Philadelphia, PA Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Philadelphia, PA: What You Need to Know

Philadelphia is famous as the birthplace of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence, but Hollywood fans throughout the world also know it as the setting for the iconic “Rocky” movies.

A Rich Local History

Lenape Native Americans originally settled in the area. In the 1600s, the Swedish arrived and called the area New Sweden, a name that lasted even after the Dutch took over the colony. In 1681, the British government granted William Penn a charter for Pennsylvania, leading to the transition from Dutch to British control of the area. Penn renamed a part of New Sweden as Philadelphia, meaning “brotherly love” in Greek.

In 1774, Philadelphia hosted the First Continental Congress to organize colonial resistance against the British, and then the Second Continental Congress in 1775 to declare U.S. independence from Britain. After the Revolutionary War, delegates to the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia to draft and ratify the U.S. Constitution. Philadelphia was the nation’s temporary capital from 1790 to 1800, while the permanent capital, Washington, D.C., was being built.

Cost of Living

It’s not cheap to live in a city as large as Philadelphia (population: 1.6 million). The city’s cost of living and transportation are 25.1% and 2.7% higher than the national average, respectively. On the bright side, food cost is 5.8% lower than the national average, plus Pennsylvania’s flat income tax rate of 3.07% is the lowest among all states with a flat tax. Median gross rent (median rent plus estimated cost of utilities) is $1,007 while median two-bedroom apartment rent is $1,476.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Living in Logan Square means being close to Philadelphia’s business hub. You’ll find an array of housing options, from high-rise apartments to historic houses. Point Breeze is popular among renters for its affordable apartments, parks, and proximity to City Center. For suburbanites, Penn Wynne maintains a small-town atmosphere and yet it’s close to Philly. Chesterbrook is known for its green spaces, though it’s newer housing can be pricey. Both Penn Wynne and Chesterbrook have topnotch public schools.

The Local Sports Scene

Philadelphians love to gather in sports bars and hold tailgate parties for a good reason. They have a number of professional teams to root for, including the Phillies (MLB), Eagles (NFL), Flyers (NHL), Union (MLS), and 76ers (NBA). Philly’s teams have won 17 championships combined. In addition, the city is also home to the Soul (arena football, AFL) and Freedoms (team tennis, WTT).

Getting Around the City

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) provides a public transit system with train, subway, trolley, and bus lines. About 1.3 million people use SEPTA every day. The city’s subway system has two lines: Market-Frankford Line and Broad Street Line. Regional Rail trains serve Philadelphia and four other counties, plus parts of New Jersey and Delaware. For out-of-state visitors, the Philadelphia International Airport is only 13 miles away from the city. Greyhound Bus and Amtrak also serve Philly.