A report from

Philadelphia 2023
The State of the City

April 2023

About this report
The annual “State of the City” report is part of The Pew Charitable Trusts’ ongoing work in Philadelphia. Staff
members Jun Ho Phue, Katie Martin, Maridarlyn Gonzalez, and Rishaun Hall gathered the data and assembled
the report. Larry Eichel, senior adviser for Pew’s Philadelphia research and policy initiative, helped edit the
publication, along with Erika Compart and Mabel Yu. Ned Drummond and Cara Bahniuk created the graphics anddesigned the report.

Contact: Elizabeth Lowe, communications manager
Email: elowe@pewtrusts.org
Phone: 215-575-4812
Project website: pewtrusts.org/philaresearch

Founded in 1948, The Pew Charitable Trusts uses data to make a difference. Pew addresses the challenges of a changing
world by illuminating issues, creating common ground, and advancing ambitious projects that lead to tangible progress.

Contents
1

The Big Picture

15

Demographics

23

Education

35

Government

43

Health55

Housing

67

Jobs and the Economy

79

Public Safety

91

Transportation, Infrastructure, and the Environment

101 Photo Captions and Credits

Foreword
Reflections on The Pew Charitable Trusts’ 75th Anniversary
The Pew Charitable Trusts was founded in Philadelphia in 1948 and operates with continuing
innovation and keen attention to the challenges that hold people back, identifying problems
and finding solutions. Over 75 years, Pew has grown and evolved into a global public policy
nonprofit while maintaining a steadfast commitment to help Philadelphia, its residents, and its
communities thrive.
Throughout the decades, Pew has partnered with government, civic, cultural, and community
leaders on important investments in the city and the region. Pew continues to commit to theregion’s future through its grantmaking as well as through rigorous research and policy work to
help local leaders address some of the biggest challenges facing the city.
The annual “State of the City” report is part of that commitment.
Since 2009, Pew has published the “State of the City” to benchmark how Philadelphia haschanged over time, sharpening our understanding through comparisons with peer cities in areas
such as education, health, public safety, and the economy.
Today, this comprehensive report has become the go-to data reference for Philadelphia’sleaders and other stakeholders, helping create a shared understanding of the city’s challenges
and successes.
I am humbled to be leading Pew’s Philadelphia work in this milestone year. Pew’s 75th
anniversary comes at a pivotal time for Philadelphia, as the city charts an uncertain postpandemic course. Whatever shape that future takes, Pew’s commitment to its hometown
will endure, from providing investments that build a more vibrant city where residents andbusinesses can thrive to sharing information that guides the critical decisions to come.

Donna Frisby-Greenwood
Senior Vice President, Philadelphia and Scientific Advancement
The Pew Charitable Trusts

The Big Picture
In 2022, increasing numbers of Philadelphians re-engaged in the more public aspects of urban life,
commuting to their workplaces again, resuming indoor dining at area restaurants, and attending concerts andother events around town.
There were some promising signs in that re-emergence. As COVID-19 concerns largely faded, many of the jobs
that had disappeared in the early days of the pandemic returned, although the city still had fewer jobs than it
had before. The unemployment rate—which had been over 12% in 2020 and around 9% in 2021—fell to 5.9%.
Median household income rose to $52,899 in 2021, the last year for which figures were available, up 11% from2019, but with significant disparities by race and ethnicity.
2Philadelphia’s finances were in an unexpectedly strong position as well, ending fiscal year 2022 with a$775 million fund balance driven by higher-than-expected revenue and several thousand unfilled city governmentjobs. And for the first time, the percentage of city residents age 25 or older with a college degree matched thenational rate, at 35%, promising a workforce with more schooling. Nonetheless, Philadelphians had any numberof worries on their minds, including a slowing economy, increasing housing costs, lingering inflation, and a
stubbornly high poverty rate. Most of all, they worried about the rampant gun violence and high level of crime inthe city, a couple of the pandemic’s disturbing legacies.
In a January 2023 poll by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, 88% of residents said that gun violence had anegative impact on the quality of life in their neighborhood, including 78% of Black residents who said they had
heard gunshots in their neighborhood over the past year. Sixty-five percent of Philadelphians thought the city wasgoing in the wrong direction. These findings tracked with similar results from Pew’s Philadelphia Poll in January2022, and they highlighted a 26-point increase from 2019, effectively reversing residents’ views of the city’s
trajectory.
Considering the crime statistics for the year, the Lenfest Institute poll results were hardly a surprise. In 2022,
Philadelphia recorded 516 homicides, down marginally from the previous year but still among the city’s highest
totals on record. Additionally, 2,255 people were shot, and 2,910 robberies with a gun were reported.
More broadly, the city’s count of major crimes, which includes both violent crimes and property crimes, rose to
the highest level since 2006. In a single year, auto thefts increased by 30%, commercial burglaries by 40%, andretail thefts by 52%.
Throughout Philadelphia, many residents struggled to find suitable housing at an affordable price. Nearly 49%of the city’s households were spending at least 30% of their income on rent, making them “cost burdened”
according to the standard set by the U.S. Census Bureau. Although housing costs in Philadelphia remained
relatively low compared with other large cities in the Northeast, they were high for the nearly 23% of residents
living below the poverty line ($25,750 for a household of four) and the tens of thousands more living just above
it. Households in parts of West and North Philadelphia had the highest share of cost-burdened renters.

3

Although city life returned to something akin to pre-2020 conditions in some respects, many office employees
were still working from home at least part of the week throughout 2022. At the same time, many of the policies
that helped support people and businesses during the pandemic were disappearing. City regulations that hadallowed restaurants to operate “streeteries”—outdoor dining structures located in parking lanes—were changed
in ways that eliminated many of them. The federal waiver allowing residents to receive Medicaid coverage
without applying for it every year lapsed as well, meaning that all 136,000 newly enrolled Philadelphians who
received it since 2020 have to reapply this year.
As 2023 began, the year had the feel of a pivot point, with many questions about Philadelphia’s outlook yet to beanswered. Among them:• Will the high level of homicides and gun violence drop? Concern about public safety dominated the public
psyche, affecting the people directly involved in each deadly incident, their surrounding neighborhoods,
and—increasingly—the city as a whole.
• How will the city’s economy continue to adjust to post-pandemic conditions, with labor shortages in some
sectors, a marginally declining population, and fewer people in Center City each weekday as office workers
continue to do their jobs from home? Will Philadelphia keep attracting new residents, particularly thoseborn in other countries, helping to maintain the city’s vibrancy? As Philadelphia’s economy adjusts, will
economic growth be shared equitably?
• With COVID-19 still posing a threat, albeit a diminished one, how well prepared is the city to resolve its
remaining major public health challenges? In particular, with the city’s opioid epidemic as worrisome asever, with an estimated 1,400 drug overdose deaths in 2022—the highest total recorded by the city—andwith fentanyl and other dangerous substances permeating the drug supply, can Philadelphia’s public healthsystems get a handle on the crisis?
Amid unprecedented turnover in City Hall and in many civic and educational institutions, Philadelphia residents
will be turning to a new crop of leaders to answer these and many other looming questions about the shape of
post-pandemic Philadelphia in the months to come.
4

Figure 1.1

Portrait of the City
Population

1,567,258

Percentage of adults who are:Total housing units

733,015

Percentage of residents who are:Married33%

Percentage of units listed as:

Male

48%

Never married

51%

Vacant10%

Female52%

Divorced or separated

12%

Occupied90%

Younger than 20

24%

Widowed5%

39%

Ages 20-34

25%

43%

Ages 35-54

24%

Percentage of single-parent
households among those withchildren under 18

Percentage of units built
before 1939
Median monthly rent

$1,181

Age 55 or older

26%

Median household income

Black or African American

39%

Non-Hispanic White

33%

Percentage of households with annual
incomes of:Hispanic or Latino

16%

Asian

8%

Members of other racial andethnic groups

5%

Percentage of residents who:
Were born in Pennsylvania
Were born in other states

64%
18%

Were born in Puerto Rico oranother U.S. territory3%

Are foreign-born

15%

Speak a language other thanEnglish at home

24%

Percentage of adult residents who:
Graduated from college

35%

Did not graduate fromhigh school

13%$52,899

Less than $35,000

36%$35,000 to $74,999

27%$75,000 to $99,999

11%$100,000 or more
Percentage of population below
poverty level

Percentage of units:
Owned by occupant

53%

Rented47%

Where residents lived in theprevious year:
Same house

87%

26%

Different house in
Philadelphia

8%

23%

Somewhere else in the U.S.

3%

Abroad1%

Percentage of residents
without health insurance

7%

Percentage of households with:
No vehicles available

28%

Two or more vehicles available

29%

A computer at home (includingtablets and smartphones)

93%

Broadband internet service

87%

Percentage of workers employed by:Private sector

83%

Government agencies

13%

Their own businesses

4%Note: Percentages may not add up precisely due to rounding.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, one-year estimates, 2021, https://data.census.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

5

Figure 1.2

Philadelphia Population, 2000-22
1,620,000

1,603,797

1,600,000

1,582,592

1,580,000

1,565,460

1,560,000
1,528,283

1,514,563
1,492,882

1,500,000
1,480,000

1,567,258

1,551,824

1,540,000
1,520,000

1,576,051

1,498,493

1,499,731

1,488,710

1,460,000
1,440,000
1,420,000’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22

Philadelphia’s population rose every year from 2007 through 2020. But since the pandemic, its population has
fallen, according to the census, because of fewer immigrants coming to the city and more residents leaving. In
2022, the numbers indicate that the trend has continued, with a drop of more than 22,000 residents from theprevious year.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, “2000-2010 Intercensal Estimates,” https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/
popest/intercensal-2000-2010-counties.html; U.S. Census Bureau, “Population and Housing Unit Estimates,” 2011-19, http://
www.census.gov/popest; U.S. Census Bureau, “County Population Totals: 2020-2022,” https://www.census.gov/programssurveys/popest/data/tables.html© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

6

Figure 1.3

COVID-19 Cases in Philadelphia, 2022
By month
80,00070,000 66,849
60,00050,00040,00030,00020,00010,000013,039
6,437
Jan

Feb

3,448
March

13,003
8,788

6,067

6,289

5,539

5,153

6,500

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

9,509
April

May

June

July

Aug

In January 2022, the city recorded nearly 67,000 COVID-19 cases. From then on, however, the numbers fell
dramatically, with officials attributing the drop to many cases going unreported—due to an increase in athome testing combined with more people being vaccinated and newer variants causing less severe illness.
By December, Philadelphia had logged more than 380,000 reported cases of COVID-19 since the start of thepandemic, a case rate of 24,090 per 100,000 residents.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Health, “COVID-19 Aggregate Cases: Current Weekly County Health,” accessed Jan. 8,2023, https://data.pa.gov/Covid-19/COVID-19-Aggregate-Cases-Current-Weekly-County-Hea/j72v-r42c© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts7

Figure 1.4

COVID-19 Deaths in Philadelphia, 2022
By month
600

557

500

400

300

200
157
100

37

22

25

37

39

45

38

35

48

April

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

30

0
Jan

Feb

March

Dec

Philadelphia started 2022 with a spike in COVID-19 deaths, but the number of deaths declined sharply in
February and March and remained comparatively low for the rest of the year. In May, the city moved from daily
to weekly reporting on COVID-19 cases, testing, and deaths, citing the drop in hospitalizations and the increased
availability of at-home testing. At year’s end, Philadelphia had recorded more than 5,400 deaths from the virus
since the onset of the pandemic.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Health, “COVID-19 Aggregate Death Data: Current Weekly County Health,” accessed
Jan. 8, 2023, https://data.pa.gov/Covid-19/COVID-19-Aggregate-Death-Data-Current-Weekly-Count/fbgu-sqgp© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

8Figure 1.5

Unemployment in Philadelphia by Month, 2022
9%
8%
7%
6%
5%
4%
3%
2%
1%
0%

7.7%
6.3%
6.8

%

6.0%

5.7%

6.2%

6.4%

6.2%

4.7%

4.8%

4.5%

Oct

Nov

Dec

4.9%

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Philadelphia’s unemployment rate fell in 2022. After ranging between 6% and 11% in 2021, the city’s
unemployment rate remained below 8% throughout 2022. Unemployment was highest in January, at 7.7%. And
after falling for the next few months, it increased slightly from May to August, likely tied to the national inflation
surge during that period.
Note: The percentage for December 2022 is preliminary.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/lau© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Figure 1.6

Jobs in Philadelphia by Month, 2022
760,000
750,000
740,000

730,900

730,000

752,900

749,900

744,700

739,100

733,500

720,000 724,600

741,700

736,500

753,900

750,400

747,400

710,000
700,000
690,000

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Philadelphia’s total number of jobs climbed throughout 2022, reaching its highest level in December—an increaseof around 30,000 jobs from the beginning of the year.
Note: Employment totals are seasonally adjusted.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, State and Metro Area Employment, Hours, and Earnings, https://www.bls.gov/sae© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

9Figure 1.7

Taxable Sales Reported by Philadelphia Businesses, 2021-22
Percentage change by sector relative to the fourth quarter of 2019

