Single? 4 Reasons to Move to Philadelphia

After seeing its population drop for decades, Philadelphia is once again becoming a desirable place to live. Pew Charitable Trust's 2013 State of the City report found that the city's population grew by more than 50,000 from 2006 to 2012. People in the city are younger and more educated now than they were 10 years ago, too. More than a quarter of the population are between the ages of 20 and 34. Even better, more than half the city's adults are unmarried, making it a great spot to meet other singles. If you haven't moved to Philly yet, now's the time to do so.

Location

Philadelphia is in a prime location along the East Coast. It's sandwiched between Washington, D.C. and New York City, and has a lower cost of living than both. If you want to take a day trip to either city, you can do so without breaking the bank or spending hours on the road. Inexpensive bus services, such as Megabus or Bolt Bu , will take you to the Big Apple or the Nation's Capital within two to three hours and usually for less than $20 each way.

Photo by Rob Shenk via Flickr

Philadelphia is also a prime spot for beach lovers. In the summer, a short bus or train trip on the New Jersey Transit will get you to Atlantic City or other Jersey shore areas in under two hours.

Affordable Housing

Housing in Philadelphia is more affordable compared to other cities on the East Coast. According to Pew, the median rent for 2013 was just $853 per month. You also have plenty of options when it comes to Philadelphia apartments.

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In recent years, developments such as the Piazza at Schmidt's or Liberties Walk have been built with an eye toward attracting young professionals. These developments feature apartment living above a retail area. If it's date night, you won't have to go far to meet your date at a bar or restaurant.

Places to Go, Things to See

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If you think Philadelphia is just about history, you've got a lot to learn. The city has a thriving and bustling arts scene, which means there are plenty of venues to mix and mingle with other creative types.

For example, the city has hosted a Live Arts and Fringe festival in the early fall since 1997. Now just called FringeArts, the festival has expanded and recently started featuring performances year-round.

Another arts must-do in Philadelphia is First Friday. Between 5 and 9 p.m. on the first Friday of each month, galleries across the city stay open late so that you can admire the art after-hours. First Friday is a great option for an affordable date night and a much classier alternative to the basic dinner and a movie. The galleries let you in for free, then you can hit up a local restaurant or bar afterwards.

Overflowing with Food and Drink

Philadelphia's dining options include much more than just cheesesteaks. The city is home to a number of well-known chefs and restaurateurs, from Stephen Starr to Iron Chef Jose Garces. Because the city's restaurant scene is somewhat underrated, you don't have to worry about booking tables at the more popular places months in advance. It makes planning for a date a lot less stressful.

Photo by jen_the_librarian via Flickr

There's also plenty of bars that focus on serving creative cocktails or hard-to-find beers. Philadelphia hasn't been immune to the classic cocktail craze. Spots such as Franklin Mortgage, Southwark and the Farmer's Cabinet put extra effort into mixing and serving drinks, making them go-to spots to enjoy potent potables with a potential.