Is Philadelphia County, PA good for real estate investing?

Philadelphia County has an investment score of 73/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #65 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Philadelphia?

The rent-to-price ratio in Philadelphia County is 8.94% annually, which ranks in the 97th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Philadelphia?

The median home price in Philadelphia County is $228,589. This ranks #340 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Philadelphia?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Philadelphia County would generate negative cash flow of $91/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Philadelphia County

PennsylvaniaPopulation: 1,593,208

/100

Buy

#65 of 1,000 counties

#10 in Pennsylvania (67 counties)

Market Snapshot

$228,589

Median Home Price

16% below national median

$1,704/mo

Median Rent

14% above national median

8.94%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 3% nationally

-$91

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Trend based on YoY growth rate. Source: Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$228,589

Down Payment (20%)$45,718

Loan Amount$182,871

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,704

Monthly P&I-$1,198

Est. Expenses (35%)-$596

Net Cash Flow-$91/mo

5.8%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-2.1%

Cash-on-Cash Return

8.94%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 5.8% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

73/100

Cash Flow(30%)

89/100

Based on 8.94% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

78/100

Based on 2.8% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

70/100

Price-to-income ratio of 4.0x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Above-average rent-to-price ratio (8.94%)
+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Negative leverage (cap rate 5.8% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

1,593,208

Median Income

$57,537

vs $62,400 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

4.0x

Moderately affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
CurrentPhiladelphiaPA	73	$228,589	$1,704	8.94%	Buy
SullivanPA	73	$205,448	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
BeaverPA	72	$192,005	$1,068	6.67%	Buy	View
PikePA	72	$294,890	$2,000	8.14%	Buy	View
LuzernePA	71	$213,661	$1,291	7.25%	Buy	View
LackawannaPA	71	$227,996	$1,313	6.91%	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

BuyPhiladelphia offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Philadelphia County in Pennsylvania scores 73/100, ranking #65 of 1,000 US counties (top 6%). The 8.94% rent-to-price ratio exceeds the 1% rule target, suggesting strong cash flow potential.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-91/mo

Cap Rate

5.8%

Cash-on-Cash

-2.1%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Philadelphia?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRR House HackOwner-occupied strategy Multifamily5+ unit properties

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Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$228,589

Down Payment (20%)$45,718

Loan Amount$182,871

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,704

Monthly P&I-$1,198

Est. Expenses (35%)-$596

Net Cash Flow-$91/mo

5.8%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-2.1%

Cash-on-Cash Return

8.94%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 5.8% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

73/100

Cash Flow(30%)

89/100

Based on 8.94% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

78/100

Based on 2.8% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

70/100

Price-to-income ratio of 4.0x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

County

Verdict

CurrentPhiladelphiaPA

$228,589

$1,704

8.94%

Buy

SullivanPA

$205,448

Est. pending

—

Buy

View

BeaverPA

$192,005

$1,068

6.67%

Buy

View

PikePA

$294,890

$2,000

8.14%

Buy

View

LuzernePA

$213,661

$1,291

7.25%

Buy

View

LackawannaPA

$227,996

$1,313

6.91%

Buy

View

The Bottom Line

BuyPhiladelphia offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Philadelphia County in Pennsylvania scores 73/100, ranking #65 of 1,000 US counties (top 6%). The 8.94% rent-to-price ratio exceeds the 1% rule target, suggesting strong cash flow potential.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-91/mo

Cap Rate

5.8%

Cash-on-Cash

-2.1%