Retail trade

Professional,
scientific,
and technicalservices

Administrative
supportand wastemanagement

Educational
services

Health careand social
assistance

3.8%

12.5%

16.4%

45.4%

-19.3%-52.6%

Q1 2022

-6.2%

0.1%

9.2%

-2.5%

-23.4%-48.7%

Q2 2022

10.8%

12.7%

23.5%

67.9%

10.4%

-42.2%

Q3 2022

3.2%

5.0%

1.4%

4.3%

16.4%

-44.9%

Total(nonfarm)
Q4 2021

Compared with the fourth quarter of 2019, the last pre-pandemic period, sales by Philadelphia businesses wererelatively strong in the last quarter of 2021 and the first three quarters of 2022. There was considerable variation
throughout the period, with the first three months of 2022 generally the weakest and the next three months thestrongest. Sales varied by sector as well, with the administrative support and waste management sector leading
the pack and businesses related to health care and social assistance at the bottom.
Notes: Percentages reflect the change in the amount of taxes each industry sector owes the commonwealth of Pennsylvania
on the reported value of goods and services sold in that quarter. The tax liability amount reflects just Philadelphia’s 2%
addition to Pennsylvania’s 6% sales and use tax (SUT). The state releases data only for sectors that have five or more
reporting companies, to prevent the identification of any individual company. Additional details are available in themethodology. Find more information on Pew’s jobs and recovery dashboard: https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-andanalysis/data-visualizations/2021/pew-dashboard-tracks-philadelphias-economic-recovery-and-growth-in-the-age-of-covid.
Source: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Revenue, Bureau of Research© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

10Figure 1.8

Cost-Burdened Renters in Philadelphia by ZIP Code, 2021

19116
19154

19115
19150

19118

19138

19119

19128

19129

19131

19139
19143

19104

19122

19130 19123
19103

19146

19147

19114

19136

19135

19137

19133

19121

19151

19149
19124

19140

19132

19152

19111

19141 19120

19144
19127

19126

19134
19125
19102
19106
19107

19142
19145
19153

19148
19112

Insufficient data/nonresidential< 25%
25% to < 50%
50% to < 75%≥ 75%

As defined by the Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, cost burden
occurs when a household spends 30% or more of its income on housing. By that definition, parts of West andNorth Philadelphia have the highest share of cost-burdened renters, while sections of Center City and Northwest
Philadelphia have the lowest share. Over the past decade, Bridesburg and Eastern North Philadelphia (Yorktown)
had the highest percentage increases in the number of cost-burdened residents, while Roxborough had thelargest decrease.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, five-year estimates, 2017-21, Table DP04 (Selected Housing
Characteristics), http://data.census.gov; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, five-year estimates, 2012-16,
Table DP04 (Selected Housing Characteristics), http://data.census.gov

11

ZIP
code
19122
19137
19115
19135
19114
19118
19102
19147
19104
19123
19132
19124
19116
19131
19121
19143
19139
19141
19150
19153
19107
19144
19136
19103
19133
19142
19120
19151
19154
19140
19134
19130
19149
19152
19111
19119
19145
19138
19146
19125
19127
19148
19128
19129
19106
19126

Neighborhood

Change in share of
renters paying at least
30% of income in rent,
2012-16 to 2017-21

Share of renters
paying at least
30% of income inrent, 2017-21

Share of renteroccupied housing
units, 2017-21

North Philadelphia—Yorktown
Northeast—Bridesburg
Northeast—Bustleton South
Northeast—Tacony
Northeast—Torresdale South
Chestnut Hill
Center City WestSouth Philadelphia—Bella VistaWest Philadelphia—University City
Northern Liberties/Spring Garden
North Philadelphia—West
Northeast—Frankford
Northeast—Bustleton North/Somerton
Wynnefield/West Park
Fairmount North/Brewerytown
Southwest Philadelphia—KingsessingWest Philadelphia—West Market
Logan
Northwest—Wadsworth
Eastwick
Center City—Washington Square
Germantown
Northeast—Holmesburg
Center City West
North Philadelphia—East
Southwest Philadelphia—Paschall/Elmwood
Olney
Overbrook
Northeast—Torresdale North
Nicetown
Port Richmond
Fairmount South
Northeast—Mayfair/Oxford Circle
Northeast—Rhawnhurst
Northeast—Fox Chase
Mount AirySouth Philadelphia—West
Germantown East
South Philadelphia—Schuylkill
Kensington/Fishtown
Manayunk
South Philadelphia—East
RoxboroughEast Falls
Center City—Society Hill
Oak Lane

25%
22%
20%
13%
9%
7%
6%
5%
4%
4%
2%
0%
0%
-2%
-3%
-3%
-3%
-4%
-4%
-4%
-4%
-5%
-8%
-8%
-9%
-9%
-9%
-10%
-10%
-11%
-11%
-12%
-13%
-17%
-17%
-18%
-19%
-20%
-22%
-24%
-28%
-29%
-30%
-31%
-34%
-40%

60%
68%
56%
63%
56%
54%
37%
42%
64%
41%
64%
64%
60%
59%
59%
57%
55%
59%
58%
52%
48%
56%
46%
42%
61%
61%
60%
51%
50%
63%
62%
35%
52%
50%
48%
45%
45%
56%
38%
35%
31%
42%
33%
28%
25%
45%

58%
19%
39%
40%
33%
52%
74%
43%
80%
69%
50%
38%
43%
53%
68%
51%
60%
49%
22%
49%
82%
64%
40%
70%
59%
53%
37%
36%
23%
50%
45%
62%
42%
41%
45%
36%
41%
37%
47%
40%
58%
35%
43%
51%
52%
40%

© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

12Figure 1.9

Job Sector Growth in Philadelphia, 2022
Percentage change since the same month in 2019
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
-5%
-10%
-15%
-20%
Jan

Feb

March

April

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Accommodation andfood services-17.3%-17.0%-14.9% -15.3% -14.4% -15.3%-16.7%-15.7%-15.7%-14.1%-13.2%-13.2%

Government

-1.3%

-1.6%

-1.7%

-2.1%

-2.4%

-1.7%

-1.9%

-4.4%

-3.2%

-3.5%

-3.3%

-3.9%

Educational services

-4.1%

-4.3%

-4.7%

-5.4%

-3.4%

0.0%

2.9%

0.2%

-6.6%

-7.5%

-7.4%

-7.1%

Health care and social
assistance

-1.3%

-0.4%

-0.1%

-0.2%

0.4%

0.9%

1.7%

1.9%

3.0%

3.5%

4.1%

3.9%

Professional, scientific,
and technical services

10.3%

9.6%

10.3%

11.5%

11.7%

10.5%

12.4%

13.7%

12.9%

12.9%

13.1%

12.1%

Total (nonagricultural)

-2.9%

-2.6%

-2.4%

-2.9%

-2.2%

-1.4%

-0.6%

-1.1%

-1.8%

-1.6%

-1.6%

-1.7%

In 2022, Philadelphia saw considerable job growth, but the city’s total number of jobs was still 1.7% below
2019 levels at year’s end. The strongest sector was professional, scientific, and technical services, which had
12.1% more jobs in December 2022 than in December 2019. Employment in accommodation and food services,
meanwhile, finished the year 13.2% below its level from three years earlier.
Note: The occupational sectors chosen are the largest industry employers by type in the city of Philadelphia. To view job
growth by sector in all industries within Philadelphia, please visit Pew’s jobs and recovery dashboard.
Source: The Pew Charitable Trusts, “Pew Dashboard Tracks Philadelphia’s Economic Recovery and Growth in the Ageof COVID,” https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/data-visualizations/2021/pew-dashboard-tracksphiladelphias-economic-recovery-and-growth-in-the-age-of-covid© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

13

Figure 1.10

Homicides in Philadelphia, 2022
By month
70

60

60
50

53
44

40

40

38

30

47
48

41

44

40

34
27

20
10
0

Jan

Feb

March

April

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

In 2022, Philadelphia recorded 516 homicides, an average of 43 per month. The highest total, 60, came in July,and the lowest, 27, in November. Both in Philadelphia and nationally, homicides generally increase during thesummer months and decline in the winter.
Source: Philadelphia Police Department© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Figure 1.11

Shooting Victims in Philadelphia, 2022
By month
300
247

250
200

233

219

195

189
157

150

218

183

192

150

148

100

124

50
0
Jan

Feb

March

April

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

A historically high number of people have been shot in Philadelphia since the start of the pandemic, with 2,255
shooting victims in the city last year alone. In 2022, the greatest number of shootings occurred in June (247). The
numbers fell in the final months of the year, consistent with previous seasonal fluctuations.
Source: Philadelphia Police Department, “Crime Maps & Stats,” https://www.phillypolice.com/crime-maps-stats© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

14Demographics
Philadelphia continues to attract new residents, primarily immigrants, bringing fresh vitality to the city;
nevertheless, persistent challenges—such as poverty—remain.
Continuing a trend that predated the pandemic, the city’s population is increasingly diverse, with nearly a quarterof residents speaking a language other than English at home—an increase of almost 2.5 percentage points since2010. As of 2021, the percentage of Philadelphians identifying as Hispanic or Asian had nearly doubled over theprevious 20 years, while the percentage of foreign-born residents increased to 15%, which was above the national
average of 13.6%.
Poverty remained stubbornly high, at 22.8%, little changed from 2019 to 2021 despite the major influx of stimulus
spending and the expanded federal child tax credit, which was discontinued after 2021.
16

Figure 2.1

Racial and Ethnic Changes in Philadelphia
1990-2021
2021
2010

37.0%

2000

15.9%
42.3%

42.5%

1990
0%

38.6%

33.0%

12.4%

42.6%

52.1%
10%

20%

Non-Hispanic White

30%

39.3%
40%

50%

Black or African American

60%

7.5%

70%

Hispanic

5.1%

6.4%

1.9%

8.5% 4.9%

1.5%

5.6% 2.7% 0.3%
80%
Asian

90%

100%

Other

Since 1990, Philadelphia’s ethnic and racial makeup has changed considerably. The most dramatic shift comesfrom the Hispanic and Asian shares of the city’s overall population, which have almost tripled. The non-Hispanic
White share of the population has dropped from just over half in 1990 to roughly a third in 2021, and the Black or
African American share has stayed relatively stable.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990, 2000, and 2010 decennial census, Table P2 (Hispanic or Latino, and not Hispanic or
Latino by Race); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, one-year estimates, 2021, Table B03002 (Hispanic or
Latino Origin by Race, 2021), http://data.census.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

17Figure 2.2

Poverty and Deep Poverty in Philadelphia
2011-21
30%

28.4%

25%

Poverty

26.9%

26.3%

26.0%

25.8%

25.7%

24.5%

12.2%

12.3%

12.2%

12.3%

2013

2014

2015

2016

23.3%

22.8%

11.1%

11.1%

11.7%

2018

2019

20%
15%

13.1%

10%

Deep poverty

12.3%

5%
0%

2011

2012

2017

2020

2021

In 2021, Philadelphia’s poverty rate was at its lowest level since 2000 and well below its peak of 28.4% in 2011.
Although the 2021 rate has changed slightly from the last pre-pandemic figure, city officials said they believedthat the federal stimulus package and other programs, such as the child tax credit, helped keep the poverty ratefrom rising. Philadelphia’s deep poverty rate came in at 11.7%. A household of four was considered to be living inpoverty in 2021 if its income was $25,750 or less, and in deep poverty if its income was $12,875 or less.
Note: Data for 2017 and 2020 is not included. Several years ago, the Census Bureau identified an error in some of its 2017
data for Philadelphia and recommended discontinuing its use. And the bureau did not release one-year American Community
Survey data for 2020, citing the pandemic’s impact on data quality. Because the Census Bureau does not plan to update thedata from either of these years, Pew is not using that data.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, one-year estimates, 2011-2021, Table S1701 (Poverty Status in the
Past 12 Months), http://data.census.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

18

Figure 2.3

Poverty in Philadelphia by Race and Ethnicity
2011-21
50%

40%

30%

Hispanic
41.9%

40.8

44.0%

%

39.2%

Black, non-Hispanic
33.7%
33.5%
32.1%
30.1%
Asian

28.9%

31.4%

31.5%

24.3%

16.8%

37.9%

37.8%

30.8%

29.4%

26.3%

29.0%

20%

10%

42.9%

40.2%
30.0%
26.7%
28.3%

22.9%

15.4%
15.3%
Non-Hispanic White

14.0%

13.8%

14.8%

2011

2014

2015

2016

21.0%
14.1%

23.1%

22.7%

12.7%

12.6%

0%
2012

2013

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Among major racial and ethnic groups in Philadelphia, Hispanic residents had the highest poverty rate in 2021, at
30%—nearly 2.5 times the rate for non-Hispanic White residents. At the same time, census data showed poverty
among Hispanic Philadelphians falling by more than 10 percentage points since before the pandemic. Short-term
demographic changes of this magnitude are unusual and worth watching to see if the trend continues.
Note: Data for 2017 and 2020 is not included. Several years ago, the Census Bureau identified an error in some of its 2017
data for Philadelphia and recommended discontinuing its use. And the bureau did not release one-year American Community
Survey data for 2020, citing the pandemic’s impact on data quality. Because the Census Bureau does not plan to update thedata from either of these years, Pew is not using that data.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, one-year estimates, 2011-21, Table S1703 (Selected Characteristics
of People at Specified Levels of Poverty in the Past 12 Months), http://data.census.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

19Figure 2.4

Percentage of Foreign-Born Philadelphia Residents
1970-2021
16%
14%
12%

6%

11.6%

2005

2010

15.0%

9.0%

10%
8%

11.1%

13.1%

6.5%

6.4%

6.9%

1970

1980

1990

4%
2%
0%

2000

2015

2021

The percentage of foreign-born Philadelphians continued to grow, reaching 15% in 2021, 6 percentage points
higher than in 2000. The largest percentages of the city’s foreign-born residents have roots in Latin America(38%) and Asia (35%).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, “Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States: 1790 to
1990,” https://www.census.gov/library/working-papers/1998/demo/POP-twps0027.html; U.S. Census Bureau, 2000
Decennial Census, Table DP2 (Profile of Selected Characteristics), http://data.census.gov; U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, one-year estimates, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2021, Table B05002 (Place of Birth by Nativity and Citizenship
Status), http://data.census.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Figure 2.5

Percentage of Philadelphia Residents Born Outside the U.S., 2021
Compared with other major cities
28.8%

Houston27.5%

Boston20.4%

Chicago18.5%

Phoenix
Philadelphia

15.0%

U.S.

