest highways. Ninety-five miles north you’ll find New York City and 138 miles to the south is Washington D.C. Baltimore is close by, and both Richmond and Boston can be reached in only a day. This is especially true if you take advantage of the Amtrak services there. Pittsburgh is a quick flight west, or a short five-hour drive.
If you want to go somewhere further, it is easy to access the Philadelphia Airport. The airport is close to Center City and is easy to access by train or uBer, and the available flights seem to be infinite.
Moving to Philadelphia
In this article, we’ve shared a number of different reasons why you should consider a move to the Philadelphia area. Ultimately, there are many factors that influence where a person might end up moving to, however. If you are thinking about making a move to the Philly area but aren’t entirely sure if it’s right for you, it is a good idea to plan a visit both to Philadelphia and the area surrounding it, so you can get a close-up look to see if it’s something you’d like. You can also look at local job listings to see if there is employment you are interested in pursuing. It couldn’t hurt to submit a few applications if moving to the city is something you are seriously considering.
After you secure a job, it is a good idea for you to temporarily rent a place to live before making a commitment to buy a home. This is especially true if you plan to apply for a mortgage; this will be factored into your work history as well as your length of employment, so having a job is crucial to this portion of the planning. While you are renting and working in Philadelphia, you can also use this time to browse local real estate listings. Because of the sprawling, expansive nature of Philadelphia with its varied and diverse locations, it could take you some time to find the perfect home with all of the available opportunities, so getting started sooner rather than later is a good idea. This way, when you’re ready to buy, you’ll have a good idea of the neighborhood and type of home you are interested in.
If you are considering a move to Philadelphia, revisit this article when making your decision. Here, we’ve outlined seven reasons that moving to Philadelphia could be a good idea for you, including location, schools, arts, culture, culinary delights and so much more.