Philadelphia is one the most historically important cities in the U.S, the birthplace of our independence and home to a vast array of historical landmarks from Independence Hall to the state Capitol building. Also located here are branches of the U.S. Mint and the IRS, reinforcing Philadelphia’s current position as a center for federal government offices. Although originally the seat of government and a major manufacturing center, today the city is a hub for printing and publishing, chemical development, insurance, medicine and engineering. Because of this, Philadelphia apartments don’t stay vacant long – there is a constant influx of new employees for these cutting edge jobs. Take heart, however – once settled with children, many families move to the houses available in the suburbs. Philadelphia is a distinctly young urban landscape.Some Philadelphia apartment owners want more American drama – the kind found in sports! The city is home to the 76ers, Phillies, Flyers and Eagles. The city’s avid fans have made the city one of the best sports cities in the country. Revitalization of Old City and Center City have improved the availability of apartments in Philadelphia while beautifying the neighborhoods and encouraging the return of neighborhood stores and businesses. New initiatives have also brought the crime rate down a full 16% since 2000. Although the population of Philadelphia dropped slowly over the last five decades due to suburban growth and loss of industry, today it has stabilized. Future predictions include a turn-around based on new businesses such as biotech. So far, with one-bedroom apartments in Philadelphia starting at around $980, the cost of living is in keeping with other large cities but remains reasonable.