City
Philadelphia
The legal city boundary—the line municipal services and local rules follow.
What changes once I live inside the city limits?
- Residents
- 1,579,706
- Land area
- 134.3
- Typical rent
- $1,397
Metro · PA-NJ-DE-MD
Philadelphia metro area
This is the wider region where jobs, housing searches, and daily travel connect. Start here while you are deciding where to move.
About this area
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
This page describes county-based metropolitan statistical area CBSA 37980, not a single city.
Related city: Philadelphia, PA
Retrieved: 2026-09-01
Photo credit
Shengnan Gao / Unsplash · Unsplash License
Published 2026-01-13 · Not a current or complete view of the area.
One region, two useful boundaries
City and metro answer different questions.
These are not two names for the same area. The paired values below are read from each actual boundary, so you can see what changes when you cross the city line.
Metro · ✓
Philadelphia metro area
A county-based region connected by jobs and commuting—useful for regional housing and labor patterns.
Where could I live and still reach the work I am moving for?
- Residents
- 6,272,014
- Land area
- 4,603.2
- Typical rent
- $1,480
You are reading this boundary
Start here
Four facts to help you get your bearings.
- Typical monthly rent and utilities
- $1,480Metro
- Typical household income each year
- $91,289Metro
- Households spending 30%+ of income on rent
- 51.4%Metro
- Typical time to get to work
- 28.7 minMetro
Home and living costs
See usual rent, home value, and how much income rent can take. These numbers are not a budget for every household.
- Typical monthly rent and utilities
Definition
Monthly contract rent plus estimated average monthly utilities and fuels for renter-occupied units paying cash rent.
Observation period: –
Margin of error: ACS 90% confidence-level margin of error.
ACS 5-year estimates are period estimates, not a point-in-time count.
- $1,480
- Typical home value
Definition
Median respondent estimate of value for owner-occupied housing units.
Observation period: –
Margin of error: ACS 90% confidence-level margin of error.
ACS 5-year estimates are period estimates, not a point-in-time count.
- $351,900
- Typical property tax each year
Definition
Yearly real estate tax paid by the owner-occupied household in the middle. This is an amount, not a tax rate.
Observation period: –
Margin of error: ACS 90% confidence-level margin of error.
Median annual real estate taxes paid for owner-occupied housing units. This is a tax amount, not a property-tax rate; assessments, exemptions, and individual bills vary.
- $5,066
Show 2 more related numbers
- Households spending 30%+ of income on rent
Definition
Share of rent-paying households spending at least 30% of income on gross rent, excluding cases where the ratio is not computed.
Observation period: –
Methods note:
round((rent_burden_30_plus_households / rent_burden_universe_households) * 100, 1)Formula inputs:
rent_burden_30_plus_households, rent_burden_universe_householdsMargin of error: No standalone margin of error is published for this CityFit-derived value; input observations retain their published margins of error.
Derived from published inputs; no standalone ACS margin of error is asserted.
- 51.4percent
- Rent as part of household income
Definition
Annualized median gross rent divided by median household income. This derived ratio is not a household-level affordability test.
Observation period: –
Methods note:
round(((median_gross_rent * 12) / median_household_income) * 100, 1)Formula inputs:
median_gross_rent, median_household_incomeMargin of error: No standalone margin of error is published for this CityFit-derived value; input observations retain their published margins of error.
This is a ratio of two medians, not the median household's actual rent burden and not an affordability score.
- 19.5percent
Work and money
See typical household income. It is not a salary or a promise for any one job.
- Typical household income each year
Definition
Income in the past 12 months for the household at the middle of the distribution, in inflation-adjusted dollars.
Observation period: –
Margin of error: ACS 90% confidence-level margin of error.
ACS 5-year estimates are period estimates, not a point-in-time count.
- $91,289
Where people work
The three largest broad industries among workers age 16 and older.
- Educational services, and health care and social assistance27.4%about 862,104 workers
- Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative, and waste management services13.7%about 428,821 workers
- Retail trade10.4%about 325,394 workers
How this list was made
ACS estimates for employed civilians age 16 and older. Percentages are shares of the broad categories shown in the source table.
2020–2024 · 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
U.S. Census Bureau · C24030Kinds of work people do
The three largest broad job groups. This is different from the industry list.
