RANK #583 / 996 · POP 1,593,208 · PA
PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.4%
Philadelphia County, coextensive with the city of Philadelphia, is known as the "City of Brotherly Love," a name given by its founder, William Penn, in 1682. Situated in southeastern Pennsylvania along the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, it is approximately 90 miles northeast of New York City. The county offers extensive outdoor recreation, including Fairmount Park, one of the largest urban parks in the nation, and the Schuylkill River Trail, popular for biking, running, and walking. Commute options are varied, with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) providing a comprehensive network of trains, subways, buses, and trolleys connecting the city and surrounding suburbs.
Life in Philadelphia County offers an urban-suburban mix, with many residents owning their homes. The city attracts a range of residents, from young professionals to families, drawn by its affordability compared to other major Northeast cities. While concerns about public safety and personal finances persist, residents generally express satisfaction with their housing. The economy is driven by various sectors, with recent investments in manufacturing, such as DrinkPAK's East Coast facility, and expansions in the life sciences industry, including Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories. The region also boasts a high concentration of higher education institutions, contributing to its identity as a center for academic research.
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.1x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Philadelphia County has a Boom Town Index score of 42/100, ranking #583 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.8% and a median household income of $57,537, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Philadelphia County is $215,500 with median rent at $1,250/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.267, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.2% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.8%. Home values changed +2.1% in the past 12 months.