With housing costs as high as they are, Philadelphia homeowners are looking to get more out of every square foot they already own, and increasingly that means the yard. One Washington Square West couple spent roughly $140,000 transforming their 800-square-foot yard with a pergola that includes a ceiling fan, heaters, and a roof with slats that automatically close in the rain, effectively turning outdoor space into a year-round living area and even a home office. Options across the city range from budget-friendly DIY shade sails to custom structures running well into five figures, but the underlying goal is the same: make outdoor space count toward how a home actually lives.
At the other end of the market, renters are getting less space for their money. A new RentCafe report found that Philadelphia has some of the smallest new apartments among the country's largest renter cities, ranking 88th out of 100. New apartments built between 2016 and 2025 average just 747 square feet, 163 fewer square feet than the national average, and unlike most of the country, where units are inching larger, Philadelphia's are still shrinking.
- A Washington Square West couple spent about $140,000 on a pergola that added heat, fans, and automatic rain covers to their 800-square-foot yard
- Shade options range from budget DIY shade sails to custom structures costing tens of thousands of dollars
- New Philadelphia apartments built from 2016 to 2025 average 747 square feet, 163 fewer square feet than the national average
- Philadelphia ranked 88th out of the 100 largest U.S. renter cities for new apartment size, and unlike most cities, its units are still shrinking
Whether it is an owner maximizing outdoor square footage or a renter watching indoor square footage shrink, both trends point to the same underlying pressure on Philadelphia's housing costs.
Attribution: The Philadelphia Inquirer
Photo Credit: Allie Ippolito / For The Inquirer
