Moving to Philadelphia? 10 Things to Know Before You Move

Don’t try to understand Philly from a map.

And definitely don’t try to understand it from one weekend in Center City.

Philadelphia changes pretty dramatically depending on the neighborhood you’re standing in. Parking, walkability, housing, commute, taxes, noise, transit and what your normal Tuesday looks like can all change based on where you decide to live.

Then there are the things nobody puts in a relocation brochure.

We call it Center City, not downtown.

It’s water ice.

It’s a cheesesteak, not a “Philly cheesesteak.”

And wearing a Cowboys jersey is a personal decision you’ll have to live with.

I recently made a video about 10 things NOT to do when visiting Philadelphia. Most of it is fun, but there’s actually a bigger point behind it:

If you’re considering moving here, understanding how Philadelphia actually works is just as important as finding a house you like.

Here’s what I’d want a relocation buyer to know.

Quick Answer: What Should I Know Before Moving to Philadelphia?

Before moving to Philadelphia, spend time comparing neighborhoods instead of treating the city as one market. Think seriously about parking, walkability, transportation, commute, taxes, housing style and what you want your everyday life to look like.

And don’t automatically assume you need to live in Philadelphia itself.

Depending on your priorities, Delaware County or another surrounding suburb could make more sense.

The goal isn’t to find the “best” place.

It’s to figure out which tradeoffs work for you.

1. Philadelphia Is Really a Collection of Neighborhoods

This is probably the biggest thing relocation buyers need to understand.

Philadelphia is one city, but living in Manayunk is not the same experience as living in Fishtown.

Fairmount isn’t South Philly.

Queen Village isn’t Roxborough.

Old City isn’t East Falls.

You get the idea.

Housing styles change. Density changes. Parking changes. Walkability changes. Access to transit changes. Your commute can change.

Even the feel of individual blocks can vary.

That’s why I don’t love when someone relocating here starts with:

“What’s the best neighborhood in Philadelphia?”

There isn’t one.

A much better question is:

“Which areas make the most sense for the way I actually want to live?”

That’s something we can work with.

2. Don’t Choose Your Neighborhood From Listing Photos

Listing sites are great for seeing houses.

They’re not particularly good at showing you what living there at 7:30 on a Wednesday morning feels like.

If you have the opportunity to visit before buying, spend actual time in the areas you’re considering.

Walk around.

Grab coffee.

Get dinner.

Try the commute.

See where you’d get groceries.

Look at the parking situation.

Pay attention to the amount of activity on the block.

You’re not trying to decide whether a neighborhood is universally “good” or “bad.” You’re trying to figure out whether its day-to-day setup works for you.

A beautiful kitchen doesn’t fix a location that doesn’t fit your life.

3. Center City Is Not the Entire Philadelphia Experience

First, you’ll hear locals call it Center City, not downtown.

More importantly, don’t judge all of Philadelphia by it.

Center City contains many of the city’s major offices, restaurants, shops, museums, historic attractions and transportation connections.

It’s an important part of Philadelphia.

It’s just not the whole thing.

One of the biggest mistakes someone relocating here can make is visiting Center City for two days and deciding they’ve figured out where they want to live.

Go explore.

Philadelphia starts making much more sense once you get into its neighborhoods.

4. Figure Out How Important Your Car Really Is

This one can have a huge impact on your home search.

If you drive every day, parking deserves to be part of your criteria from the beginning.

Not after you’ve fallen in love with the house.

Not after your offer gets accepted.

From the beginning.

Philadelphia has residential permit parking in eligible areas, and street-parking conditions vary by location. Dedicated parking can also be a major feature depending on where you’re looking.

On the other hand, if you work from home, walk frequently or can realistically use public transportation, you may prioritize completely different things.

Neither approach is wrong.

Just be honest with yourself.

If circling the block looking for a parking space every night is going to drive you insane, I’d rather figure that out before you buy the house.

5. Walkability Can Completely Change Your Daily Routine

One thing I like about living in Philadelphia is how much you can have around you without getting in the car.

Depending on the neighborhood, restaurants, parks, coffee shops, bars, shops, transit and everyday errands may all be accessible on foot.

But walkability isn’t identical everywhere.

When you’re comparing homes, don’t stop evaluating the property when you walk out the front door.

Walk a few blocks.

Where would you actually go?

What would you use?

How far is transit if you need it?

Would you realistically walk to the places you think you’re going to walk to?

A home’s location should work in real life, not just look convenient on Google Maps.

Also, one piece of Philly etiquette:

If you stop in the middle of a busy sidewalk to check your phone, someone will probably let you know you’re in the way.

Consider that your first free local lesson.

6. Learn the Transportation Options Before Picking an Area

Your commute can completely change which areas make sense.

SEPTA operates public transportation throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding region, including Regional Rail.

That means someone commuting into Philadelphia doesn’t necessarily need to live in Center City—or even within Philadelphia—to have rail access.

But don’t make assumptions based solely on mileage.

A location that looks closer on a map isn’t automatically an easier commute.

If transportation matters to your move, look at the actual route you’d use, station access, transfers, schedule and how you’re getting to and from the station.

This becomes especially important when you’re comparing Philadelphia with Delaware County, Montgomery County or Chester County.

7. Understand Philadelphia Taxes Before You Decide Where to Live

This is one of the less exciting parts of relocation research.

It’s also one you shouldn’t ignore.

Philadelphia has its own local tax structure.

As of September 2026, Philadelphia’s Wage Tax rate is 3.735% for residents and 3.425% for nonresidents who work in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia residents generally owe the Wage Tax regardless of where they work.

