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Philadelphia County

PA · Pop. 1,582,432 · Urban County

66/100Homestead Score

Philadelphia County sits in Pennsylvania across 134 square miles, home to 1,582,432 people at 11809.2 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on lettuce, greens, daikon. The median home price is $232,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.84%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 232-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.2°F and average winter lows of 29.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 48.5 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Temple University Hospital, Inc is 1 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.9% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.84%
Growing Season: 232 days
Broadband: 99.9%
Density: 11809.2/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 232-day growing season in USDA zone 7b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.84% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • Broadband reaches 99.9% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Temple University Hospital, Inc, with an emergency room, is just 1 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • Annual rainfall of 48.5 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.

Cons

  • Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • A poverty rate of 22% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
  • The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
  • At 11809.2 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.

At a glance

Philadelphia County, PA is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.

Homestead score
66/100
Median home price
$232k
Property tax
0.84%
Growing season
232 days (zone 7b)
Annual rainfall
48.5"
Broadband
99.9%
Nearest hospital
Temple University Hospital, Inc, 1 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.84%
Median Household Income$60,698
Poverty Rate22%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$232K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone7b
Growing Season232 days
Annual Rainfall48.5 inches
Avg Summer High86.2°F
Avg Winter Low29.6°F
Top CropsLettuce, Greens, Daikon

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought3/10
Wildfire3/10
Tornado10/10
Flood10/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalTemple University Hospital, Inc (1 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities33

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage99.9%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate5.3%
Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in Philadelphia County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Philadelphia County?
Philadelphia County is in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 232-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.2°F, and average winter lows of 29.6°F. The established crops are lettuce, greens, daikon.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $232,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.84%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 99.9% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Temple University Hospital, Inc is 1 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 33 hospitals in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.