13.6%

Washington

13.3%

Pittsburgh

8.6%

Baltimore

8.0%

Cleveland

5.7%

Detroit

5.3%

0%

5%

10%

In 2021, foreign-born residents
accounted for 15% of Philadelphia’s
population, up from 13.8% before
the pandemic. That 15% figure isslightly higher than the national
average and ranks fifth among
the comparison cities—muchlower than Houston’s 28.8%
and considerably higher than
Detroit’s 5.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, one-year
estimates, 2021, Table B05002 (Placeof Birth by Nativity and Citizenship
Status), http://data.census.gov

15%

20%

25%

30%

© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

20Figure 2.6

Top 10 Countries of Origin for Philadelphians Born Outside theU.S., 2021
Country

Number of residents

China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan

23,893

Dominican Republic

19,662

India

12,529Vietnam

11,719

Jamaica

11,091

Haiti

7,768

Mexico7,544

Ukraine6,473

Brazil5,139

Cambodia

5,122

21

Fifteen percent of Philadelphia’s
population is foreign-born.
China is the top country oforigin among immigrants in thecity, representing 10% of its
approximately 228,800 foreignborn residents, followed by
the Dominican Republic. Most
immigrants in Philadelphia haveorigins in Asia and the Americas.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, five-year
estimates, 2017-21, Table B05006(Place of Birth for the Foreign-Born
Population in the United States),
http://data.census.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable TrustsFigure 2.7

Top 10 Languages Spoken at Home by Philadelphians, 2021
Not including English
Language

Number of residents

Spanish159,664

Chinese (including Mandarin and Cantonese)

33,539Arabic17,111

Russian

14,074

Yoruba, Twi, Igbo, or other languages of Western
Africa13,531

Vietnamese

12,893

Malayalam, Kannada, or other Dravidian languages

11,055

Haitian

10,086

Portuguese

10,026

French (including Cajun)

8,951

In Philadelphia, 23.4% ofresidents speak a language otherthan English at home. Spanish
is by far the most common; itis spoken by nearly 160,000
people, representing 45% of
the approximately 353,745 total
city residents who do not speak
English at home. Other languages
spoken by large numbers ofPhiladelphians include Chinese,
Arabic, Russian, and Vietnamese.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau,
American Community Survey, oneyear estimates, 2021, Table B16001(Language Spoken at Home by Ability
to Speak English for the Population 5
Years and Over), http://data.census.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

22

Education
After two years of disrupted and mostly virtual learning, Philadelphia students returned to the classroom fulltime in fall 2022. The long-term impact of these pandemic-related learning interruptions remains to be seen.
But some preliminary data shows that preschool enrollment declined by 9 percentage points (or nearly 4,900
children), from 49.2% in 2019 to 40.1% in 2021. Enrollment in college, meanwhile, remained stable, with 48% of
students who graduated from School District of Philadelphia-run high schools in 2021 enrolling in college that fall,a figure largely unchanged from 2020.
Census data for 2021 showed that 34.8% of Philadelphians age 25 or older held bachelor’s degrees, essentiallythe same as the national rate of 35%. This is the highest percentage on record for the city and represents anincrease of 11 percentage points since 2011.
24

Figure 3.1

K-12 Enrollment Trends, 2012-23
160,000
140,000
120,000
100,000
80,00060,00040,00020,0000
2012-132013-142014-152015-16

2016-172017-18

2018-192019-20

2020-212021-222022-23

District-run schools

136,597

131,362

130,104

131,698

129,489

128,102

126,994

124,184

119,492

114,902

113,443

Charter schools

54,86860,17562,35863,441

69,35470,42372,377

67,69968,364

66,89064,498

Catholic schools

22,91322,80822,59422,30919,85724,281

23,284

18,641

17,044

17,074

16,298Since the onset of the pandemic, the number of students in Philadelphia’s district, charter, and Catholic schools
has declined. In the 2022-23 school year, schools in the three categories combined had more than 16,000, or
nearly 8%, fewer students than they did in 2019-20, the last school year with pre-pandemic enrollment. Total
enrollment in district-run and Catholic schools was lower than it had been a decade earlier; charter numbers werehigher, despite declining in recent years.
Sources: School District of Philadelphia, District Performance Office, “School Information,” accessed Jan. 17, 2023, https://www.philasd.org/performance/programsservices/open-data/school-information (district-run and charter school enrollment
data); Archdiocese of Philadelphia (Catholic school enrollment data)© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

25

Figure 3.2

High School Graduation Rates, 2011-21
In Philadelphia’s district-run schools
63%Class of 2011

67%
66%
69%
%
65
70%
%
65
71%
%
65
72%
%
66
73%
%
67
74%
%
69
75%
%
69
76%
%
72

Class of 2012
Class of 2013
Class of 2014
Class of 2015
Class of 2016
Class of 2017Class of 2018
Class of 2019
Class of 2020

70%

Class of 2021
0%
In four years

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

In ﬁve or six years

The four-year graduation rate in Philadelphia’s district-run high schools declined for the first time since 2013,
dropping to 70% for the class of 2021. And the five- or six-year graduation rate climbed through 2019, the latest
year for which that data was available. Members of the class of 2021 finished their senior year of high school inremote learning because of the pandemic. Whether that accounts for the slight drop in the four-year graduation
rate may become apparent in the years to come, now that students have returned to classrooms full time.
Source: School District of Philadelphia, District Performance Office: Open Data, https://www.philasd.org/performance/
programsservices/open-data© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

26

27

Figure 3.3

Percentage of Philadelphia Residents With a College Degree, 2011-21
Adults 25 and older
40%
35%
30%
25%

%

28.6%

2016

23.6%

24.3%

25.2%

26.0

27.4%

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

30.9

31.0

2018

2019

%

34.8%

%

20%
15%
10%
5%
0%

2017

2020

2021

For the first time, more than a third of Philadelphia residents age 25 or older have a bachelor’s degree or higher;
the 34.8% rate is essentially the same as the national rate of 35%. The city’s college graduation rate has risen
every year since 2011.
Note: Data for 2017 and 2020 is not included. Several years ago, the Census Bureau identified an error in some of its 2017
data for Philadelphia and recommended discontinuing its use. And the bureau did not release one-year American Community
Survey data for 2020, citing the pandemic’s impact on data quality. Because the Census Bureau does not plan to update thedata from either of these years, Pew is not using that data.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, one-year estimates, 2011-21, Table S1501 (Educational
Attainment), http://data.census.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

28

Figure 3.4

Percentage of Philadelphia Residents Age 25 or Older With a
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher, 2021
By ZIP code

19116
19154
19115

19118

19150

19128

19139

19143
19142

19133

19121

19122

19130 19123
19104
19103
19146

19147

19137
19134
19125
19102
19106
19107

19145
19148

19153

19136

19140

19132

19151

19114

19135

19124

19129

19131

19149

19141 19120

19144
19127

19111

19138 19126

19119

19152

19112

Insufficient data/nonresidential< 25%
25% to < 50%
50% to < 75%≥ 75%

Although more than a third of Philadelphians age 25 or older had a bachelor’s degree or more schooling in 2021,
the level of educational attainment varied widely among city neighborhoods. In parts of Center City, more than
75% of adults held bachelor’s degrees. But the share was below 25% in vast stretches of the city, including partsof Southwest, West, and North Philadelphia, as well as much of the Northeast.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, five-year estimates, 2017-21, Table S1501 (Educational
Attainment), http://data.census.gov

29ZIP code

Neighborhood

Percentage of residents age 25 or older with atleast a bachelor’s degree

19102
19103
19106
19130
19127
19118
19107
19147
19129
19123
19125
19146
19128
19119
19104
19116
19115
19122
19144
19148
19131
19145
19114
19152
19143
19150
19153
19151
19154
19126
19111
19121
19136
19137
19139
19138
19134
19124
19135
19120
19141
19149
19142
19132
19140
19133

Center City West
Center City West
Center City—Society Hill
Fairmount South
Manayunk
Chestnut Hill
Center City—Washington SquareSouth Philadelphia—Bella Vista
East Falls
Northern Liberties/Spring Garden
Kensington/Fishtown
South Philadelphia—Schuylkill
RoxboroughMount Airy
West Philadelphia—University City
Northeast—Bustleton North/Somerton
Northeast—Bustleton South
North Philadelphia—Yorktown
Germantown
South Philadelphia—East
Wynnefield/West Park
South Philadelphia—West
Northeast—Torresdale South
Northeast—Rhawnhurst
Southwest Philadelphia—Kingsessing
Northwest—Wadsworth
Eastwick
Overbrook
Northeast—Torresdale North
Oak Lane
Northeast—Fox Chase
Fairmount North/Brewerytown
Northeast—Holmesburg
Northeast—Bridesburg
West Philadelphia—West Market
Germantown East
Port RichmondNortheast—Frankford
Northeast—Tacony
Olney
Logan
Northeast—Mayfair/Oxford Circle
Southwest Philadelphia—Paschall/Elmwood
North Philadelphia—West
Nicetown
North Philadelphia—East

91%
83%
80%
77%
77%
72%
71%
66%
64%
64%
58%
58%
53%
53%
44%
36%
36%
35%
33%
33%
32%
32%
29%
29%
29%
28%
26%
26%
25%
25%
25%
23%
19%
19%
18%
16%
15%
15%
15%
14%
14%
13%
12%
12%
8%
5%

© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

30Figure 3.5

Percentage of 3- and 4-Year-Olds Enrolled in School, 2021
In Philadelphia and comparison cities
Washington

73.0%

Boston68.8%

Chicago47.3%

Baltimore

46.1%

Houston

43.8%

Pittsburgh

42.4%

U.S.

40.2%

Philadelphia

40.1%

Detroit

28.8%

Phoenix

25.1%

Cleveland

24.4%
0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

At 40.1%, Philadelphia’s share of children in nursery school or preschool was in line with the national average in
2021. But the percentage was down substantially from the pre-pandemic figure of 49.2% in 2019. Among thecomparison cities, Washington had the highest percentage of 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in nursery schoolor preschool.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, one-year estimates, 2021, Table S1401 (School Enrollment), http://
data.census.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

31

Figure 3.6

Philadelphians’ Top 5 Occupations, 2021
By educational attainment
Educational attainment

Top occupations
Manicurist and pedicurist

Less than high school(No diploma received)(Median income: $22,500)

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers
Home health aides
Janitors and building cleaners
Nursing assistants

High school or high school
equivalent (Diploma received)(Median income: $29,700)

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers
Retail salespeople
Home health aides
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers
Licensed practical and licensed
vocational nurses

Some college(No degree received)(Median income: $28,300)

Personal care aides
Couriers and messengers
Customer service representatives
Cashiers
Fast food and counter workers

Associate degree(Degree received)(Median income: $39,000)

Janitors and building cleaners
Registered nurses
Retail salespeople
Customer service representatives
Lawyers and judges, magistrates, andother judicial workers

Bachelor’s degree or higher(Degree received)(Median income: $59,500)

This graphic shows the top
five occupations held byPhiladelphians in 2021 for fivedifferent levels of educational
attainment, along with themedian income for eachcohort. Residents in the firsttwo educational attainment
levels—those with no morethan a high school degree—hadsimilar work profiles. Threeoccupations—laborers andfreight, stock, and material
movers; home health aides;and driver/sales workers andtruck drivers—were among
the top five for both groups.
Many residents with somecollege education and thosewith associate degrees worked
in customer service roles andnursing. Teaching and nursing
were common professions for
those with bachelor’s degrees.
Note: Residents with an
educational attainment and an
occupation that did not havewages listed in the census
microdata were excluded fromthe median income analysis.
Source: Pew analysis of U.S.
Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, Public Use
Microdata Sample (2021 oneyear estimates)© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Elementary and middle school workers
Postsecondary teachers
Physicians
Registered nurses

32Figure 3.7

College Matriculation Rate for School District of Philadelphia
Students
2019-20 and 2020-21 school years
90%
80%

78%

80%
70%
60%
50%

48%

47%

40%

32%

30%

32%

20%
10%
0%
2019-20

2020-21

All graduating students
Students at criteria-based high schools
Students at neighborhood high schools
In the pandemic-affected school years of 2019-20 and 2020-21, just under half of all graduating seniors in the
School District of Philadelphia went on to attend college the following fall. At criteria-based schools—for which
students must meet specific admissions criteria, such as minimum GPAs, prerequisite classes, and attendance
records—roughly 4 out of 5 graduates went straight to college. At neighborhood high schools, which admit
students based on where they live, only about a third did so.
Note: Criteria-based magnet schools include Academy at Palumbo, George Washington Carver High School of Engineeringand Science, Central High School, Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School, and Parkway Center City
Middle College.
Source: School District of Philadelphia, “District Performance Office: Open Data,” https://www.philasd.org/performance/
programsservices/open-data© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

33

34

Government
In 2022, the number of people working in Philadelphia’s city government dropped to the lowest level in morethan a decade and was 8% lower than in 2019, the last full year before the pandemic. Because of the highnumber of vacancies, overtime spending reached 11.3% of the general fund, its highest level since 2008.
Thanks to all those unfilled positions, as well as better-than-expected revenue, Philadelphia’s fiscal healthwas strong. Tax revenue—especially for the real estate transfer tax and the business income and receipts tax—
came in much higher than anticipated. As a result of those combined factors, the city ended fiscal 2022 with a$775 million fund balance. Philadelphia’s municipal pension fund balance was 57.6% funded, its highest level
since 2004.
36

Figure 4.1

Philadelphia City Employees, 2012-22
29,00028,52828,50028,00027,78727,50027,75727,35427,00026,662

26,50026,00028,046

26,641

26,445

26,814

26,73326,36025,50025,000
2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

The number of employees in the city continued to fall in 2022 from its pre-pandemic peak and was nearly 8%
lower than in 2019. By the end of 2022, the city had 26,360 workers on the payroll, fewer than at any other timein the past decade. As of December 2022, around 18% of all jobs in city government were unfilled.
Source: City of Philadelphia, Office of the Director of Finance, Quarterly City Manager’s Report for Dec. 31 of each year,
https://www.phila.gov/finance/reports-Quarterly.html© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Figure 4.2