- Management, business, science, and arts occupations48.6%about 1,525,290 workers
- Sales and office occupations19.3%about 605,822 workers
- Service occupations15.4%about 484,397 workers
How this list was made
ACS estimates for employed civilians age 16 and older. Percentages are shares of the broad categories shown in the source table.
2020–2024 · 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
U.S. Census Bureau · C24010Commute and getting around
See how long the trip to work is and how people usually get there. Every trip and neighborhood can be different.
- Typical time to get to work
Definition
Mean travel time to work among workers in the source universe.
Observation period: –
Methods note:
round(aggregate_commute_minutes / commute_travel_time_workers, 1)Formula inputs:
aggregate_commute_minutes, commute_travel_time_workersMargin of error: No standalone margin of error is published for this CityFit-derived value; input observations retain their published margins of error.
Derived from published inputs; no standalone ACS margin of error is asserted.
- 28.7minutes
- Households without a car
Definition
Share of households reporting no vehicle available; this is not a measure of transit quality.
Observation period: –
Methods note:
round((zero_vehicle_households / households_vehicle_universe) * 100, 1)Formula inputs:
zero_vehicle_households, households_vehicle_universeMargin of error: No standalone margin of error is published for this CityFit-derived value; input observations retain their published margins of error.
Derived from published inputs; no standalone ACS margin of error is asserted.
- 12.4percent
- People who drive alone to work
Definition
Share of workers who usually drove alone to work.
Observation period: –
Methods note:
round((drove_alone_workers / commute_mode_workers) * 100, 1)Formula inputs:
drove_alone_workers, commute_mode_workersMargin of error: No standalone margin of error is published for this CityFit-derived value; input observations retain their published margins of error.
Derived from published inputs; no standalone ACS margin of error is asserted.
- 62.8percent
- People who take public transit to work
Definition
Share of workers who usually used public transportation to work.
Observation period: –
Methods note:
round((public_transit_workers / commute_mode_workers) * 100, 1)Formula inputs:
public_transit_workers, commute_mode_workersMargin of error: No standalone margin of error is published for this CityFit-derived value; input observations retain their published margins of error.
Derived from published inputs; no standalone ACS margin of error is asserted.
- 6.1percent
Show 3 more related numbers
- People who walk to work
Definition
Share of workers who usually walked to work.
Observation period: –
Methods note:
round((walked_workers / commute_mode_workers) * 100, 1)Formula inputs:
walked_workers, commute_mode_workersMargin of error: No standalone margin of error is published for this CityFit-derived value; input observations retain their published margins of error.
Derived from published inputs; no standalone ACS margin of error is asserted.
- 3.1percent
- People who work from home
Definition
Share of workers who usually worked from home.
Observation period: –
Methods note:
round((worked_from_home_workers / commute_mode_workers) * 100, 1)Formula inputs:
worked_from_home_workers, commute_mode_workersMargin of error: No standalone margin of error is published for this CityFit-derived value; input observations retain their published margins of error.
Derived from published inputs; no standalone ACS margin of error is asserted.
- 18.9percent
- People who carpool to work
Definition
Share of workers who usually carpooled to work.
Observation period: –
Methods note:
round((carpool_workers / commute_mode_workers) * 100, 1)Formula inputs:
carpool_workers, commute_mode_workersMargin of error: No standalone margin of error is published for this CityFit-derived value; input observations retain their published margins of error.
Derived from published inputs; no standalone ACS margin of error is asserted.
- 7.0percent
People and place
See the size of this boundary and a few facts about the people who live here. It cannot describe every neighborhood.
- People who live here
Definition
Total resident population estimate.
Observation period: –
Margin of error: The ACS Summary File uses a special value indicating that no margin of error is published for this controlled estimate.
ACS 5-year estimates are period estimates, not a point-in-time count.
- 6,272,014people
- Land inside this boundary
Definition
Land area within the stated geographic boundary.
Observation period: –
Margin of error: Census land-area geometry measurement; no survey margin of error applies.
Land area excludes water area and follows the 2024 Census geography vintage.
- 4,603.2square miles
- People per square mile
Definition
Population divided by land area; it does not describe density in every neighborhood.
Observation period: –
Methods note:
round(population / land_area_square_miles, 1)Formula inputs:
population, land_area_square_milesMargin of error: No standalone margin of error is published for this CityFit-derived value; input observations retain their published margins of error.
Density combines an ACS period estimate with a 2024 boundary-area measurement and must not be treated as an ACS-published density.
