I think it's great, but it also depends on what you're specifically looking for out of a city experience. The amount of culture, food, beer, history, art, green space, and amenities you're going to get here in the framework of what you're going to pay for rent is simply unparalleled. I moved to Philly six years ago after college, and seriously just worked in a restaurant 4 nights/week and had no problem paying my $400/mo rent (my rent was so cheap because I went a few blocks outside a "hot" neighborhood, but could still walk to its borders in three minutes). I could use time I wasn't required to work to sack away rent to explore and take in everything the city had to offer (and spend plenty of time looking for a full-time with no pressure). I felt like I was in on some big secret that no one knew about, or something. The amount of value you get per rent dollar spent is an incredible ration. Like, the fact I could try a locally roasted delicious coffee and pick up a (relatively) amazing sandwich for under $12 and each within a few blocks from my house blew my mind, as someone who grew up in the 'burbs and drove 15 minutes to anything decent. In addition, it's not just that; most things you want, including mostly any community you want to be a part of can be found here, and for cheap, and a subway or bus will take you there. It's just a bevy of urban density with tons of options to explore on all levels. The bad? I'd say typical big city problems; crime, litter, people begging for money. I honestly don't have many big complaints about Philadelphia except for one (and yes, it's food related): its lack of options past 2 am. There's simply nothing open when the bars shut down, including transportation most nights. I wish there were a backdrop of a series of gritty diners, at least. There's just nothing, and if there is, it's very few and far between. The places that are open are madhouses. This may not be of interest to you if you don't like going out. More on reddit.com

Philadelphia (the city) was built quite densely over a quite large geographic area with historically high homeownership and low housing costs. Many of the row homes that are found throughout the city were built as 'workingman's houses' for the middle or lower middle class. Philadelphia was known as a "city of homes", modest, simple, small homes, but still better than the tenemants found in similar cities. The amount of single-family residential buildings in Philadelphia is far higher than its peer cities.

And then the city went from a massive industrial economy through a long century of industrial decline. Then the suburban boom/white flight and a massive hemorrhaging of white collar jobs in the latter half of the 20th century. The city of Philadelphia has not nearly recovered its share of the total number of metro jobs compared to other East coast cities. And the population has still not recovered to its peak mid-20th century population of over 2 million (the population now is a hair under 1.6 million). So you still have plenty of space to build into for new arrivals as the population inches upward - neighborhoods with vacant lots or abandoned homes so there is not the space constraints found in similar cities. Perhaps the most important reason for Philadelphia's current relative affordability though is that the city's economy hasn't exploded in recent decades like Boston, NYC and DC. Philly's resurgence started later and has been more modest.

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Cool, nationally underrated city that I enjoy but definitely wasting a lot of potential More on reddit.com

I've heard Philadelphia described in countless ways, but I've never heard it described as sane. More on reddit.com