Funding Level for City of Philadelphia’s Pension Fund, 2012-22
70%
60%
50%

48.1%

47.4%

45.8%

45.0%

44.8%

45.3%

46.8%

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

49.7%

%

51.9

54.9%

2019

2020

2021

57.6%

40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

2022

In 2022, the funding level for the city of Philadelphia’s pension fund continued to improve, reaching 57.6%, its
highest level since 2004. The increase is widely attributed to the 2018 Revenue Recognition Plan—which called
for both city government and municipal workers to increase contributions to the pension funds—as well as the2019 introduction for most new employees of a stacked hybrid plan, which combines aspects of a 401(k) and a
traditional defined benefit pension.
Sources: Philadelphia Board of Pensions, Municipal Retirement System Actuarial Valuation Report as of July 21, 2021, preparedby Cheiron, https://www.phila.gov/media/20220420151740/Actuarial-valuation-report-2021.pdf; “Preliminary Actuarial
Valuation,” presentation of preliminary 2022 data to the Philadelphia Board of Pensions, Feb. 23, 2023
© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

37

Figure 4.3

Philadelphia City Government Capital Spending, FY 2023
By department

7
Parks &%

4%

Finance3%Managing Director’s Office

Recreation
%
8
SEPTA

%
31
Water

%
11
All other
departments%
14
Commerce%
22
Streets

In fiscal 2023, Philadelphia allocated$3.86 billion for capital projects.
Nearly a third of that figure, about$1.2 billion, was for the city’s Water
Department. The second-largest
share, $874 million, went to theStreets Department, much of it for
improvements to sidewalks andaccessible ramps throughout the city.
Source: Philadelphia Office of the Directorof Finance, “Six-Year Capital Program for
Fiscal Years 2023-2028: Capital Budget
for Fiscal Year 2023,” July 1, 2022, throughJune 20, 2023, https://www.phila.gov/
media/20220815122346/ApprovedFY2023-2028-Capital-Program-andBudget.pdf© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts(including aviation)

38

Figure 4.4

City of Philadelphia General Fund Overtime Spending, FY 2012-22
Overtime as a percentage of salary and wage expenditures
12%
10%

9.5%

10.3%

10.4%

10.6%

10.9%

2013

2014

2015

2016

10.3%

10.6%

2017

2018

10.1

%

11.1%

10.2

11.3%

%

8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
2012

2019

2020

2021

2022

About $215 million, or approximately 11.3% of Philadelphia’s general fund budget for salaries and wages, wasspent on overtime in fiscal 2022—an increase of approximately $30 million from the previous fiscal year. City
officials said the higher overtime expenditures were due in part to the large number of vacant positions withincity government.
Note: The 2022 figures are unaudited.
Source: Philadelphia Office of the Director of Finance, City of Philadelphia’s Quarterly City Managers Reports for the period
ending Sept. 30 of each year, 2012-22, https://www.phila.gov/media/20221117161849/Quarterly-City-Managers-ReportSeptermber-30-2022.pdf© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

39

Figure 4.5

Projected City Tax Revenue by TypeFor fiscal 2023
%
1.9
3.3
%

6.9

% Othertaxes
Sales tax%

Philadelphia
beverage tax

10.4

Real estatetransfer tax%
41.3
Wage tax%
15.7
Business
income andreceipts tax%
20.2
Real estate tax

As more workers begin to transition
into a hybrid work environment, it
will be important to watch how that
may affect the city’s overall revenue
structure. In order to fund essential
services and local government
operations, Philadelphia relies heavily
on the wage tax, which was projectedto account for 41.3% of locallygenerated tax revenue in fiscal 2023.
Source: Philadelphia Office of the Directorof Finance, “The Mayor’s Operating Budget
In Brief for Fiscal Year 2023,” https://www.phila.gov/media/20220712100413/
Mayors-Operating-Budget-in-Brieffor-FY2023-as-Approved-by-CouncilJune-2022.pdf© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

40Figure 4.6

Percentage Change in City Tax Revenue by Source
Fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2023 projected budgets
Fiscal 2020

Fiscal 2023

% 2.1
3.7
Philadelphia
Other

% 1.9
3.3
Philadelphia
Other

%

%
taxes
6.3
Sales tax

%

%
taxes
6.9
Sales tax

beverage tax

beverage tax

%
10.4
Real

%
9.3
Real
estatetransfertax

46
Wage tax
%

13.7

%

%
19
Real estate tax

Business
income andreceipts tax

estatetransfer
tax

41.3%

Wage tax

15.7%

Business
income andreceipts tax%
20.2
Real estate tax

The city wage tax is Philadelphia’s largest source of revenue. But it now accounts for a lower share of local tax
dollars than it did before the pandemic. For fiscal 2020, the last budget drafted before the COVID-19 outbreak,the wage tax was slated to account for 46% of local revenue. For fiscal 2023—the current fiscal year, whichbegan July 1, 2022—that share was down to 41.3%. Meanwhile, other revenue has assumed a greater role. For
instance, projected revenue from the business income and receipts tax grew from 13.7% to 15.7%, and revenue
from the property tax went from 19% to 20.2%.
Sources: Philadelphia Office of the Director of Finance, “The Mayor’s Operating Budget in Brief for Fiscal Year 2020,” https://www.phila.gov/media/20201020113701/budget-in-brief-FY2020-approved.pdf; Philadelphia Office of the Director of
Finance, “The Mayor’s Operating Budget in Brief for Fiscal Year 2023,” https://www.phila.gov/media/20220712100413/
Mayors-Operating-Budget-in-Brief-for-FY2023-as-Approved-by-Council-June-2022.pdf© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

41

Figure 4.7

Median Residential Property Tax Liability, 2023
By ZIP code
19116
19154

19115
19150

19118

19128

19138 19126

19119

19127

19129

19121

19151
19139
19143
19142

19133

19104

19122

19130 19123
19103

19146

19145

19153

19147

19148
19112

19134

19114

19136

19135

19124

19140

19132
19131

19149

19141 19120

19144

19152

19111

19137

19125
19102
19106
19107
Insufficient data/nonresidential< $1,000$1,000 to < $2,000$2,000 to < $3,000$3,000 to < $4,000$4,000 to < $5,000≥ $5,000

In 2023, the median citywide residential property tax liability in Philadelphia was $2,020. The highest medianproperty tax bill was in Chestnut Hill (19118), at nearly $8,000; the lowest was in eastern North Philadelphia(19133), at $516. In May 2022, Philadelphia released the results of its first citywide reassessment of properties
since before the pandemic. As highlighted in Pew’s 2022 report on property taxes in Philadelphia, the mediancitywide assessed tax liability was $1,131 in 2021. Due to relief programs such as the Homestead Exemption, not
all taxpayers saw an increase in their liability, but many did.
Source: City of Philadelphia, OpenDataPhilly, “Philadelphia Properties and Assessment History,” accessed Dec. 7, 2022,
https://www.opendataphilly.org/dataset/opa-property-assessments© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

42

Health
As 2022 progressed, the pandemic stopped feeling like one of the major issues facing Philadelphia.
For the year, the city reported more than 150,000 cases of COVID-19 and 1,000 deaths from the virus—but mostwere recorded early on. By the fall, most mask mandates had been dropped, more workers were returning to theiroffices, and Philadelphians were experiencing a nearly post-pandemic life.
Other health-related data showed an estimated 1,400 drug overdose deaths in Philadelphia in 2022—themost recorded in a single year by the city, and the highest overdose death rate among the 10 cities comparedin this report. Meanwhile, 21% more Philadelphians were enrolled in Medicaid last year than in 2019, and thepercentage of residents lacking health insurance, 7.2%, was the lowest since 2017. Infant mortality rates andbirths to mothers ages 19 and younger also continued their decades-long decline.
44

Figure 5.1

COVID-19 Cases in Philadelphia
March 2020 through December 2022
80,00066,84870,00060,00050,00040,00030,00020,0003,207

13,215
7,057

10,00013,040 13,004

3,011

4,319

15,319

9,051

5,308

2,747

0

Mar May Jul Sept Nov Jan Mar May Jul
2020

2021

5,154
8,716

3,448

6,287

Sept Nov Jan Mar May Jul Sept Nov
2022

Like much of the country, Philadelphia experienced a peak in COVID-19 cases in January 2022, as the easilytransmissible omicron variant surged. Beginning in spring 2022, at-home tests became more readily available andfewer cases were reported to the state.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Health, OpenDataPA, COVID-19 Aggregate Cases Current Weekly County Health,accessed Jan. 26, 2023, https://data.pa.gov/Covid-19/COVID-19-Aggregate-Cases-Current-Weekly-County-Hea/j72v-r42c© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

45

Figure 5.2

COVID-19 Deaths in Philadelphia
March 2020 through December 2022
800
700

678
557

600
500
400

363

300
200

169
107

100
0

62

101

23
Mar May

Jul Sept Nov
2020

132

21

87
95

37

25

39

38

48

Jan Mar May Jul Sept Nov Jan Mar May Jul Sept Nov
2021
2022

Philadelphia reported the most deaths from COVID-19 early in the pandemic, in May 2020, when 678
Philadelphians died from the virus. The city experienced two more spikes, in December 2020 and January 2022,
during the delta and omicron variant waves, respectively.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Health, OpenDataPA, COVID-19 Aggregate Death Data: Current Weekly County Health,accessed Jan. 26, 2023, https://data.pa.gov/Covid-19/COVID-19-Aggregate-Death-Data-Current-Weekly-Count/fbgu-sqgp© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

46

Figure 5.3

Leading Causes of Death in Philadelphia, 2020
4,052

Heart disease
3,071

Cancer
2,473

COVID-19
1,175

Drug overdoses
796

Cerebrovascular diseases
Chronic respiratory diseases

562

Unintentional injury

503

Homicide494

Diabetes

482
379

Septicemia
0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

In 2020, the last year for which data was available, the leading causes of death in Philadelphia were heartdisease, cancer, and COVID-19. According to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, nearly 18,200
Philadelphians died in 2020, approximately 3,900 more deaths than in other recent years.
Source: Philadelphia Department of Public Health, “2021 Health of the City,” https://www.phila.gov/media/20220718132807/
HealthOfTheCity-2021.pdf© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

47

Figure 5.4

Residents Without Health Insurance, 2021
In Philadelphia and other large cities
24.5%

Houston
14.8%

Phoenix
9.7%

ChicagoU.S.

8.6%

Cleveland

8.1%

Detroit

7.4%

Philadelphia

7.2%
5.7%

Baltimore

4.4%

Pittsburgh
Washington
Boston
0%

3.7%
2.9%
5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

The percentage of Philadelphians without health insurance stood at 7.2% in 2021, the lowest figure since 2017(7.1%). Last year’s figure was well below the national average of 8.6% and higher than the percentages in only
four of the nine comparison cities.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, one-year estimates, 2021, Table S2701 (Selected Characteristics ofHealth Insurance Coverage in the United States), http://data.census.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts48

Figure 5.5

Infant Mortality in Philadelphia, 2010-20
300
250
200
150
100
50
0

Citywide
248
219

Black
147

145

236
209
177

160

49

All other races
4
3

35

35

33

2010

2012

2011

185

178

168
146

124
White
65

184

117

125

120

28

30

31

31

25

23

25

2013

2014

2015

2016

119

31
18
2017

107

31

118
95

78

24

20

27

23

2018

2019

19
2020

The infant mortality rate in 2020 was 6.4 per 1,000 live births, continuing its decades-long decline. But the racial
gap remained. Black infants were nearly four times as likely as infants of other races to die before the age of 1.
Nonetheless, the number of deaths of Black infants had declined by more than 75% since 1990.
Note: Citywide total includes infants whose race is unknown. “All other races” includes multiracial infants.
Sources: Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Health Statistics and Registries, “Resident Infant Deaths by Age,Sex, Race, and County (Single Year), Pennsylvania,” https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/HealthStatistics/VitalStatistics/
DeathStatistics/Pages/death-statistics.aspx; Philadelphia Department of Public Health, “2021 Health of the City,” https://www.
phila.gov/media/20220718132807/HealthOfTheCity-2021.pdf© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

49

Figure 5.6

Births to Mothers Age 19 or Younger in Philadelphia, 2010-20
3,500
3,000

3,012
2,712

2,500

2,505
2,000

2,000

1,758

1,598

1,500

1,304 1,259

1,208

2016

2018

1,106

1,065

2019

2020

1,000
500
0

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2017

From 2010 through 2020, the number of births to mothers 19 or younger in Philadelphia declined by 65%. Overthat period, the largest percentage decrease in births was to mothers age 14 or younger (78%).
Note: This data was provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which specifically disclaims responsibility for any
analyses, interpretations, or conclusions.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Health Statistics and Registries, “Resident Live Births by Age of Mother,
Counties and Pennsylvania,” 2010-20, https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/HealthStatistics/VitalStatistics/BirthStatistics/
Pages/birth-statistics.aspx© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

50Figure 5.7

Unintentional Drug Overdose Deaths in Philadelphia, 2012-22
est.
1,400

1,600
1,400

1,217

1,200
1,000

2018

2019

1,214

1,276

907

800
600

1,116

1,150

628

513

460

2012

2013

702

400
200
0
2014

2015

2016

2017

2020

2021

2022

City officials estimate that Philadelphia experienced 1,400 unintentional drug overdose deaths in 2022, which
would represent the largest number on record—and an increase of nearly 10% from the previous high of 1,276,
recorded in 2021. It would also mark the sixth straight year in which the city had more than 1,100 such deaths.
Source: Philadelphia Department of Public Health© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Figure 5.8