- 1,363people per square mileMetroSource: U.S. Census Bureau B01003 + Gazetteer ALANDVintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year population / 2024 Gazetteer land area
Show 2 more related numbers
- Middle age of residents
Definition
Age that divides the population into two numerically equal groups.
Observation period: –
Margin of error: ACS 90% confidence-level margin of error.
ACS 5-year estimates are period estimates, not a point-in-time count.
- 39.3years
- People in a household
Definition
Average number of people per occupied housing unit classified as a household.
Observation period: –
Margin of error: ACS 90% confidence-level margin of error.
ACS 5-year estimates are period estimates, not a point-in-time count.
- 2.48people per household
Resident perspective
People who know this place
Community perception is not included in this release. CityFit will never simulate votes or present subjective perception as fact.
Sources and methodology
Sources and methodology
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01ACS 5-year estimates are period estimates, not a point-in-time count.
Vintage: 2024 Census Gazetteer Files
2024 Census Gazetteer Files · Retrieved: 2026-09-01Land area excludes water area and follows the 2024 Census geography vintage.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year population / 2024 Gazetteer land area
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables + 2024 Census Gazetteer Files · Retrieved: 2026-09-01
Methods note:round(population / land_area_square_miles, 1)Density combines an ACS period estimate with a 2024 boundary-area measurement and must not be treated as an ACS-published density.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year population / 2024 Gazetteer land area
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables + 2024 Census Gazetteer Files · Retrieved: 2026-09-01
Methods note:round(population / land_area_square_miles, 1)Density combines an ACS period estimate with a 2024 boundary-area measurement and must not be treated as an ACS-published density.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01ACS 5-year estimates are period estimates, not a point-in-time count.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01ACS 5-year estimates are period estimates, not a point-in-time count.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01ACS 5-year estimates are period estimates, not a point-in-time count.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01
Methods note:round((rent_burden_30_plus_households / rent_burden_universe_households) * 100, 1)Derived from published inputs; no standalone ACS margin of error is asserted.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01
Methods note:round(((median_gross_rent * 12) / median_household_income) * 100, 1)This is a ratio of two medians, not the median household's actual rent burden and not an affordability score.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01
Methods note:round(((median_gross_rent * 12) / median_household_income) * 100, 1)This is a ratio of two medians, not the median household's actual rent burden and not an affordability score.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01
Methods note:round(aggregate_commute_minutes / commute_travel_time_workers, 1)Derived from published inputs; no standalone ACS margin of error is asserted.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01
Methods note:round(aggregate_commute_minutes / commute_travel_time_workers, 1)Derived from published inputs; no standalone ACS margin of error is asserted.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01
Methods note:round((zero_vehicle_households / households_vehicle_universe) * 100, 1)Derived from published inputs; no standalone ACS margin of error is asserted.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01
Methods note:round((drove_alone_workers / commute_mode_workers) * 100, 1)Derived from published inputs; no standalone ACS margin of error is asserted.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01
Methods note:round((carpool_workers / commute_mode_workers) * 100, 1)Derived from published inputs; no standalone ACS margin of error is asserted.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01
Methods note:round((public_transit_workers / commute_mode_workers) * 100, 1)Derived from published inputs; no standalone ACS margin of error is asserted.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01
Methods note:round((walked_workers / commute_mode_workers) * 100, 1)Derived from published inputs; no standalone ACS margin of error is asserted.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01
Methods note:round((worked_from_home_workers / commute_mode_workers) * 100, 1)Derived from published inputs; no standalone ACS margin of error is asserted.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01ACS 5-year estimates are period estimates, not a point-in-time count.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01ACS 5-year estimates are period estimates, not a point-in-time count.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01Median annual real estate taxes paid for owner-occupied housing units. This is a tax amount, not a property-tax rate; assessments, exemptions, and individual bills vary.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01Top three of the five mutually exclusive C24010 broad occupation categories, calculated by adding the published male and female estimates. This occupation-context list is not an industry list, a score, or a comparison ranking.
Vintage: 2020-2024 ACS 5-year
2024 ACS 5-year Detailed Tables · Retrieved: 2026-09-01Top three of the 13 mutually exclusive C24030 broad industry categories, calculated by adding the published male and female estimates. This employment-context list is not an occupation list, a score, or a comparison ranking.
Methods note
Values are estimates or derived values calculated with the disclosed formula. Margins of error appear only when supported by the source or derivation; read each metric definition and caveat with the value.
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