BestCityFor

Best city for remote work? Philadelphia, PA

C
Score
45/100
Rank #140 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

Philadelphia may not rank at the top for remote work, but it can be a fit if you care about typical rent (2br), plus work-from-home share. Overall, it’s better for a specific set of priorities (#140 of 200). A common tradeoff is commute 45+ min share.

Methodology · Sources · PA rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. That’s why some cities can look very different vs their surrounding region.

Why Philadelphia ranks here

  • Typical rent (2BR): $1,394/mo (3% lower than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Work-from-home share: 16% (33% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Broadband subscription: 87% (4% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Commute 45+ min share: 25% (119% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Median household income: $60,698 (20% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
1,582,432
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 47%Female 53%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$1,394/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Work-from-home share
16%
National median: 12%
Broadband subscription
87%
National median: 91%
Median household income
$60,698
National median: $75,598
Bachelor’s+ rate
35%
National median: 35%
Commute 45+ min share
25%
National median: 11%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and housing pressure.
70/100
Connectivity
Broadband availability as a practical remote-work proxy.
87/100
Workforce
Remote-work adoption and human-capital signals.
21/100
Comfort
Commute friction and climate comfort.
75/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

13%
Less than HS
53%
HS / Some college
19%
Bachelor’s
15%
Advanced

Work style

WFH vs not WFH (ACS).

16%
Work from home
84%
Not WFH

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

87%
Broadband
13%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$1,394/mo
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
87%
Work-from-home share
National median 12%
16%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$60,698
Bachelor’s+ rate
National median 35%
35%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
25%

Similar cities (by score)

#138 Syracuse, NY
46/100
#139 Waco, TX
45/100
#141 Kansas City, KS
45/100
#142 Laredo, TX
45/100

FAQ

›What is Philadelphia’s remote work score and rank?
Philadelphia, PA scores C (45/100) and ranks #140 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on Philadelphia city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level rankings can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of Philadelphia, PA?
Population is about 1,582,432 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in Philadelphia, PA?
About 47% male and 53% female (ACS 2023).
›What is a typical monthly rent in Philadelphia, PA?
Typical rent (2BR) is $1,394/mo (national median: $1,441/mo).
›What share of workers work from home in Philadelphia, PA?
Work-from-home share is 16% (national median: 12%).
›How common is broadband internet in Philadelphia, PA?
Broadband subscription is 87% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in Philadelphia, PA?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 13%, HS/some college 53%, bachelor’s 19%, advanced 15%.
›Where does this data come from for Philadelphia, PA?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (job, neighborhood, commute, safety, schools, healthcare).