Drug Overdose Deaths Per 100,000 Residents, 2021
Philadelphia
Washington
Baltimore
Wayne County, MI (includes Detroit)
Allegheny County, PA (includes Pittsburgh)
Cuyahoga County, OH (includes Cleveland)Suffolk County, MA (includes Boston)
Maricopa County, AZ (includes Phoenix)
Cook County, IL (includes Chicago)
Harris County, TX (includes Houston)

75.6
69.1
55.5
54.5
52.4
49.1
46
39.4
39.4
0

10

20

23.2
30

40

50

60

70

80

Philadelphia reported 75.6 drug overdose deaths for every 100,000 residents in 2021—the highest figure among
the comparison cities and the counties that include them, and up from 72.1 per 100,000 residents in 2020.
These statistics represent overdose deaths that occurred in each jurisdiction, regardless of where the deceased
individual lived.
Note: Overdose data is collected at the county level. Data includes deaths considered unintentional or undetermined, andrates are age-adjusted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, allowing for fairer comparisons among populations
in different jurisdictions.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC WONDER Database, “Multiple Cause of Death Data,” https://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd.html© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

51

Figure 5.9

Public Benefit Enrollment Trends in Philadelphia, 2012-22
800,000
708,469
666,591

700,000
Medical Assistance
600,000

785,480
751,771

618,386
649,751

660,346 649,301

108,140

105,461

517,135

500,000

521,607 528,758

400,000
300,000
Supplemental Security Income
200,000
111,263
100,000
0

110,676
112,075

2012

2013

109,532
2014

2015

107,2092016

2017

101,178
104,136

2018

2019

96,938
2020

2021

2022

Philadelphians’ enrollment in Medical Assistance, or Medicaid—the federal-state program that helps low-income
individuals and families pay for health care—increased by 21% from 2019 to 2022, covering nearly half of thecity’s population. Due to pandemic-related federal relief efforts, states were permitted to allow recipients toretain coverage under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program even if they no longer met mosteligibility requirements. The expanded eligibility ended in April 2023, and all enrollees must resume participationin the annual eligibility process or lose coverage. It is likely that enrollment will decline as a result.
Note: Supplemental Security Income data is available only through 2021.
Sources: Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, “Medical Assistance, Food Stamps, and Cash Assistance statistics
reports,” http://listserv.dpw.state.pa.us/ma-food-stamps-and-cash-stats.html (Medical Assistance enrollment data); Social
Security Administration, “SSI Recipient by State and County,” https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/di_asr/2021/
index.html (Supplemental Security Income data)© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

52

Figure 5.10

Disability Rate, 2021
In Philadelphia and other cities
Cleveland

20.9%

Detroit

19.6%

Baltimore

17.6%

Philadelphia

16.1%

Pittsburgh

14.9%

U.S.

13.0%

Boston11.8%

Washington

11.6%

Phoenix

11.6%

Chicago11.3%

Houston

11.1%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

In 2021, 16.1% of Philadelphians reported having a physical or intellectual disability, according to the U.S. Census
Bureau, down from 17.7% in 2019 but still well above the national average of 13%. Among the comparison cities,
Cleveland had the highest rate, at 20.9%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, one-year estimates, 2021, Table S1810 (Disability Characteristics),
https://data.census.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

53

Figure 5.11

Chronic Health Conditions in Philadelphia, 2011-21
40%

30%

30%

30%

29%

25%
20%

35%

33%

35%

27%

34%

33%

31%

32%

28%

22%
18%

15%

17

10%

12%

19%

17

%

16

%

19%

%

13%
10%

16

%

17

17%

%

14%

11%

11%

11%

11%

2014

2015

2016

17%
12

%

18%

17%
14

18%

20%
16%

%

12%

12%

12%

12%

2017

2018

2019

2020

18%
13%

10%

5%
0%
2011

2012

Adult asthma

2013Child asthma

Diabetes

2021

Obesity

Chronic health conditions often reduce people’s quality of life and may lead to disability and higher health carecosts. In 2021, about one-third of adults in Philadelphia were obese, 18% of adults and 10% of children had
asthma, and 13% of adults had diabetes. Diabetes and obesity rates increased slightly in 2021 but have remained
relatively stable over the past decade, while the incidence of asthma among adults and children decreased in 2021.
Note: Adult asthma, diabetes, and obesity rates are expressed as a percentage of the city’s adult population; child asthma
rates represent a percentage of Philadelphia’s population under age 18.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pennsylvania Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2011-21, https://www.
phaim1.health.pa.gov/EDD/WebForms/BRFSSdistChrt.aspx© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

54Housing
After years of rapidly rising prices, the housing market cooled in 2022.
Although home sales increased by 33%, prices rose only 1.9% for the year as a whole and were declining inthe second half of the year, according to a study from Drexel University’s Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation.
Additionally, the number of building permits fell by 88% because of several factors, including changes in the 10year tax abatement program and higher interest rates.
Meanwhile, for renters, affordability remained a concern. The share of renters who paid 30% or more of theirincome in rent was still slightly higher than the national average. To address affordability concerns, the Municipal
Court’s Eviction Diversion Program was extended into 2024, and the Philadelphia Housing Authority has cleared
the waitlist for its Housing Choice Voucher Program to accept new applicants.
56

Figure 6.1

Homeownership in Philadelphia, 2011-21
360,000
340,000

348,935
Owner-occupied

320,000 311,303

302,551

300,000
280,000

320,690
297,098 300,561

Renter-occupied

260,000 265,126

285,430
277,323

311,986

323,722306,207277,301

302,498
287,543

275,397 277,707

295,783

240,000
220,000
200,000

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

In 2021, Philadelphia remained a city where homeowners outnumber renters, unlike other large northeastern
U.S. cities, where the opposite is true. The 348,935 homeowning households represented nearly 53% of allhouseholds.
Note: Data for 2017 and 2020 is not included. Several years ago, the Census Bureau identified an error in some of its 2017
data for Philadelphia and recommended discontinuing its use. And the bureau did not release one-year American Community
Survey data for 2020, citing the pandemic’s impact on data quality. Because the Census Bureau does not plan to update thedata from either of these years, Pew is not using that data.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, one-year estimates, 2011-21, Table B25003 (Tenure), https://data.
census.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

57

58

Figure 6.2

Home Sale Prices in Philadelphia, 2012 and 2022

19116
19154

19115
19150

19118
19128

19111

19138 19126

19119

19127

19129

19151
19139
19143
19142

19153

19133

19121
19104

19122

19130 19123
19103

19146

19145

19147
19148

19112

19134

19114

19136

19135

19124

19140

19132
19131

19149

19141 19120

19144

19152

19137

19125
19102
19106
19107
Change from 2012 to 2022
< 50%
50% to < 100%
100% to < 150%
150% to < 200%
200% to < 250%
≥ 250%The median home sale price in Philadelphia has increased by 88% in the past 10 years, from $120,000 to$225,000. The most significant increases were in parts of West Philadelphia (19139) and North Philadelphia(19121). In Center City, where prices were already high in 2012, the increases were relatively modest inpercentage terms, and prices fell in one of the ZIP codes (19102).
Source: Data from Kevin C. Gillen, senior research fellow at Drexel University’s Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation

59

ZIP code

2012

2022

Percentage change from 2012 to 2022

19139
19121
19132
19140
19122
19133
19143
19144
19134
19142
19141
19125
19124
19145
19153
19138
19148
19149
19118
19120
19136
19135
19131
19151
19152
19111
19115
19137
19104
19146
19116
19126
19114
19150
19147
19154
19127
19128
19129
19130
19123
19103
19119
19106
19107
19102
City median$35,000$54,875$20,650$27,500$105,000$24,999$53,950$76,150$40,000$40,000$65,000$150,000$65,000$116,900$95,000$70,500$125,000$108,000$342,500$75,000$115,000$95,700$74,500$102,000$162,750$145,000$200,000$113,750$116,000$227,000$205,000$128,025$170,000$134,900$294,000$179,900$204,250$210,000$205,000$336,000$358,450$760,000$233,600$840,000$580,000$1,322,000$120,000$125,000$185,588$62,500$76,250$290,000$65,500$131,750$184,000$95,000$94,000$150,000$335,000$145,000$255,000$203,000$150,235$265,000$220,000$695,000$151,500$220,000$183,000$139,000$190,000$300,000$265,000$365,000$205,000$207,500$405,500$362,000$225,000$288,850$225,000$475,000$288,000$326,515$330,000$315,000$507,000$520,000$1,075,000$325,000$1,000,000$685,000$906,000$225,000

257%
238%
203%
177%
176%
162%
144%
142%
138%
135%
131%
123%
123%
118%
114%
113%
112%
104%
103%
102%
91%
91%
87%
86%
84%
83%
83%
80%
79%
79%
77%
76%
70%
67%
62%
60%
60%
57%
54%
51%
45%
41%
39%
19%
18%
-31%
88%

© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

60Figure 6.3

Sales of Residential Units in Philadelphia, 2012-22
30,00025,00020,79020,00015,00012,23813,428 14,261

15,601

24,93522,971 22,035

17,882

18,77817,577

10,000
5,000
0

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

The number of residential units sold in Philadelphia in 2022 was nearly 33% higher than in 2021. The 2022 total
represented the most sales and the biggest one-year jump in the past decade, following a decline during the
pandemic. However, with the recent increase in mortgage interest rates, it remains to be seen whether sales willcontinue at a similar pace.
Source: Data from Kevin C. Gillen, senior research fellow at Drexel University’s Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Figure 6.4

Share of Renters Spending at Least 30% of Income on Housing, 2021
In Philadelphia and other large cities
Detroit
Baltimore
HoustonPhoenix
BostonPhiladelphia
U.S.
Cleveland
ChicagoPittsburgh
Washington
40%

54.1%
52.4

%

50.6%
49.9%
49.2%
48.9%

42%

44%

47.4%
46.7%
46.4%
45.9%
45.1%
46%
48%

50%

52%

54%

56%

In 2021, 48.9% of renters in Philadelphia spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities, a thresholdlong used as a measure of housing affordability. That figure, although 3 percentage points lower than in 2019, wasslightly higher than the national average of 47.4% but lower than the rates in several comparison cities.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, one-year estimates, 2021, Table B25070 (Gross Rent as a
Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months), http://data.census.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

61

Figure 6.5

Residential Building Permits Issued in Philadelphia, 2012-22
30,00026,11625,00020,00015,00010,000
5,000

2,175

2,815

3,973

3,666

3,175

3,389

3,239

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

4,566

5,665

0
2019

2020

2021

3,223
2022

The number of residential building permits issued in 2022 declined by roughly 88% from 2021. That year saw
a spike in permits mostly due to developers rushing to take advantage of the full 10-year tax abatement, which
expired at the end of 2021. The number of building permits in 2022 was the lowest since 2016.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, “Building Permit Survey,” https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps, based on data from Philadelphia’s
Department of Licenses and Inspections© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Figure 6.6

Eviction Filings in Philadelphia Municipal Court, 2012-22
35,00031,63230,00025,28025,00026,081

20,00024,466 24,856
24,391

23,046

20,35014,46915,00010,000

7,620

5,000

6,873

0
2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

After two years of historically few eviction filings, the Philadelphia Municipal Court’s Landlord and Tenant Court
had a 111% increase in filings from 2021 to 2022. The numbers were down in 2020 and 2021 as a result of
pandemic-related moratoriums, at both the local and national levels; the court reopened for hearings in the latterpart of 2021. Before filing for an eviction, Philadelphia landlords are required to participate in the court’s Eviction
Diversion Program, which will be in place through June 2024.
Source: Philadelphia Municipal Court© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

62

Figure 6.7

Profile of People Experiencing Homelessness in Philadelphia, 2022
100%
90%

Singles/
adult couples

Non-Hispanic

88.3%

87.9%

Adults80%

82.5

Sheltered
82.4%

%

Black

70%

72.5%

Adults witha serious
mental illness

Men

60%

61.6%

Adults witha substance 54.2%
use disorder

50%

45.8%

Women

40%

37.9%

30%
White

20%Children

Nonbinary

17.5%

Transgender

10%
0%

0.4

%

Age

GenderFamilieswithchildren

11.7%
0.1

%

HouseholdUnsheltered

21.5%
Hispanic
Other
Asian 5.3%
0.7%

Race

17.6%

12.1

%

Ethnicity

Location Behavioral
healthIn Philadelphia, 4,489 people were experiencing homelessness on Feb. 23, 2022, according to the Annual Pointin-Time Count of those living on the street and in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and temporary dropin centers. City officials note that the opioid crisis has increased the number of people with mental illness whoare experiencing homelessness, although the share of adults experiencing both homelessness and a substanceuse disorder stayed about the same: 45.7% in 2020 and 45.8% in 2022. The total share of adults with coincident
homelessness and a serious mental illness increased from 34% to 54.2%.
Note: Figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
Source: City of Philadelphia, “Philadelphia Annual Point-in-Time Count,” Feb. 23, 2022, https://www.phila.gov/departments/
office-of-homeless-services/documents/publications/#/?table=2022%20Point%20in%20Time%20%28PIT%29%20
Count%20and%20Youth%20Count© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

63Figure 6.8

Homeownership in Philadelphia by Race and Ethnicity, 2006-21
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2018

2019

2021

Asian

52.8% 54.0% 49.1% 54.2% 48.0% 56.6% 51.0% 48.9% 57.1% 55.8% 49.0% 50.3% 63.0% 62.3%

Black or African
American

53.9% 51.4% 51.5% 48.0% 50.7% 49.3% 47.5% 45.3% 46.9% 48.2% 49.7% 48.3% 46.7% 49.6%

Hispanic

50.6% 44.3% 48.0% 42.8% 43.1% 48.9% 48.5% 40.2% 39.0% 41.4% 39.5% 46.6% 44.9% 48.6%

