What it's like to live in New Philadelphia
New Philadelphia is a small city in Ohio with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. New Philadelphia deals with household incomes below the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, cold winters, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How New Philadelphia compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to New Philadelphia
Based on New Philadelphia's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,794
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $35,880 a year
- 46% of New Philadelphia renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$33,900
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $16,950
- Homes cost 2.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 37% below US
$897/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $897 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $169,500. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $169,500 · 46% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in Tuscarawas County is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Tuscarawas County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 49% below US
168 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1144/100k · New Philadelphia Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 24% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 82°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 22°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 32% below US
24% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 24%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
11 public schools inside the boundary
There are 11 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is First Ladies National Historic Site (22 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
New Philadelphia's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and cold winters. A year of median rent ($897/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes.
Other places near New Philadelphia
All Ohio guides →Moving to Dover →
4 mi away · pop. 13,053
Rent $997/mo · Income $64,276
Compare with New Philadelphia →Moving to Massillon →
21 mi away · pop. 32,338
Rent $862/mo · Income $56,446
Compare with New Philadelphia →Moving to Canton →
23 mi away · pop. 69,755
Rent $850/mo · Income $43,188
Compare with New Philadelphia →Moving to Coshocton →
26 mi away · pop. 11,068
Rent $768/mo · Income $48,731
Compare with New Philadelphia →Not sure New Philadelphia is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.