The Philadelphia metro is home to 6,241,882 people (up 2.8% over five years), with a median household income of $89,273. Typical rent of $1,903/month works out to 25.6% of the median household income — near the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Philadelphia's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 27.3% |
| Professional & management | 13.4% |
| Retail trade | 10.2% |
| Manufacturing | 8.7% |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | 8.4% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 25.6% of median income leave moderate headroom; underwrite rent growth conservatively. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Philadelphia market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,903/month suggests a household income around $76,000/year. The metro's median household income is $89,273.
By workforce share: Education & health care (27.3%), Professional & management (13.4%), Retail trade (10.2%) (Census ACS 5-year).