Non-Hispanic White 64.3% 66.3% 64.0% 62.4% 60.9% 60.3% 59.7% 59.4% 60.6% 60.8% 58.9% 59.7% 58.9% 57.2%
All Philadelphians

58.2% 56.2% 56.1% 53.7% 53.8% 53.9% 50.2% 44.7% 53.3% 53.8% 52.4% 55.1% 53.4% 56.6%

Philadelphia’s homeownership rate reached almost 57% in 2021, substantially higher than it had been in the
middle of the last decade but slightly lower than in 2006. Asian households had the highest homeownership rate,
at nearly 62%; Hispanic households had the lowest, at approximately 49%. Since 2006, non-Hispanic White
households have recorded the biggest decrease, 7 percentage points, although their overall homeownership rate
remained comparatively high.
Note: Data for 2017 and 2020 is not included. Several years ago, the Census Bureau identified an error in some of its 2017
data for Philadelphia and recommended discontinuing its use. And the bureau did not release one-year American Community
Survey data for 2020, citing the pandemic’s impact on data quality. Because the Census Bureau does not plan to update thedata from either of these years, Pew is not using that data.
Source: Pew analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, IPUMS one-year estimates, 2006-21© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

64Figure 6.9

Housing Subsidies Over Time in Philadelphia
2013-21
14,98913,347
12,539Public housing
units available

19,346
20,26722,386

Housing choice
vouchers available
4,569
9,260
9,126

Project-based Section 8units available

7,592
10,326
10,980

Low-Income Housing Tax
Credit units available

53,19256,284
58,125

Total housing
subsidies available
0
2013

2017

10,00020,00030,00040,00050,00060,00070,0002021

From 2013 to 2021, the number of total housing subsidies in Philadelphia increased by 9%. In 2021, the last year
for which data was available, 22,386 of the 58,125 subsidies available were housing choice vouchers, which
qualifying residents can use to help pay rent in market housing. In recent years, more of these vouchers and more
Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) units have been available. At the same time, the number of units ownedby the Philadelphia Housing Authority has declined slightly, as have project-based Section 8 units.
Note: “Total housing subsidies available” also includes other categories of housing, including Section 236 multifamily rental
housing/below-market interest rate housing (S236/BMIR), Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program units(202/PRAC), Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons With Disabilities (811/PRAC), moderate rehabilitation program
housing, and HOME tenant-based rental assistance units.
Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, “Assisted Housing: National and Local—Picture of Subsidized
Households,” 2013-21, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/assthsg.html#null; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development, “LIHTC Database Access,” https://lihtc.huduser.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

65

Figure 6.10

Median Cost for a Two-Bedroom Unit, 2021
In Philadelphia and other large cities
1,890
1,825

BostonWashington
Phoenix
ChicagoPhiladelphia
Baltimore
U.S.
Pittsburgh
HoustonDetroit
Cleveland

$

$

1,322
1,256
$
1,239
$
1,224
$
1,185
$
1,174
$
1,152
$

$

876
817
$

$

$0

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000 $1,200 $1,400 $1,600 $1,800 $2,000

In 2021, Philadelphia ranked slightly above the national average for the median cost of a two-bedroom apartment,with a monthly rent of $1,239. Although the city remained more affordable than both Boston and Washington, themedian rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Philadelphia rose 9.5% from 2019.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, one-year estimates, 2021, Table B25031 (Median Gross Rent),
http://data.census.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Figure 6.11

Philadelphians Rank Local Taxes by Fairness: Poll
2.8

Philadelphia beverage tax
2.6

Property tax
2.4

Wage tax
2.2

Local sales tax
1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

In its 2022 Philadelphia resident poll, Pew asked Philadelphians to rank four local taxes by fairness on a scale of
1 to 4—with 1 being the most fair and 4 the least fair. Overall, Philadelphians rated the beverage tax the least fair,
followed by property, wage, and sales taxes. Opinions varied a bit by age, however: Residents ages 18-29 gavethese four taxes, as a group, the best ratings on fairness, while those ages 50-64 gave them the worst ratings.
Source: The Pew Philadelphia Poll, 2022
© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

66

Jobs and the Economy
In a year of high inflation, Philadelphia’s job market and the economy showed strong growth.
As of December 2022, Philadelphia had an estimated 753,900 jobs, an increase of about 30,000 from a year
earlier. And in the final four months of 2022, Philadelphia had an unemployment rate below 5%, something that
had not happened in at least a decade.
For the year, employment in every major sector of the local economy expanded, with the exception of
government—whose number of occupied positions fell by 1%. The size of the leisure and hospitality sector
continued its post-pandemic rebound, with 24% more jobs in 2022 than in 2021, although the numbers were still
below pre-pandemic levels. And Philadelphians’ median income increased to $52,899 in 2021, the latest year forwhich data was available, up 11% since 2019.
68Figure 7.1

Unemployment Rate, 2012-22
In Philadelphia, the surrounding region, and nationwide
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

City of Philadelphia

10.6%

10.0%

8.2%

7.2%

6.7%

6.3%

5.8%

5.7%

12.4%

9.2%

5.9%

U.S.

8.1%

7.4%

6.2%

5.3%

4.9%

4.4%

3.9%

3.7%

8.1%

5.3%

3.6%

Metro Philadelphia

8.3%

7.6%

6.3%

5.5%

5.0%

4.8%

4.3%

4.1%

9.1%

6.3%

4.1%

Philadelphia’s unemployment rate decreased from 2020 to 2022, more closely resembling pre-pandemic trends
last year after spiking in 2020. Despite this promising trend, the city’s 5.9% unemployment rate was still higher
than the national average of 3.6%.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/lau (local data); U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, https://www.bls.gov/cps (national data)© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

69

Figure 7.2

Unemployment Rate in Philadelphia and Comparable Cities, 2022
8.9%

Detroit
Cleveland
Philadelphia
Baltimore
ChicagoWashington
HoustonPittsburgh
BostonPhoenix
0%

6.8

%

5.9
5.5%
5.4%

%

4.7%
4.4%
3.8%
3.3%
3.2%
4%

2%

6%

8%

10%

Philadelphia had the third-highest unemployment rate among the comparison cities in 2022. Although
Philadelphia’s 5.9% unemployment rate ranked higher than those of several other comparable cities, including
Chicago (5.4%) and Washington (4.7%), its rate has continued to trend downward, declining 3.3% from 2021.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/lau© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Figure 7.3

Job Growth and Decline in Philadelphia and Nationwide, 2012-22
8%

6.7%

6%

4.3%

4%
2%
0%

0.4%

1.7%

2.4% 2.8%%%%
2.2 1.6% 2.1% %
1.6% 1.3% 1.9 1.5% 2.1 2.0 1.8% 1.6% 1.6%
1.3
%

0.5%

-2%
-4%
-6%

-5.8%

-8%
-10%

-8.3%
2012

Philadelphia

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

U.S.

The number of jobs in Philadelphia continued to increase in 2022, with the city’s job growth more than 2
percentage points higher than the nation’s. Job growth in both Philadelphia and the U.S. in 2022 reached its
highest level in the past 10 years.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/ces (national); Bureau of Labor
Statistics, State and Metro Area Employment, Hours, and Earnings, https://www.bls.gov/sae (local)© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

70Figure 7.4

Philadelphia’s Job Growth and Decline by Sector, 2021 and 2022
Education andhealth services

5.3%

Professional andbusiness services

7.6%

Government
Trade,
transportation,and utilities
Leisure andhospitality

-1.0%
2.6%
24.2%

Financial activities

6.3%

Other services

10.3%

Manufacturing

4.4%

Information

32.0%

Mining, logging,and construction

5.9%
0

71

2021
2022

75,000

Most sectors in Philadelphia
reported an increase in thenumber of jobs in 2022, except
the government, which reported
a 1% decrease. The hospitality
industry—hit especially hard by the
pandemic—experienced a major
increase in jobs (24.2%). And
compared with a 20% reduction
from 2020 to 2021, information
jobs increased by a whopping
32% from 2021 to 2022. Overall,
employment has been growing forthe city’s nongovernmental sectors.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
State and Metro Area Employment,
Hours, and Earnings, https://www.bls.
gov/sae

150,000

225,000

300,000© 2023 The Pew Charitable TrustsFigure 7.5

Median Household Income, 2021
In Philadelphia and other large cities$90,088

Washington$79,283

BostonU.S.

$69,717

Phoenix$68,435$66,576

Chicago$57,821

Pittsburgh
Houston$55,499

Baltimore$54,652

Philadelphia$52,899

Detroit$36,140

Cleveland$35,562
$0

$10

$20

$30

$40

$50

$60

$70

$80

$90

$100

In thousands
As has been the case for years, Philadelphia’s 2021 median household income was lower than those in all of thecomparison cities except Cleveland and Detroit. From 2019 to 2021, Philadelphia’s median household income
rose by $5,425; only Phoenix did better, rising by $7,504.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, one-year estimates, 2021, Table S1903 (Median Income in the Past
12 Months in 2021 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars), http://data.census.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

72

Figure 7.6

Median Household Income in Philadelphia, 2021

19116

19154

19115
19114
19150

19118
19128

19152
19138

19119

19139
19143

19142

19133

19121

19104

19122

19130 19123
19103

19146

19147

19145
19148

19153

19112

19136

19135

19124

19140

19132

19151

19149
19120

19129

19131

19111

19141

19144
19127

19126

19137
19125

19134

19102
19106
19107
Insufficient data/nonresidential< $30,000$30,000 to < $45,000$45,000 to < $60,000$60,000 to < $75,000≥ $75,000

As has been the case for many years, the city’s lowest-earning areas in 2021 were in North and West
Philadelphia; its highest-earning areas were in Center City and Northwest Philadelphia. The largest percentage
increase in median household income, 51%, was recorded in the Kensington/Fishtown and East Falls areas.
Note: To convert 2016 American Community Survey five-year median income data to 2021 dollars, Pew used the Bureau ofLabor Statistics’ annual average consumer price index (CPI-U) value. The CPI-U value for 2016 is 240.007; and for 2021, it’s
270.970. The multiplier to convert 2016 dollars to 2021 dollars is 1.129.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, five-year estimates, 2017-21, Table B19013 (Median Household
Income in the Past 12 Months [in 2021 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars]), http://data.census.gov; U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, five-year estimates, 2012-16, Table B19013 (Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months [in 2021
Inflation-Adjusted Dollars]), http://data.census.gov

73

ZIP code

Neighborhood

Household medianincome, 2017-21

Percentage change from2012-16 to 2017-21

19125

Kensington/Fishtown
East Falls
South Philadelphia—Schuylkill
Fairmount North/Brewerytown
Oak LaneSouth Philadelphia—West
North Philadelphia—East
Northern Liberties/Spring Garden
Eastwick
West Philadelphia—University City
South Philadelphia—East
Wynnefield/West Park
Port RichmondSouth Philadelphia—Bella Vista
Germantown
Northeast—Torresdale North
North Philadelphia—Yorktown
Northeast—Bustleton South
Northeast—Torresdale South
Fairmount South
Northeast—Bustleton North/Somerton
Olney
Northeast—Mayfair/Oxford Circle
Northeast—Frankford
Southwest Philadelphia—Kingsessing
Mount Airy
RoxboroughSouthwest Philadelphia—Paschall/Elmwood
Germantown East
Center City—Society Hill
Nicetown
Northeast—Fox Chase
Northwest—WadsworthWest Philadelphia—West Market
Center City—Washington SquareNortheast—Holmesburg
Center City West
Logan
Center City West
North Philadelphia—West
Northeast—Rhawnhurst
Manayunk
Northeast—Tacony
Overbrook
Chestnut Hill
Northeast—Bridesburg$89,505$81,641$86,372$29,691$54,936$59,216$27,811$83,008$57,830$30,734$63,497$42,309$37,821$93,996$37,322$79,833$43,981$62,044$70,838$92,097$59,390$44,195$50,592$38,293$38,928$72,685$80,803$37,621$44,455$126,287$27,006$55,569$54,121$32,531$62,280$56,752$83,988$34,651$115,597$26,041$56,835$81,042$46,311$49,337$86,475$52,034

51%
51%
46%
39%
38%
37%
36%
27%
25%
25%
22%
20%
20%
19%
18%
18%
17%
16%
16%
15%
14%
13%
12%
12%
12%
12%
12%
11%
11%
11%
11%
10%
10%
9%
9%
9%
5%
5%
5%
3%
3%
2%
-2%
-3%
-4%
-9%

19129
19146
19121
19126
19145
19133
19123
19153
19104
19148
19131
19134
19147
19144
19154
19122
19115
19114
19130
19116
19120
19149
19124
19143
19119
19128
19142
19138
19106
19140
19111
19150
19139
19107
19136
19103
19141
19102
19132
19152
19127
19135
19151
19118
19137

© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

74

Figure 7.7

Median Household Income in Philadelphia, 2019 and 2021
By race and ethnicity$90,000$80,000$70,000

78,010$67,519$55,712$$60,000$50,000

49,278$52,899$47,474$$40,000

44,795$38,289 $36,601$

32,425$$30,000$20,000$10,000$0

2021

White,
non-Hispanic

AsianAll households

Hispanic

Black orAfrican American

2019

Median household income in Philadelphia varied widely in 2021 by race and ethnicity. The figure for White, nonHispanic households—$78,010—was more than double the $38,289 figure for Black households. The medianincome for Hispanic households, $44,795, was 38% higher than it was in 2019, when its value was $32,425—an
unusually large spike over a two-year span. However, additional years of data are needed to assess whether thisincrease will hold up.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, one-year estimates, 2021, Table S1903 (Median Household
Income in the Past 12 Months), http://data.census.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

75

Figure 7.8

Largest Employers in Philadelphia, 2022
2022 rank

Employer

1

University of Pennsylvania

2

U.S. government

3City of Philadelphia

4

School District of Philadelphia

5

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

6Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

7

Temple University

8

Comcast Corp.

