Philadelphia, the sixth-largest city in the United States and the second-largest city on the East Coast, is a great place to live. According to this moving guide from Great Guys Moving, the City of Brotherly Love retains a small-town vibe, despite being a large, metropolitan city. It offers residents a low cost of living, ample public transportation, and plenty of things to do. If you’re moving to Philadelphia for the first time, here are some things that you need to know.
Schools
In addition to many private schools, there are 342 public schools within the Philadelphia School District. Two hundred fifteen of these are operated directly by the district, 101 are charter schools, and 26 provide alternative education.
Here are the best public high schools, according to PhillyMag.com and Zillow’s ratings of the city’s 487 public and private primary and secondary schools.
Culture
Founded by William Penn in 1682, Philadelphia is one of the most historic cities in the United States. It was the home of the Continental Congress, where the Founding Fathers of the United States hammered out the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
If you’re looking to live in a historic building, you’re likely to find one in Philadelphia. The median age of a home in Philadelphia is 93 years, 30 years older than the U.S. average!
Philadelphia has a deserved reputation as a sports city. It has a major league team in every sport — baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer. The Phillies, 76ers, Eagles, Flyers, and the Union are all known for their die-hard fanbases.
One side of Philadelphia you may not be familiar with is its excellent art scene. The city is home to more Impressionist paintings than any city outside Paris. It has also been called the “mural capital of the U.S.” thanks to the 2,000 outdoor murals dotting the city.
Connections
Perhaps one of the most significant advantages of moving to Philadelphia is the city’s proximity to other large urban centers. New York City and Baltimore are both 100 miles away. Washington, D.C. is 133 miles away. With its location on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, these cities, as well as Boston and Pittsburgh, are a quick train ride away.
If you’re a nature lover, Philadelphia is a great place to live. Scenic Fairmount Park and the 2,000-acre Wissahickon Valley Park both sit within the city limits. Wharton State Forest is a 45-minute drive toward the coast. And when summer comes around, don’t miss these beaches close to Philadelphia.
Climate
Philadelphia’s location in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic between New England and the Southeast also means mild winters and mild summers. The average low in January, the coldest month in Philadelphia, is just 26 degrees, and the average high in the hottest month of July is a comfortable 87 degrees.
Philly gets roughly 207 days of sun a year, close to the U.S. average of 205 days. It has above-average rainfall totals and below-average snowfall totals, 47 and 13 inches a year, respectively.
We hope this quick guide tells you everything you need to know when moving to Philadelphia for the first time!