Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
SperlingViews

Uneducated, DIRTY, Horrible parking, humidity outr - 7/16/2010

Philadelphia: -Dirty -Uneducated -Parking (finding parking is terrible and then parking spots are tight... also, NO free parking) -Unsafe (must lock doors at all times, watch your back, cannot leave things in car, etc). -Weather (Humidity absurd and too hot and sunny) -Loud -Poor air and water quality (results in poorer quality of life) -Restrictive/Limiting: Cannot go out after 5 because 1. It's unsafe and 2. Cannot find parking upon return! -Gym memberships twice the amt. -Groceries more expensive :( $50-60/wk instead of $40.00. Also, less healthy :( +More work opportunities +Art museums! +More people here to meet, meetup groups. +More GLBT resources +Cool dance clubs! +Diversity +Poetry slams! Over all, I would highly recommend NOT moving here. I have had a horrible experience with this city from the beginning. Trust me, it's uneducated, dirty (filthy, rather), rude, loud, noisy, polluted, horrible parking (tight spots, banged up cars, expensive parking, no free spots). Move elsewhere![more...]

Uneducated, DIRTY, Horrible parking, humidity outr - 7/16/2010

Philadelphia: -Dirty -Uneducated -Parking (finding parking is terrible and then parking spots are tight... also, NO free parking) -Unsafe (must lock doors at all times, watch your back, cannot leave things in car, etc). -Weather (Humidity absurd and too hot and sunny) -Loud -Poor air and water quality (results in poorer quality of life) -Restrictive/Limiting: Cannot go out after 5 because 1. It's unsafe and 2. Cannot find parking upon return! -Gym memberships twice the amt. -Groceries more expensive :( $50-60/wk instead of $40.00. Also, less healthy :( +More work opportunities +Art museums! +More people here to meet, meetup groups. +More GLBT resources +Cool dance clubs! +Diversity +Poetry slams! Over all, I would highly recommend NOT moving here. I have had a horrible experience with this city from the beginning. Trust me, it's uneducated, dirty (filthy, rather), rude, loud, noisy, polluted, horrible parking (tight spots, banged up cars, expensive parking, no free spots). Move elsewhere![more...]

Unlitter Philly - 6/8/2010

I find Philadelphia to be an unclean place to live. There seems to be a lack of respect by more than half the residents with regard to the appearance of their neighborhood. Naturally this isn't true of everyone. This has been my experience.[more...]

Philly - 4/25/2010

Greatest City in the Country[more...]

You've got to be crazy to want to come here. Hell! - 3/11/2010

Yes, it has a lot of interesting and unique things, as most nasty places do. But unless you are accustomed to living in NYC and/or the ghetto, you will have difficulty with everything. I have never heard of having armed security guards in a family physicians office, but Philly has them. Want to go shopping? You are forced to shop in Saks Fifth Avenue or drive 50 miles away to a suburb just for a store like Target. Like to drive? You have to spend 20 per hour just to have your car parked. Forget about walking, the streets are so crowded if you pause to look around you will get trampled. This is the only city where I actually hit a pedestrian, and it was considered a normal occurrence. The roads have gigantic potholes, If someone has a breakdown or fender bender, they stop right in the middle of the road, they don't believe in pulling over. Really nasty people, and they all sound like Rocky Balboa. God forbid there will be a snowstorm, of course there will it's winter silly. They don't plow or salt. They shut the whole city down, I hope you are safe at home when the snow starts and I hope your job won't fire you. This is also the only place I have been where I have seen huge city rats, and they have more and larger cockroaches than anywhere in the world I have been.[more...]

Not a good place to raise a family - 2/13/2010

In 27 years of living here in philadelphia I have never found it fit to raise a family. Cost of living in a good neighborhood is outrageous. Not alot of good schools. These are just my opinions.[more...]

Housing cost in a flux - 2/8/2010

There are certain areas of the city - like graduate hospital - that are being re-built. The house price are going from 150K to around 500k. As more houses are re-built the entire neighborhood is enjoy the increase in value.[more...]