9

SEPTA

10

Temple University Hospital

11

American Airlines

12

Drexel University

13

Thomas Jefferson University

14

Allied Universal

15

Einstein Medical Center

Of the 15 largest employers in Philadelphia
in 2022, nine were in education and healthcare. Four were in the public sector: the U.S.
government, the city of Philadelphia, theSchool District of Philadelphia, and SEPTA.
The University of Pennsylvania, including its
health system, is the city’s largest employer.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Labor andIndustry, Center for Workforce Information andAnalysis, “Pennsylvania Top 50 Employers andIndustries: Philadelphia County, 2nd Quarter,
2022,” https://www.workstats.dli.pa.gov/
Products/Top50/Pages/default.aspx© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Figure 7.9

Labor Force Participation Rate, 2021
In Philadelphia and other large cities
Washington
BostonChicagoHoustonPhoenix
U.S.
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Cleveland
Detroit
0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

81.9%
80.3%
80.1%
78.1%
77.9%
77.0%
76.9%
75.3%
74.4%
71.1%
66.7%
70%
80%
90%

In 2021, Philadelphia had a labor force participation rate of 75.3% among residents ages 16-64, which was below
the national average of 77% and below the rates in more than half of the comparison cities. This was a bettershowing than in 2019, when the city’s rate was only 71.5% and the national rate was nearly 4 points higher. The
labor force consists of people who are employed or actively looking for work.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, one-year estimates, 2021, Table S2301 (Employment Status),
http://data.census.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

76

Figure 7.10

Median Household Income in Philadelphia, 2005-21
Change shown in 2021 dollars
180,000
160,000
140,000

Upper-income median$153,800$126,078

120,000
100,000
80,000

Middle-income median

60,000$54,058

40,000Lower-income median

20,000$13,9120$61,350$14,760

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021

The median income for all Philadelphians was $52,649, according to five-year census data from 2017 to 2021.
When dividing residents into three income brackets, middle-income Philadelphians earned a median of $61,350,
a 13.5% increase over the past 15-plus years. However, the median income for Philadelphians in the upper-income
bracket has increased by 22% from 2005 to 2021, adjusted for inflation. Among the lowest-income residents,
income has remained relatively unchanged, increasing by only 6% over this period.
Notes: The Pew Research Center has divided American households into three economic categories: lower-income households(those with incomes less than two-thirds of the national median); middle-income households (those with incomes from twothirds to double the median); and upper-income households (those with incomes more than double the median). Figure 7.10
applies that analysis to Philadelphia. Data for 2017 and 2020 is not included. Several years ago, the Census Bureau identified
an error in some of its 2017 data for Philadelphia and recommended discontinuing its use. And the bureau did not release oneyear American Community Survey data for 2020, citing the pandemic’s impact on data quality. Because the Census Bureau
does not plan to update the data from either of these years, Pew is not using that data.
Source: Pew analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, IPUMS (2005-21 one-year estimates)© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

77

78

Public Safety
In 2022, violent crime and homicides declined slightly but remained at historically high levels.
For the year, Philadelphia recorded 516 homicides, down from 562 in 2021 but still among the highest totals in
its history. Never before had the city experienced two consecutive years with at least 500 homicides and 2,000
shootings.
While polls, such as the 2023 Lenfest Institute for Journalism survey, have shown crime and public safety to bePhiladelphians’ top concerns, the city’s police department has been grappling with a large number of vacancies,
struggling to find qualified candidates to fill those positions.
80Figure 8.1

Homicides in Philadelphia, 2012-22
562

600
499

500
400

331

315

280

300
200

246

248

2013

2014

516

353
353

277

100
0
2012

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Philadelphia reported 516 homicides in 2022, an 8% reduction from the previous year but still one of thehighest annual totals on record. According to the Philadelphia Police Department, arguments and drug-related
confrontations were among the primary motives for most of these homicides.
Source: Philadelphia Police Department, “Crime Maps & Stats,” https://www.phillypolice.com/crime-maps-stats© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Figure 8.2

Homicide Rates Per 100,000 Residents, 2022
Baltimore

57.6

Detroit48.8

Cleveland

41.8

Philadelphia

32.7

Washington

30.1

Chicago25.8

Pittsburgh

23.6

Houston19

Phoenix

12.4

Boston

6.3
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Although Philadelphia recorded its second-highest homicide total on record in 2022, the city’s rate of 32.7
homicides per 100,000 residents was lower than those of several comparison cities. Baltimore had the highest
rate, at 57.6, and Boston the lowest by far, at 6.3.
Sources: Police departments in all 10 cities; population numbers drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Estimatesof the Resident Population for Incorporated Places, July 1, 2021, https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/time-series/demo/
popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

81Figure 8.3

Shooting Victims in Philadelphia, 2012-22
2,500

2,240

2,326
2,255

2,000

1,500

1,403
1,279

1,000

1,238
1,128

1,280

1,463

1,201
1,047

500

0
2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

The number of shooting victims in the city fell slightly in 2022, down to 2,255 from 2,326 in 2021. Even so, thetotal remained at historically high levels, up 54% from 2019, the last pre-pandemic year, with the levels recorded
from 2020 to 2022 the highest they have been in 30 years.
Source: Philadelphia Police Department, “Crime Maps & Stats,” https://www.phillypolice.com/crime-maps-stats© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

82

Figure 8.4

Major Crime in Philadelphia, 2012-22
90,00080,00084,27474,47970,00060,00070,526 68,815

Total major crimes

65,544 64,544
63,403 63,662 65,227

68,02062,03850,00040,00030,00020,00010,00017,641 17,004 15,771 16,062
15,236 15,045 14,366 15,299 15,134 15,116 15,227
Violent crimes

0
2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Total major crimes increased last year, driven by a spike in property crimes, which rose 47% since 2020. The risein property crimes was driven by increases in auto thefts, commercial burglaries, and retail thefts. Among violent
crimes, 2,910 robberies with a gun were reported in 2022, representing a 58% increase from 2020 to 2022. The
incidence of other violent crimes, including rape and aggravated assault without a gun, remained about the same.
Source: Philadelphia Police Department© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

83

Figure 8.5

Major Crimes in Philadelphia, 2022
By type
Violent crimes

3.3%

Homicides

Property crimes

8.5

%

3.9

%

Burglary

Rape

22.5

%

Theft

55.3

%

Aggravatedassault

21.0

%

37.5

Vehicletheft%

Robbery

20.6%

Retail theft

22.5

%

Theft from
auto

4.0

%

Theft
of tag

0.8%

Theft frompersonRobberies represented 37.5% of all violent crimes in 2022, increasing by 6.7 percentage points from 2020, driven
by a surge in robberies with a gun. Theft from automobiles, theft, vehicle theft, and retail theft each accounted forapproximately a fifth of all property crimes, which spiked in 2022. In a single year, auto thefts increased by 30%,
commercial burglaries by 40%, and retail thefts by 52%.
Note: All figures are based on preliminary Philadelphia Police Department crime data and are subject to reclassification uponfurther investigation.
Source: Philadelphia Police Department© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

84

14

5

35

Violent Crime in Philadelphia,2020 and 2022
19

9

18

26
6

8

17

14
35
39

1

22
6

District
2

3

3
5
6
7

77

8
9
12

Philadelphia recorded a 1% increase in violent
crimes from 2020 to 2022, but the levelsof violent crimes by police district varied
greatly. Center City East had the largest
percentage increase in violent crimes, andRoxborough had one of the lowest overall
numbers of violent crimes, second only to thePhiladelphia International Airport district. The
Juniata Park/Feltonville neighborhood had thehighest total, while Southwest Philadelphia
experienced the most significant decrease,with the share of violent crimes there
dropping 24% from 2020 to 2022.
Source: Philadelphia Police Department© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Crime increased

150% to < 10%
10% to < 20%
≥ 20%

24

1

17
1

3

26

9

18

≥ 10%
0% to < 10%

25

77
16

Crime decreased

2

12

85

24
7

16

12

25

22

Percentage change by police district

19

15

39

Figure 8.6

5

2

14
15

Neighborhood

South Philadelphia West
Crime decreased
Oxford Circle≥ 10%South Philadelphia East
0% to < 10%
Roxborough
CrimeCenter
increased
City East0%
to < 10%
Bustleton10%
to < 20%
Northeast
Philadelphia≥ 20%Center City WestSouthwest Philadelphia
Germantown
Frankford

2020

2022

Percentagechange

240
634
422
105
457
132
313
392
1,093
779
1,157

303
764
509
139
627
147
369
457
833
755
1,198

26%
21%
21%
32%
37%
11%
18%
17%
-24%
-3%
4%

16

West Philadelphia—
Mantua

533

494

-7%

17

Point Breeze

303

295

-3%

18

West Philadelphia—
Cobbs Creek

871

740

-15%

19

West Philadelphia—
Overbrook/Wynnefield

1,029

884

-14%

North Philadelphia West
Kensington
Juniata Park/FeltonvilleNorth Philadelphia East
Olney
Allegheny West

1,303
1,417
1,439
517
1,102
958

1,352
1,299
1,384
660
1,083
998

4%
-8%
-4%
28%
-2%
4%

Philadelphia International
Airport

10

8

-20%

22
24
25
26
35
39
77

Figure 8.7

Homicide Motives in Philadelphia, 2022
Argument

36.2%

Retaliation

17.2%

Drugs

15.1%

Domestic

8.9%

Highway robbery

6.8%

Other

6.2%

Undetermined

5.8%

Child abuse

1.9%

Residential robbery

1.2%

Commercial robbery

0.4%

Sexual0.2%

The Philadelphia Police Department cited arguments as theleading motive for homicides in the city in 2022, naming
them as the cause in 36.2% of cases, followed by retaliationand drugs. Drugs—which had previously been the top
motive for homicides in the city, accounting for 37% ofcases in 2018—have dropped considerably as a factor, cited
as a motive in 15.1% of homicides last year.
Note: All figures are based on preliminary Philadelphia Police
Department crime data and are subject to reclassification uponfurther investigation. The department changed its protocols in2018 to classify fewer motives as “undetermined.”
Source: Philadelphia Police Department© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Figure 8.8

Philadelphia Police Department Employment, 2012-22
As of June 30 each year
7,300
7,200
7,100
7,000
6,900
6,800
6,700
6,600
6,500
6,400
6,300

7,225

7,241

7,193

7,172

7,061
7,095
6,942

7,175

6,986

6,869

6,651

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

After rising during the early years of Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration, the number of filled full-time positionsin the Philadelphia Police Department, both uniformed and civilian, fell by 8% from mid-2019 through mid-2022.
As of June 30, 2022, the department had 660 open positions—about 9% short of full staffing. This department
makes up the largest share of city employees and accounts for nearly a third of the municipal workforce.
Source: City of Philadelphia, Office of the Director of Finance, Quarterly City Manager’s Report for June 30 of each year, 201222, https://www.phila.gov/departments/office-of-the-director-of-finance/financial-reports/#/quarterly-city-managers-report© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

86

Figure 8.9

Philadelphia Jail Population, 2012-22
10,000
9,000

8,676

8,932
8,374

7,938

8,000
7,000

7,334

6,724

6,000
4,750

5,000

4,688

5,303

4,000

4,429

4,209

3,000
2,000
1,000
0

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

In 2022, Philadelphia jails had an average daily population of 4,429—a 50% reduction since 2013. The figure
has been below 5,000 in each of the past four years. Aided by nearly $10 million in grants from the John D. andCatherine T. MacArthur Foundation-supported Safety and Justice Challenge, the city has made a concerted andcollaborative effort to reduce the jail population in recent years. As of December 2022, 36% of inmates werebeing held pretrial, compared with about 80% of the jail population before the grants.
Source: City of Philadelphia, “Philadelphia Jail Population Snapshot Report,” https://www.phila.gov/media/20230119134723/
Full-Public-Prison-Report-December-2022.pdf© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

87Figure 8.10

Fire Deaths in Philadelphia, 2012-22
45

41

40
35

32
34

30
25

37

37

25
21

24

20

21
19

15
10

12

5
0
2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

In 2022, fire deaths in Philadelphia surpassed 40 for the first time since 2007, driven in part by two fires inparticular—one in January that killed 12 people in Fairmount and another in April that took four lives in Kensington.
Source: Philadelphia Fire Department© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

88Figure 8.11

License and Inspection Requests for Action From Philly 311 in 2022
By service type

3%
4%

13%

Construction complaints
Dangerous building complaints

13

%

49%

Information requests
License or certiﬁcation support
License complaints

11%

Maintenance complaints
Other

7%
In 2022, Philadelphia’s nonemergency 311 customer service system assigned more than 65,000 requests foraction or information to the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections. About half of the requests wereclassified as maintenance complaints, dealing with concerns such as a lack of heat in an apartment. Other
common topics included information requests, construction complaints, and license or certification support.
Source: Philly 311© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

89

90

Transportation, Infrastructure,and the Environment
Philadelphia’s transportation sector continued to recover in 2022, although public transportation usage
remained below pre-pandemic levels.
SEPTA ridership rose by 37% for the City Transit division and by 99% on Regional Rail from 2021 to 2022. Evenso, for the last six months of 2022, ridership throughout the system was only 52% of 2019 levels. Philadelphia
International Airport, meanwhile, had 113% more passengers in 2022 than in 2020. Yet last year’s passenger total
was still 7.7 million short of pre-pandemic levels.
Philadelphia did not experience a single day with unhealthy air in 2022, a vast improvement from a decade ago,
when 28 days of unhealthy air were recorded. The previous low had been two days, reported in 2021.
92Figure 9.1

Local Mass Transit Ridership, 2012-22
300,000,000
250,000,000
200,000,000

270,700,000
279,300,000
SEPTA City Transit

236,514,000

252,000,000

180,133,000

150,000,000
100,000,000

122,132,291
SEPTA Regional Rail50,000,000
037,400,000

36,000,000

34,700,000

89,443,449
13,702,129
34,191,260
6,871,285

11,107,474
10,839,059
10,542,383
10,169,487
PATCO high-speed line
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

