Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Philadelphia lands on the scale
Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Philadelphia sits.
Pro sports in Philadelphia
The five major US leagues anchor a city’s sports identity — home stadiums, season-long event flow, drive-time fanbases. Philadelphia hosts 5 major-league teams across 5 leagues.
- MLB Philadelphia Phillies
- MLS Philadelphia Union
- NBA Philadelphia 76ers
- NFL Philadelphia Eagles
- NHL Philadelphia Flyers
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Philadelphia fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.
16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100
7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100
- Fun factors lift it
- –
- Drawbacks pull it down
- –
- Raw composite
- –
- Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
- –
Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).
The Fun breakdown
Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.
Philadelphia's strongest factors are Star Power, Transit Quality and Walkability. Its heaviest drawbacks are Traffic, Economic Strain and Crime.
On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.
What lifts the score
- Eats –
Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.
Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Drinks –
Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.
Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Coffee –
Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.
Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
-
Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
-
Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.
Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).
- Outdoors –
Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.
Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.
- Culture –
Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.
Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Events –
Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.
- Sports –
Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.
-
Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.
Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
-
How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.
Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).
- Climate –
How often the weather is good enough to get outside.
Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.
-
How well a person without a car can move around the city.
Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.
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Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.
Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).
-
Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.
Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.
-
Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.
Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.
What weighs it down
- Crime –
Reported violent and property crime rates.
Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.
- Traffic –
Congestion and the time lost to commuting.
Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).
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Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
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Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
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Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
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Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.
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What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.
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Cities like Philadelphia
The Philadelphia read Free
A written read on Philadelphia, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Philadelphia scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.
Philadelphia, PA: Some Fun, with Top-Tier Star Power
Philadelphia, PA earns a Fun Score of 45, placing it in the "Some Fun" category, and is most nationally notable for its exceptional Star Power.
Why it scores high
Philadelphia shines brightest in its ability to attract and cultivate notable individuals and events, boasting a remarkable Star Power score of 92, which ties it for the 2nd national rank out of 134 cities (SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)). This indicates a vibrant scene for celebrity sightings, major performances, and a rich history of influential residents.
Beyond its star appeal, Philadelphia offers excellent urban mobility. Its Transit Quality scores 90, tying for the 8th national rank (GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share). This high score suggests that getting around the city via public transportation is efficient and convenient, making it easy for residents and visitors to explore. Complementing this is the city's impressive Walkability, which also scores 90 and ties for the 8th national rank (EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)). This means many areas of Philadelphia are pedestrian-friendly, encouraging a lifestyle where daily errands and leisure activities can often be accomplished on foot.
The city also offers a robust Live Music scene, scoring 81 and ranking 26th nationally (Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues). This suggests a plentiful array of concerts and musical performances for all tastes. Furthermore, Philadelphia is a good destination for Events, with a score of 68, tying for the 43rd national rank (Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events). This indicates a healthy calendar of festivals, fairs, and other ticketed happenings throughout the year. The overall City Vibe is strong, scoring 88 and tying for the 13th national rank (GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)), suggesting a generally positive and engaging atmosphere.
Where it falls short
Despite its strengths, Philadelphia faces significant challenges in several areas. The city struggles with Economic Strain, scoring a low 9 and tying for the 128th national rank (Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate). This indicates that residents may experience higher unemployment, less affordable housing, and lower median incomes compared to many other cities. Related to this, Traffic is a considerable issue, also scoring 9 and tying for the 128th national rank (US Census commute-time data (ACS)), suggesting that commuters often face long and frustrating travel times.
Safety is another concern, as Crime scores a low 14, tying for the 116th national rank (FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals). This indicates a less safe environment compared to many other cities. Additionally, the city's Air Quality scores 26, tying for the 98th national rank (EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)), suggesting that residents may experience poorer air quality. The availability of Outdoors activities is also limited, with a score of 24 and a national rank of 102 (OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities), indicating fewer natural spaces for recreation. The Eats scene, while present, scores 26 and ties for the 99th national rank (OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality), suggesting that dining options may not be as diverse or highly rated as in other major cities.
Who it's for
Philadelphia is ideal for individuals who prioritize a city with a rich cultural history, a vibrant live music scene, and excellent public transportation and walkability. It's a place for those who appreciate a strong urban vibe and don't mind navigating some economic and environmental challenges for the sake of its unique character and abundant events.
Cities like it
- Dallas, TX is similar in its blend of urban amenities and challenges.
- Los Angeles, CA shares a focus on star power and a bustling city environment.
- Las Vegas, NV also offers a strong events scene and a distinct city vibe.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services
- Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate
- EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)
- EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals
- FEMA National Risk Index
- GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)
- GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
- NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data
- NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days
- NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data
- OpenStreetMap arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap caf\u00e9 counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap escape rooms
- OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap music venues
- OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities
- OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog
- OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres
- SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)
- SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings
- US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
- US Census ACS age cohort data
- US Census commute-time data (ACS)
This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.
Go deeper
Use the data
Philadelphia’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.
Cite this page
Paste-ready credit line for journalists, researchers and bloggers. Carries the score, the algorithm version and the canonical URL so readers can verify it themselves.
CityFunIndex Fun Score for Philadelphia, PA: 45/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/philadelphia-pa
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.