South Philly- Housing Crash! - 12/20/2009

I'm about to lose my home because I can't sell it for half of what I bought it for 2 years ago! Trash everywhere, but great restaurants,] :/.[more...]

Philadelphia is a great city! - 11/22/2009

I've read previous reviews and am really surprised at all of the negative comments. For background, I have lived in Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Kansas City, DC, NYC and various cities overseas so I consider my perspective to be fairly objective. I do agree that Philadelphia has a problem with crime (don't most cities?) and that it is by no means the cleanest city. However, I have found the people to be very friendly and helpful. Even people that one might consider "thugs" say "good morning ma'am" to me. My husband was born and raised in NYC and was floored by how friendly people are here. He didn't know what to do when people took the time to greet him. And we currently live in a somewhat sketchy area. Philadelphia is also very livable. The rent is cheap, it is not too big so it is easy to get around with public transportation or by bike. There is tons of free parking in the residential areas although in South Philly it can get a bit crazy with all of the double and triple parking. Philadelphia also has excellent museums, bars and the food is excellent. I lived in NYC for 3 years and missed the food in Philly. I think people here are unpretentious and down-to-earth.[more...]

Philadelphia : Get me out of here please - 11/9/2009

This place is hell on earth. If your thinking about moving forget it. The city is nice, plenty of great places to eat and stores and the parks are plenty . We are Close to the shore and mountains. What good are the parks if its becoming dangerous and it is by the way and the air sucks. The air is horrible how sperlings rate the air a 12 while low, seems awfully good because we get the fewest days of good air then every major city in the country, the politicians are worse and crime even worse then all three put together. The local news totally ignore anything negative as if to beg people to stay and use their great hospitals. Everyone I know past 50 is sick. People are mean and miserable. Drivers are crazy. If anyone is sane and happy here, they must possess some inordinate amount of good genes or drugs... they must be easy prey to market too. Skip this place whatever you do and is there anyway you can take us with you? Hell on earth[more...]

philadelphia - 10/30/2009

Great place for singles of all ages. Wonderful restaurants, arts, culture. Walking city.[more...]

phila - 10/23/2009

philadelhia has a lot to offer.[more...]

Philadelphia, my pros and cons - 10/17/2009

Philly has a down to earth vibe to it. Great restaurants and culture. The climate, for my tastes, is too humid and too cold. I live in the suburbs and deal with horrible mosquitoes in the summer months. It is gorgeous in the spring. Lots of mature foliage, and blooming trees and plants. Neighborhoods have character and beauty. Great schools.[more...]

I love my arts community - 10/9/2009

Since the days when Ben Franklin's writings and inventiveness so dramatically changed his neighbors' lives, Philadelphia's creative spirit has thrived. Today, hundreds of galleries, performance stages, music venues and arts schools operate here. I love Philadelphia and ever since moving here I've found that city living is gritty, rich with culture and vibrant. Philadelphia is truly a melting pot of people and ideas. There is a wonderful sense of communtity here. And the people are much more friendlier here than in most large cities. Philly also has the best parks and for someone green.[more...]

Philadelphia isn't the place - 8/10/2009

Philadelphia may pride itself on being the birthplace of America. However, I struggle to find any other positive aspect that this city can claim fame to. To start, I've been to many other cities around the world, from Budapest to London, Ottawa to San Francisco, and I must say that the people of Philadelphia are among the least friendly and most close-minded people I've encountered. Adding to this the crime and general lack of interest in the cleanliness and redevelopment of the city, the people and politicians alone are enough to want to move. Regarding cost of living, Philadelphia's goods and services are not as costly as other cities, but the city wage tax (even if you don't live here, about 4% of total earnings) combined with the city residence tax (another 4% of earned income) makes Philly a very costly city to live in and work in. This is prime taxation without representation! Add to this the high cost of real estate which sometimes seems to mirror larger more attractive cities like New York and Boston and you have a city that's low in value but high in cost. When you combine the unfriendly people, inefficient politicians, the union environment, and the ridiculous taxes, it's no wonder that Philadelphia has been losing population at such a rapid rate. Don't misunderstand my complacency for staying; if I had the money and a more mobile career, I'd be out of the Philly metro area in a heartbeat. I've lived in this area for nine years; every time I attempt to justify staying, the cons heavily outweigh the pros. If you're moving out of necessity to Philadelphia, be prepared to endure the problems and costs. If you're moving due to amenities and quality of living, do yourself a favor and stay where you are or find another city out there to move to; nearly all beat Philadelphia in quality of life, cost of living, crime, and other important areas.[more...]