4,870,310
2021

2022

There was a sharp decline in mass transit use in 2020, as a result of pandemic-related closures and remote work
policies. The change in ridership from 2019 to 2022 was -48.4% for SEPTA’s City Transit Division, -59.9% for
SEPTA’s Regional Rail system, and -56.2% for the PATCO high-speed line.
Sources: SEPTA (City Transit and Regional Rail data); Delaware River Port Authority (PATCO high-speed line data)© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Figure 9.2

Passengers at Philadelphia International Airport, 2012-22
35,000,000

Total
30,504,112

31,444,403

29,585,754

33,018,886

30,000,000
25,000,000
20,000,000

28,936,512
26,030,313
Domestic

26,879,613

4,473,799

4,564,790

25,242,133

25,580,051
22,266,733

15,000,000
11,164,007

10,000,000
5,000,000
0

4,082,374

4,005,703

700,999

International

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2,975,4002022

Philadelphia International Airport reported a stark decrease of more than 21 million passengers in 2020. Air
travel started to rebound in 2021; and in 2022, the number of airline passengers increased by more than 13
million compared with 2020. Despite that increase, there was still a gap of over 7 million passengers comparedwith pre-pandemic figures from 2019.
Source: Philadelphia International Airport, aviation activity reports, https://www.phl.org/business/reports/activity-reports© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

93

Figure 9.3

Amtrak Ridership, Northeast Corridor
Change from 2018 to 2021
-59%

New York-65%

Washington

2021
2018

-66%

Philadelphia-56%

BostonBaltimore-56%

New Haven, CT-50%

Providence, RI-60%

Newark, NJ-59

BWI Airport-65%

Wilmington, DE-67%

Source: Bureau of Transportation
Statistics, “Amtrak Ridership,”https://www.bts.dot.gov/browsestatistical-products-and-data/statetransportation-statistics/amtrakridership

%

0

2

Like other cities along theNortheast Corridor, Philadelphia
experienced an overall decreasein Amtrak ridership from 2018 to
2021. Second only to Wilmington,
Philadelphia had one of the greatest
percentage changes of -66%, or
about 2.97 million fewer trips. New
York and Washington experienced
the greatest loss in total trips—
approximately 6,070,000 and
3,438,000, respectively.

4

6
Millions

8

10

12

© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

94

Figure 9.4

Traffic Fatalities in Philadelphia, 2011-21
180

166

160
140
120
100

Total fatalities

133

107
89

87

97

94

101

94

103
91

80
60

Pedestrian
38

40

30

34

37

20

Bicyclist
4
2

0

3

2013

2014

0
2011

2012

44

37

2015

45

29

26
7

49

42

3

2

4

2

5

7

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

In 2021, the most recent year for which data was available, Philadelphia recorded 133 traffic fatalities, the secondhighest total in a decade, behind the 166 recorded in 2020—which was far and away the peak for recent years.
From 2011 through 2021, overall traffic fatalities in the city increased by about 53%, and pedestrian deaths roseby 50%.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, “Reportable Crash Fatality Statistics,” https://crashinfo.penndot.gov/
PCIT/welcome.html© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts95

Figure 9.5

Thousand cubic feet

Average Annual Water Consumption for Residents and Small
Businesses in Philadelphia, 2012-22
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

7.41

2012

7.63

2013

7.34

2014

7.39

2015

7.09

7.01

6.82

6.69

6.65

6.62

6.54

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Residents’ and small businesses’ water usage has declined each year since 2015, flattening in recent years. The
Philadelphia Water Department attributes this reduction to the fact that appliances are more water-efficient thanthey used to be.
Source: Philadelphia Water Department© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

96

Figure 9.6

Days of Unhealthy Air in Philadelphia, 2012-22
30

28

25
20

16

15
10

10

12
9

9

10
6

5
0

5
2

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

0
2022

In 2022, Philadelphia had zero days with unhealthy air, the fewest in the past decade. This is a significant change
from 2012’s total of 28 days. Air pollution is weather-dependent and varies as meteorological trends change. The
pandemic-related decline in travel may have also contributed to the city’s improved air quality.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Air Quality Index Report,” https://www.epa.gov/outdoor-air-quality-data/airquality-index-report© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Figure 9.7

Philadelphia 311 Service Requests for Trash/Recycling Collection,
2016-2260,00047,73250,00040,00034,97230,00020,00019,292

21,68934,94627,091

25,863

10,000
0
2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

In 2022, the volume of complaints concerning trash and recycling collection fell for a second straight year,
returning to more normal levels after peaking in 2020. The number of such complaints—submitted through Philly
311, the city government’s nonemergency customer service system—was 27,091, down from 47,732 two years
earlier. In 2020 and into 2021, trash and recycling collection was delayed at times as a significant number ofsanitation workers took multiple sick days due to COVID-19.
Source: Philly 311© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

97

Figure 9.8

Traffic Volume Change From 2019 to 2022
In Philadelphia and comparable cities
Hours

Change from 2019

Chicago155

7%

Boston

134-10%

New York City

117

-16%

Philadelphia

114

-20%

Miami

105

30%

San Francisco

97

0%

Los Angeles

95

-8%

Washington

83

-33%

Houston74-9%

Atlanta

74-10%

According to INRIX, a transportation analytics
company, Philadelphia ranked fourth in the
United States among major cities with the mostcongested roads. Motorists spent a total of 114
hours in snarled traffic during peak commute
periods compared with off-peak conditions in
Philadelphia. Despite that, 20% fewer hours
were lost in the city’s traffic last year than in
2019.
Note: Cities ranked by number of hours spent in
traffic on congested roads.
Source: INRIX, ”2022 INRIX Global Traffic
Scorecard,” https://inrix.com/scorecard/#formdownload-the-full-report© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

98Figure 9.9

Where Philadelphians Worked and How They Got There, 2019and 2021
The pandemic’s impact on commuting
2019

2021

Percentage change, 2019 to 2021

Worked from home

36,369170,574369%

Mode of transportation

2019

2021

Percentage change, 2019 to 2021

Took public transit

181,698

97,941-46%

Walked

60,75445,205-26%

Rode bicycle

14,908

11,857-20%

Carpooled

55,88949,147-12%

Drove alone

346,799

313,090-10%

Used taxi, motorcycle, or othermode of transportation

14,847

13,891-6%

In Philadelphia, as in the rest of the country, the pandemic disrupted traditional work-related travel patterns.
In 2021, nearly 171,000 Philadelphians were working from home—almost five times as many as the over
36,000 who had done so two years earlier. With so many fewer people traveling to work, usage of all modes oftransportation declined. The biggest drop was in public transit, with about 84,000 fewer people using it to get totheir jobs.
Note: Data for 2020 is not included. The Census Bureau did not release one-year American Community Survey data for 2020,
citing the pandemic’s impact on data quality.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, one-year estimates, 2019-21, Table B08301 (Means ofTransportation to Work), http://data.census.gov© 2023 The Pew Charitable Trusts

99

100

Photo Captions
Photographs by Kriston Jae Bethel for The Pew Charitable Trusts
Kriston Jae Bethel is a Philadelphia-based photographer and member of Diversify Photo, a group of BIPOC andnon-Western visual creators helping to diversify media outlets.
Cover

Diners sit at tables during lunch at Center City’s Reading Terminal Market.

Intro

Pedestrians walk past businesses along East Allegheny Avenue in Philadelphia’s Kensington 			neighborhood.

Page 2Center City high-rises and skyscrapers sit behind the Schuylkill River.

Page 3Row houses line East Hilton Street in Kensington, with the taller Gloria Casarez Elementary School 		building in the background.

Page 4

As part of a city response to the opioid epidemic, nurses with a mobile medical unit provide wound 		care in Kensington.

Page 6

A couple strolls through the Italian Market in South Philadelphia.

Page 7

Visitors dine, order, and walk the halls of Reading Terminal Market, one of the country’s oldest public 		
markets.

Page 8Doctors and nurses participate in a team huddle at Esperanza Health Center in North Philadelphia’s 		
Hunting Park neighborhood.

Page 10A worker prepares meat for a display at a Reading Terminal Market butcher.

Page 16

A family gathers outside Los Vargas Mini Market in Hunting Park.

Page 17

A couple browses a selection of plants at a curbside market in Center City.

Page 18

People line up to receive Thanksgiving dinners at the Philabundance Community Kitchen in North 		Philadelphia.

Page 19

A cyclist passes a Grays Ferry mural dedicated to health care workers.

Page 21

Students from Hunting Park Christian Academy practice basketball skills during a gym class held at 		Esperanza Health Center in Hunting Park.

Page 22 People walk down a Center City street.
Page 24 A board welcomes students back to after-school programming at Marian Anderson Recreation Center 		
in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood.
Page 25 A gold cross tops the front of St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in South Philadelphia, near the Italian 		Market.
Page 26 A recreation leader takes students downstairs during after-school care at Marian Anderson Recreation 		Center in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood.
Page 27 A boy gives another student a helpful push on a swing at Marian Anderson Recreation Center.
Page 28 Pedestrians cross at the intersection of 16th and Market streets in Center City.
Page 31

A smiling young girl sits on a webbed rope swing in Lanier Park in Grays Ferry.

Page 33 Students congregate on the steps of the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts on 		South Broad Street.

101

Photo Captions
Photographs by Kriston Jae Bethel for The Pew Charitable Trusts
Page 34 Students arrive for after-school care at Marian Anderson Recreation Center in the Graduate Hospital 		neighborhood.
Page 36 City Hall overlooks Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Center City.
Page 38 Workers contracted by the city of Philadelphia dig a trench beneath a sidewalk during maintenance.
Page 39 A crossing guard stands at the intersection of 17th and Christian streets, near the entrance to the 		
Edward M. Stanton School in Philadelphia’s Graduate Hospital neighborhood.
Page 40 The Comcast Center building towers above Center City, reflecting the One Liberty Place skyscraper in 		
its glass facade.
Page 44 A staff member pulls prescriptions from a shelf inside Esperanza Health Center’s dispensary in Hunting
Park.
Page 45 Vials of blood samples sit on a table in Esperanza Health Center’s phlebotomy lab in Hunting Park.
Page 46 An exam room at Esperanza Health Center in Kensington.
Page 47 Medical personnel walk past the entrance to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Center City.
Page 48 A patient has blood drawn at Esperanza Health Center in Hunting Park.
Page 49 A woman meets with her doctor during a prenatal visit at Esperanza Health Center in Hunting Park.
Page 50 A family meets with a doctor at Esperanza Health Center in Hunting Park.
Page 52 A nurse sets up an EKG machine for a patient at Esperanza Health Center in Hunting Park.
Page 53 Patients sit in Esperanza Health Center’s waiting area in Hunting Park.
Page 54 A staff member counts pills from a prescription bottle at Esperanza Health Center’s dispensary in 		
Hunting Park.
Page 56 A new residential building is undergoing construction on the corner of 21st and Tryon streets in the 		
city’s Fitler Square neighborhood.
Page 57 Homes line West Queen Lane in Philadelphia’s East Falls neighborhood.
Page 58 Row houses and cars line North Reese Street in Hunting Park.
Page 63 A man walks past the “Heart of Kensington” mural painted on the side of SEPTA’s Allegheny station in 		
Kensington.
Page 65 The tops of classic Philadelphia row homes.
Page 68 Javier Rios, co-owner of Mole Poblano, serves a table outside his South Philadelphia restaurant.
Page 69 Men sweep the sidewalk along Kensington Avenue in the city’s Kensington neighborhood.
Page 71

A doctor and nurse meet prior to seeing patients at Esperanza Health Center in Hunting Park.

Page 72 An employee changes the television station inside All African Grocery in West Philadelphia’s Spruce 		Hill neighborhood.
Page 75 A patron takes a video call at Pret a Manger in Center City.
Page 78 A worker uses a grinder at Anvil Ironworks in South Philadelphia.

102

Photo Captions
Photographs by Kriston Jae Bethel for The Pew Charitable Trusts, except where otherwise specified
Page 80 A Philadelphia Police Department vehicle is parked at an intersection in Center City.
Page 82 A view inside the gun archive room at the Philadelphia Police Department’s Forensic Science Center. 		
Abdul Sulayman/The Philadelphia Tribune
Page 83 Pedestrians cross Kensington Avenue beneath SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line in Kensington.
Page 84 A University City District safety ambassador walks his bike down Baltimore Avenue in Spruce Hill.
Page 87 A Philadelphia Police Department vehicle drives down the 3000 block of 17th Street in North 			Philadelphia.
Page 88 A firefighter cleans Philadelphia Fire Department Ladder 12 outside his station on Cambria Street in 		
North Philadelphia’s Glenwood neighborhood.
Page 89 A staff member with Esperanza Health Center’s behavioral health team in Kensington prepares 		
paperwork.
Page 90 A member of Esperanza Health Center’s security team performs a regular check of the area 			surrounding the center in Kensington.
Page 92 Philadelphia International Airport. Courtesy of Philadelphia International Airport
Page 94 Regional Rail cars sit at the Roberts Yard SEPTA Railroad Facility in North Philadelphia’s Nicetown 		
neighborhood.
Page 95 Children play on the 3200 block of Sydenham Street in North Philadelphia.
Page 96 A couple sits at a table outside Alif Brew and Mini Mart in Spruce Hill.
Page 98 The Schuylkill Expressway lines the bank of the Schuylkill River as it cuts through Philadelphia, 			
separating University City (on the left) from Center City.
Page 99 A repair technician for Indego, Philadelphia’s bike share program, inspects a station in Grays Ferry.
Page 100 A man gets off a SEPTA bus on Chelten Avenue in East Germantown.

103

pewtrusts.org