**The Best Thing About Philadelphia?** 

It’s cheaper than NYC.  It can be pretty rough and tumble in places, and in general, but it’s a big city. Compared to other big cities, Philly's housing is tremendously affordable. If you are willing to live in a neighborhood that is racially and economically mixed, you can find a 3-bedroom apartment for under $2,000. Houses can be found for under $100K in many of the city's neighborhoods, as well. The housing stock does tend to be older--but if you want to pay top dollar for a new condo in a hip neighborhood, you might pay around $300-400K.

Young people can live in Center City (Downtown) and take advantage of all the funky street festivals and pop-up beer gardens, art museums. The area near Olde City is a nice compromise between not horrendously expensive and relatively safe.

Young families with some money can take advantage of some of the best private schools in the country. If you like Quaker schools, boy, are you in luck.

**The Worst Thing About Philadelphia?** 

There's really no getting around it; Philly's got attitude. You’ve likely heard the stories. There seems to be no limit to what Philadelphia’s most impassioned sports fans will do and by and large, it’s a pretty cranky and brash population.

The city schools are problematic (funding problems) and people do complain about the public transport system.

Liquor laws are weird (but BYOB restaurants are common.)

**How You Living?** You’re Probably Going to Live In a Row Home.

Despite several modern condo complexes popping up around town, chances are you’ll find yourself living in a row home. The layout is pretty similar no matter which one you choose: Two, maybe three levels piled on top of each other, kitchen in the back, bedrooms and bathroom above. If you’re lucky you’ll have a rooftop with a great view of Philly’s skyline. Those are surprisingly easy to come by.

Philadelphia is called the “City of Neighborhoods” It is a very pockety city meaning there are thin lines between good and bad neighborhoods. Neighborhoods can vary enormously, from really dangerous to really lovely gentrified neighborhoods full of Victorian houses, or stone houses that have been beautifully remodeled. 

This is a city of neighborhoods, and there’s one for every type of personality. 

**Rittenhouse** is sophisticated, characterized by well-manicured streets, stately row homes and well-kept public parks. 

Go south to **Passyunk**, where skinny-jeans-wearing urbanites mingle with young families along one of the most innovative dining corridors in the city. 

**Fishtown** feels gritty in all the right ways. Go there for dive-bar vibes and some of Philly’s best indie rock venues. 

**West Philly** welcomes the hippy-at-heart with crunchy cafes, ethnic eateries and the ever-present scent of a certain herb wafting through the air.

Philly is home to two historic markets. The Reading Terminal may be touristy, but savvy locals know how to breeze through for a quick lunch, excellent meat and fish purveyors and to snag fresh, homemade goods from the Amish vendors open there six days a week. South Philly’s Italian influence lives on in a big way at the Italian Market.

**The Philly Suburbs**
If you can afford it, the **Main Line** suburbs are the ones. Homes, often in Pennsylvania stone, good schools, and a high quality of life. Trains get you downtown Philadelphia. easily. 

**Gladwyne** is an especially nice one. There are attractive condos as well.

**Lower Merion**, it is a main line suburb of Philly, but unlike Philly has good schools and colleges (Bryn Mawr, Haverford, St Joe’s and Villanova), relatively low taxes, is safe and an easy commute into the city by car or train. Housing prices are probably the highest of the close in suburbs.

**Penn Valley**, and especially the north side of **Wynnewood** are popular as well as **Chester Springs**, and **Newtown Square**. Northern suburbs, such as **Rydal**, and northwest areas around **Whitemarsh** are nice (commuter trains/longer commutes). 

Same as you continue into **Bucks County**,  

**Narberth** is a main line suburb with a walkable core -- centrally located shops and train stations from anywhere in town. The streets are lined with gorgeous old trees and the town still has a small town feel. 

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** 

There has been a fair amount of Millennial movement from NYC to Philly.  A good way to think of Philly is as "Brooklyn lite." Mixed neighborhoods, some fabulous ethnic neighborhoods, some gentrified,  people who are in a hurry, and rude and obnoxious. A lot of cursing. If this appeals to you, it can be had for much less money than Brooklyn these days. If you want access to this but prefer to go home to the suburbs, the Main Line suburbs (fed by commuter trains) have a lot to offer. 


Philadelphia

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**The Best Thing About Pittsburgh?** - Smart Money On Hilly Streets

As far as home prices go, the “Steel City'' might want to consider renaming itself the “Steal City.” With median home prices well below the national average, Pittsburgh provides a wide variety of living options for smart money, despite being a city that provides the same amenities as bigger or more popular cities. The money, however, isn’t the only thing that’s smart about Pittsburgh. A number of first class universities within the city limits, including Carnegie Mellon and The University of Pittsburgh, provides amazing local opportunities for higher education, and gives the city a younger vibe than other bigger cities.

Even better that these great housing opportunities exist on the stunning landscape of the hilliest city in America (sorry San Francisco). Who knew the midwest had such hills?
	
**The Worst Thing About Pittsburgh?** - The driving? Not thriving.

Ever gotten road rage? If not, you might feel inclined to start getting it while driving through Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh’s drivers are consistently rated as either the worst or one of the worst in the nation. To make matters worse, whoever designed Pittsburgh’s road system would likely be rated as either the worst or one of the worst at their job as well if that were a thing. Steel City is notorious for its nonsensical and confusing road map, turning normal commutes into complicated odysseys. Wear a helmet, bike riders.

**How You Living?** - Urban towns

People are often shocked how pleasant Pittsburgh is in comparison to most of the other rust belt cities. A great majority of Pittsburgh is made up of single family homes located near vibrant mini-commercial districts. Highland Park puts families well within reach of parks, trails, and the famed Pittsburgh Zoo. Neighborhoods such as Regent Park are built around independent businesses, coffee shops and art galleries. Finally, the neighborhoods around the Universities, like Shady Side, feel like small college towns, and are great destinations for young people and singles. 

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** - The Price is Right. And the Timing is too.

With more people switching to remote work and looking for larger homes with access to parks and trails, there has never been a better time to move to Pittsburgh. More affordable houses conveniently situated around these amenities and those of other large American cities, including beloved sports stadiums such as Heinz Field, home of the fabled Pittsburgh Steelers, make Pittsburgh a phenomenal destination for the present and the future.


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