Doug Shimell

Philadelphia is the 7th metro nationwide, with a striking 79% share of Gen Z-ers staying in the nest, according the latest study from RentCafe.com.  When it comes to Millennials living at home, their percentage in Philly is higher than the national average of 20%, meaning this age group finds it harder to achieve independence here compared to their peers in most U.S. metros.

Nationally, younger generations are spending more time in their parental homes, with 40% planning to continue for at least two more years. Analyzing the latest IPUMS data, we’ve identified metros where Gen Z and Millennials predominantly live with family.

Explore multigenerational* living among Gen Z and Millennials in the Philadelphia metro area:

• 79% of Zoomers, roughly 508,500, still live under the same roof as their parents, far surpassing the national average of 68%. This indicates that only 11% of Philadelphia’s Gen Z-ers started to live independently between 2018 and 2022.

• Among Millennials (26-41 years old) in Philadelphia, 21% live with their parents, on par with Louisville, KY and Boston, MA. Although 37% of Philadelphia’s Millennials managed to set out on their own in recent years, the percentage of those staying at home in the metro is still one of the highest in the nation (#16th).

• What about other Pennsylvania metros? Pittsburgh is the 6th metro nationwide with an 80% share of Zoomers delaying leaving the nest. Just like in Philly, only 11% of Gen Z-ers moved out over the 5 year-period. Allentown, on the other hand, boasts the highest percentage of this age group in multigenerational households in Pennsylvania (92%). 

Hapco Philadelphia continues to push back against claims from tenant advocates that Philly rents are too high.

Our friends at RentCafe.com compile monthly statistics on the national rental market and where Philadelphia fits in.  Their October report looks at cities that attracted the most interest from apartment hunters. For this report, they analyzed website traffic data for listings in the country’s largest 150 cities, shedding light on renters’ intentions and preferences. 

Philadelphia has gained momentum over the past month, climbing 3 positions in the RentCafe ranking to the 20th spot among the most sought-after cities by renters. The City of Brotherly Love has maintained its popularity as a rental destination throughout the year, consistently ranking in the top 30, even after the peak rental season.

Here’s why:

• Apartment hunters saved 74% more personalized searches compared to the same time last year, demonstrating a clear intent to move to the city. This marks the 6th highest increase for this metric among all cities analyzed.
• Listing views from renters actively seeking homes in the city rose by 66% compared to last October. Plus, apartment hunters added 60% more apartments to their favorites list.
• The growing demand resulted in a 17% drop in available listings year-over-year. 
• Where’s the demand coming from? Apart from renters in Philadelphia, the primary cities contributing to the rental activity in the City of Brotherly Love are New York City, Washington, D.C., and Boston.
• In the regional ranking, Philadelphia clinched 4th place, trailing behind Queens, the Bronx, and Buffalo. Queens, NY, takes the top spot as the most sought-after location for renters in October, while Buffalo, NY, is the highest-ranking newcomer in this edition, surging 70 places and lowering Philadelphia’s position in the regional ranking.