Philadelphia is ranked #4 for universities, and all of them have suffered massive research funding cuts since the beginning of 2025 – Drexel, Penn and its associated Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have seen tens of millions in funding paused. Drexel, for one, has found other revenue streams. It is a partner in University City, the first lab tower in the 14-acre, $3.5-billion Schuylkill Yards; a second tower is now being proposed to meet the life sciences demand that keeps Philly among the nation’s top five bio hubs. South at the Ballpark District/Navy Yard, 614 apartments, 250,000 square feet of R&D space and fresh greenways are coming in 2026.
Housing values are steady: the median sale price in early 2025 sits at around $265,000 (up ~4% year over year), with strong buyer activity in neighborhoods tied to transit and university anchors. Job growth remains broad-based – 28,000+ net gains last year, led by health care, logistics and higher ed. On the Delaware, a new 1.5-mile riverfront trail segment opens in summer 2025, moving the city closer to a fully connected 500-acre green loop; the #39 Green Space ranking is well earned. Tourism momentum is also strong: 2024’s 26.6 million visitors spent a record $4.5 billion.