Do NOT move here! Go Back! Go Back! - 7/31/2009

We moved here on a whim a year ago from Rio de Janeiro (why would we leave Rio?) Anyway, the forst few months were interesting, but then we woke up and realized that the city outside of Center City is terribly dirty, people here are small minded, sports fanatics, and no culture. No one has ever been to New York, which is just 2 hours away. Too many blacks and whites and not enough other races, both are obnoxious and uncool. People here are so ugly as well, so plain. We are leaving as soon as our lease is through.[more...]

Regretful move - 7/15/2009

I moved to Philadelphia in the summer of 2008 and regret it every day. Having moved here for school and I know I will be here for another 5 years and every day am looking forward to the day I can move away from this place. I have never felt more isolated in a city full of rude, inconsiderate and seemingly miserable people. Everyone seems to be out only for themselves and crime seems to be all around me. I regret bringing my family here and as I said, am very much looking forward to the day we are able to leave.[more...]

Horrible - 5/5/2009

I have lived here since 2006 and this move was the worst mistake of my life. The people here are for the most part rude, uneducated, clickish, like the previous person said; the only people that like this city are the one's who where born here and most likely will die here. High wage tax, trash all over the streets, unprofessional lazy attitude in the work place, this is one of the worst cities I have ever lived in and if God bless me with a new job I will be out this month!!! The best thing about Philly is the wonderful universities, come get your degree and leave; that's what everyone does, no one in there right mind stay here by choice. There's great suburbs in the area but mostly, over priced and mostly lack diversity.[more...]

A Philadelphia Overview - 4/14/2009

I have been living in Philadelphia since August 2008 and I hate it. My family and I have lived in other cities and compared to others, this is by far the worst. The best features of the city are its close proximity to NYC, NJ, DC, and DW. It has a great historical feel and is active in the arts towards the center of the city. Outside of this small historical and artistic area, Philadelphia is a dump. There is crime everywhere. Their "better" high schools have daycares. The best public schools are just as difficult to get into as private and admit only through an application process. Yet these schools received the most amount of funding and the lowest student to teacher ratio than the other high schools in the city. People are constantly rude and social graces have never been developed. This is a city that I am truly affraid to be out after the street lights come one because I am affraid of getting shot on my front steps. The city is dirty and thus the historical feel that the city may hold is not known because of all the crap lying around. Parking is terrible. Food is ok if you can live off of wings, fries, cheesestakes, and beer. Good quality restaurants around the city is hard to find. Although there are some really great restaurant in the center of the city. I have seen more cops being murdered in my time here than in any other time in my life during the same span of time. I am now starting to think about starting a family in the future and came to the conclusion that Philadelphia is not a place to raise a child, dog, or anything other than thugs and rodents. The city is in sad shape and it is a shame that no one really cares. Philadelphia may have great schools to attend but this city is not a place to live for in the long term. It would best suite you to get your education and move on. Likewise, the only people I have encountered that love Philly are those who were born, raised, and will die here like the many other generations of their family. Oftentimes, these are the same people who have not traveled much outside of the tri-state area. If you are planning to move here and have never been here before, I urge you not to move here. I am a believer that a city is what you make it, but this city has so many negative and rude people, more negatives than the positives, than what most people are willing to accept. This is not a place for anyone except for those who HAVE to be here for school or work. And for heavan's sake, do not raise any children in Philadelphia. There are more likely to be HS drop-out thugs than a productive member of society if their are not admitted into one of the elite public schools.[more...]

Philadelphia - 3/8/2009

Even if it is a large metropolitan area, philadelphians are a lot more laid back. Things are relatively more affordable.[more...]