That doesn’t automatically mean living outside the city is financially better. Suburban municipalities have their own property taxes, local earned-income taxes and other costs that need to be considered.

The point is simpler:

Don’t compare two homes using purchase price alone.

When you’re deciding between Philadelphia and the suburbs, understand the complete tax picture that applies to your specific situation.

I’m a Realtor, not a CPA or tax professional, so I’ll help you identify the questions that matter and point you toward the appropriate official resources or professionals when tax advice is needed.

8. Don’t Judge Philadelphia by the Tourist Version

Visit Independence Hall.

Go to Reading Terminal Market.

Get a cheesesteak.

Do all of it.

But that’s not the same thing as experiencing Philadelphia as someone who lives here.

Your normal life eventually becomes your coffee shop, your grocery run, the restaurant around the corner, your commute, your favorite takeout place, the park you walk through and whatever spot has your preferred water ice.

And yes.

It’s water ice.

Not Italian ice.

I don’t make the rules.

The point is that neighborhood businesses and everyday conveniences matter more once you’re living here than the places appearing on a weekend itinerary.

Explore beyond the obvious stuff before deciding where you want to live.

9. Philadelphia’s Directness Takes a Minute to Understand

Philadelphia can be direct.

Sometimes very direct.

Someone might give you exactly the information you asked for without wrapping it in five minutes of small talk.

If you’re relocating from somewhere with a different communication style, that can take some getting used to.

Don’t immediately mistake it for people being unfriendly.

There’s a lot of humor, loyalty and pride underneath the edge.

Personally, I think the straightforwardness translates pretty well to real estate too.

If I see something about a property that concerns me, I’d rather tell you.

If I don’t think an area fits what you’ve told me you want, let’s talk about it.

If Philadelphia isn’t actually the best fit for your move, that’s worth figuring out too.

Clear information is more useful than telling somebody what they want to hear.

10. Don’t Assume You Need to Live in Philadelphia

This is the one I really want relocation buyers to understand.

Your search doesn’t have to start with:

“Which Philadelphia neighborhood should I buy in?”

It can start with:

“Should I live in Philadelphia at all?”

Maybe you want the density, walkability, restaurants and city access.

Great.

Maybe you start comparing homes and realize you’d rather have a driveway, more outdoor space or a different day-to-day pace.

That’s where Delaware County or another surrounding suburb may enter the conversation.

And it doesn’t have to be a city-versus-suburbs debate where one side wins.

You’re comparing tradeoffs.

Someone may love living in Manayunk.

Someone else might realize Havertown makes more sense.

Another person may prefer Media.

Someone else may decide they want to be farther west.

The answer depends on your budget, commute, transportation, housing preferences and what you want life outside your house to look like.

That’s why my advice to relocation buyers is pretty simple:

Start with the area, not the house.

Philadelphia vs. the Suburbs: What Should You Compare?

If you’re stuck between Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs, don’t start by asking which is “better.”

Compare the things that will actually affect you:

• Your commute and work location
• How often you want or need to drive
• Parking
• Walkability
• Public transportation
• Housing style
• Amount of space you want
• Outdoor space
• Taxes
• Purchase budget
• Access to the places you use regularly
• How long you expect to own the home

Once those priorities become clear, the map usually gets much smaller.

That’s a good thing.

Can You Buy a Home in Philadelphia If You’re Relocating From Out of State?

Yes.

You don’t necessarily need to be physically in Philadelphia for every part of the search.

A relocation plan can include virtual consultations, area comparisons, live video showings and organized showing days when you come into town.

What I don’t recommend is rushing into a property because you only have one weekend here.

The first part of the process should be narrowing the geography.

Once we know which areas actually fit your move, looking at houses becomes much more productive.

And if you’re still trying to answer the bigger question—Philadelphia or the suburbs?—that’s exactly the kind of conversation I’m happy to have.

I’m Tom Fior, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty and The Steven Eckell Team. I help relocation buyers compare Philadelphia, Delaware County and the surrounding suburbs based on the things that actually affect their move.

No pressure to buy.

No requirement that you already know the area.

We’ll start with what you need your life here to look like and work backward from there.

Your next move starts with a conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Philadelphia

What should I know before moving to Philadelphia?

The biggest thing to understand is that Philadelphia varies significantly by neighborhood. Before choosing where to live, compare your commute, parking needs, walkability, transportation options, taxes, housing preferences and budget. If possible, spend time in several neighborhoods rather than judging the city solely from Center City.

Should I live in Philadelphia or the suburbs?

Neither is automatically better. Philadelphia may make sense if you prioritize city access, density, walkability or transit. A surrounding suburb may offer different housing styles, parking arrangements, lot sizes, municipal taxes and commute options. Compare the tradeoffs based on your actual priorities.

Do you need a car to live in Philadelphia?

It depends heavily on where you live and where you need to go. Some Philadelphia residents can rely heavily on walking and public transportation, while others need a car for work or everyday travel. If you expect to drive regularly, investigate parking before choosing a home.

What is the Philadelphia Wage Tax?

Philadelphia imposes a Wage Tax on employed city residents regardless of where they work and on nonresidents who work in Philadelphia. As of September 2026, the rates are 3.735% for residents and 3.425% for nonresidents. Consult the City of Philadelphia and an appropriate tax professional for information specific to your situation.

Can I buy a Philadelphia home while living out of state?

Yes. Relocation buyers can begin narrowing areas remotely and use tools such as virtual consultations, live video showings and concentrated in-person showing days. Understanding the areas first can make a limited amount of time in Philadelphia much more productive.