With cheesesteaks, the World Champion Phillies and a show that gives you a glimpse of what life can be like if you run a bar (maybe not your typical bar) in the city, it’s no reason that more and more people are starting to call Philadelphia home. As the 5th largest city in the United States, Philadelphia is home to more than 1.5 million people, and another 4 million people in the Greater Philadelphia metro area. Residents include young and old professionals, mega sports fans, university students and just about any other type demographic you can think of.

Before you get here, it is important to realize that there are four main areas of Philadelphia, all of which would be perfect places to plant your roots. Below, we will describe each of these boroughs in an effort to help you decide which one you would feel most comfortable in.

The Four Districts

The first is Philadelphia’s downtown area, known to the locals as Center City. Like most downtown business districts, Center City is where you’ll find most of the city’s tallest buildings and major employers. Center City is also where many professionals live and socialize among historical row houses and trendy store fronts. Professionals living in Center City will enjoy active nightlife, trendy restaurants, and excellent shopping.

Second on the list is South Philly. This area is home to the Philadelphia Navy Yard, the Philadelphia Sports Complex, and the Italian market that may be responsible for some of the city’s best Italian food (if you are an Always Sunny fan, this may be the area for you).

One of the most popular parts of Philadelphia is University City. As you can probably tell by the name, this neighborhood in West Philadelphia surrounds Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania and is mainly where students attending one of these colleges reside.

The last district on our list is Mayanuk. Much like University City, this area is full of university students. Temple University and Penn students may find this neighborhood near the Schuylkill River super convenient.

Now hopefully you have chosen which section of Philadelphia you are going to relocate to. And while that is a relief, now comes the hard part, actually moving. There are many steps one must take to ensure a smooth move, but one that most don’t consider (and may be the most important) is renting a Philadelphia storage unit.

Many of these residents use Philadelphia self-storage for additional space at an affordable rate. Living in any of the regions mentioned above will more than likely require the convenience of a storage unit. For example, in Center City, residents have trouble finding parking so they use self-storage for keeping their vehicles. If you’re a student at one of the many colleges and universities located in University City or Mayanuk, you may find it easier to access a storage unit located nearby than cramming all your belongings into your dorm or apartment.

When choosing self-storage in Philadelphia, you may be tempted to save money by reserving a unit in another suburb away from you. However, remember that this option is usually only practical if you have access to transportation and won’t need to get into your storage unit frequently. Compare facilities prices online and weigh cost vs. convenience to make sure you are getting the best deal. Your goal should be to find the right unit in the best location for the lowest price, simplifying your moving experience to a tolerable level.

This article was written by Matt Schexnayder. Matt is on the SpareFoot marketing team and writes for the SpareFoot blog. SpareFoot is the largest online marketplace for self-storage with more than 5,000 facilities listed nation-wide.