Retiring in Philadelphia, PA

Retirement city profile: climate, cost of living, healthcare, safety and more

87°/30°

Climate (Summer/Winter)

$236,883

Housing (Typical Value)

916.9

Safety (Violent Crime/100,000)

4 of 5

Healthcare (Hospital Rating)

Is Philadelphia Right for Your Retirement?

With a reported population of 1,582,432, Philadelphia offers a large-city setting for retirement planning. This profile brings its climate, housing, reported crime, healthcare access, walkability and natural hazard exposure into one view so you can evaluate the tradeoffs.

Potential Strengths

Lower housing costs
Strong hospital access
Low wildfire risk

Potential Tradeoffs

Hot summers
Wet climate
Higher violent crime
Higher property crime
Elevated riverine flooding risk
Elevated coastal flooding risk
Elevated tornado risk
Elevated hurricane risk
Elevated earthquake risk
Elevated ice storms risk

Potential advantages. The typical home value is $236,883, 36% below the $371,774 US median. The nearest hospital is Temple University Hospital, 0.7 miles away. Its CMS quality rating is 4 of 5. FEMA and NOAA assign a lower risk designation to wildfire.

Potential tradeoffs. The average June through August high is 87°F. Annual precipitation is 50.7 inches. The reported violent crime rate is 916.9 per 100,000, 155% above the 359.1 per 100,000 US median. The reported property crime rate is 4615.2 per 100,000, 162% above the 1760.1 per 100,000 US median. FEMA and NOAA assign elevated risk designations to riverine flooding, coastal flooding, tornado, hurricane, earthquake and ice storms.

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Climate

Summer high (Jun-Aug avg)87°F

Winter low (Dec-Feb avg)30°F

Annual snowfall16.1"

Annual precipitation50.7"

Housing & Cost of Living

Typical home value (ZHVI)$236,88336% below the $371,774 US median

Median gross rent$1,323/monear the US median of $1,400/mo

Safety (Reported Crime)

Violent crime rate916.9 /100,000155% above the 359.1 /100,000 US median

Property crime rate4615.2 /100,000162% above the 1760.1 /100,000 US median

Motor vehicle theft rate1010 /100,000

Healthcare Access

Nearest hospitalTemple University Hospital (0.7 mi)

Hospital quality★★★★☆ (4 of 5)

Primary care accessStrong (1,412 residents/physician)

Walkability

EPA Walkability Index14.9/20 (Above Average)

Population & City Size

Population1,582,432Classified as a large city

Elevation94 ft

Natural Disaster Risk

Riverine floodingVery High

Coastal floodingRelatively High

TornadoRelatively High

HurricaneRelatively High

WildfireVery Low

EarthquakeRelatively High

Ice stormsRelatively High

TsunamiN/A

Sources & Freshness

Crime: FBI UCR/NIBRS · Climate: NOAA Climate Normals · Natural disaster risk: FEMA National Risk Index & NOAA · Hospital location & distance: HIFLD · Hospital quality rating: CMS Hospital Compare · Primary care access: HRSA county-level provider data · Home value: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) · Rent: Census ACS place-level data · Population & elevation: US Census Bureau · Walkability: EPA National Walkability Index.
National median/average figures used for comparison (home value, rent, crime, precipitation) are recalculated annually from the same source datasets above.
Data last refreshed: August 2026.
Figures are comparative indicators and may not reflect neighborhood-level conditions. Confirm current housing, healthcare and hazard information with the cited sources before making a relocation decision.

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