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Elevation

Elevation of Philadelphia

35ft

above sea level · 11 m

Philadelphia is a city in Pennsylvania with 1,574,281 people, the most populous in the state. Of the 91 US cities with more than 250,000 people, it’s the 16th lowest.

By the Mapsfera Team

Elevation profile

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Place facts

Coordinates
39.95° N · 75.16° W
In degrees, minutes and seconds: 39° 57′ 8″ N · 75° 9′ 50″ W
UTM coordinates
18S · 486,009 E · 4,422,480 N
Zone 18 · NAD83, the official US datum
County
Philadelphia County
Where the city’s reference point falls
State
Pennsylvania
PA · capital: Harrisburg
Time zone
Eastern Time
UTC−5 · UTC−4 in summer (daylight saving time)
Population (2025)
1,574,281 people
134 sq mi of land · 11,720 people/sq mi
Elevation model
USGS 3DEP, 1 m grid
Lidar from April 2015: the ground height at the city’s reference point.

Population

Philadelphia had 1,574,281 residents on July 1, 2025, according to Census Bureau estimates, 1.8% fewer than in April 2020, when it had 1,603,800. Its 134 sq mi of land work out to 11,720 people/sq mi; the state average is 292 people/sq mi.

It’s the most populous of the 2,003 places the Census counts in Pennsylvania (cities, towns and CDPs), and holds 12% of the state’s population.

It lies entirely within Philadelphia County. Its reference point in the USGS gazetteer is 4.3 mi from the geographic center the Census gives for the city.

Compared with other big cities

Philadelphia sits at 35 ft (11 m) above sea level. Of the 91 US cities with more than 250,000 people, the highest is Colorado Springs (6,009 ft) and the lowest is New Orleans (0 ft). The average is 858 ft: Philadelphia is 823 ft below it.

The state capital, Harrisburg, is 94 mi away in a straight line and 299 ft higher than Philadelphia.

Of the 3 cities in Pennsylvania with a page, Philadelphia is the lowest. The others are Pittsburgh (765 ft) and Harrisburg (334 ft).

The highest point in Pennsylvania is Mount Davis, at 3,213 ft according to the USGS: 3,178 ft above Philadelphia, 213 mi away in a straight line.

  1. 74 Houston 36 ft
  2. 75 New York 35 ft
  3. 76 Philadelphia 35 ft
  4. 77 Jersey City 33 ft
  5. 78 Long Beach 33 ft

Each color band is 500 m (1,640 ft), the same colors as the map. See the full list

Nearest cities with a page

Tools for this place

Elevation profile Draw a route from Philadelphia and see how much it climbs and drops. Elevation of a point Compare the elevation of Philadelphia with any other point on the map. Map of Philadelphia County The county on the map with all its cities and towns, ready to print or download. Time zone The time right now in Philadelphia and its clock changes. What county am I in? See which county, city and ZIP code you’re in, from your location. Blank map of Pennsylvania counties Print it blank, with names or to color in.

Frequently asked questions

What people most often ask about the elevation of Philadelphia.

What is the elevation of Philadelphia?

Philadelphia is 35 feet (11 m) above sea level. That’s the ground height from the USGS 3DEP elevation model at the city’s reference point in the official gazetteer (GNIS). The city doesn’t have a single elevation: it rises and falls from one neighborhood to another.

What are the coordinates of Philadelphia?

Latitude 39.95234 and longitude -75.16379, in decimal degrees (39° 57′ 8″ N · 75° 9′ 50″ W). In UTM, zone 18: 486,009 E and 4,422,480 N, on NAD83.

How does Philadelphia rank among the highest big cities?

It’s the 16th lowest of the 91 US cities with more than 250,000 people. The highest is Colorado Springs (6,009 ft) and the lowest is New Orleans (0 ft).

What county is Philadelphia in?

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

Which is higher, Philadelphia or Harrisburg?

Harrisburg. Philadelphia sits at 35 ft and Harrisburg at 334 ft: a difference of 299 ft, 94 mi apart in a straight line.

How is elevation measured?

Elevation is the height above mean sea level. In the US the official reference is the NAVD88 vertical datum. Summits are surveyed on the ground, with leveling and precise GPS. The USGS 3DEP is an elevation model of the whole country, largely from 1-meter lidar: it gives the ground height at every point. That’s why it can differ by a few feet from the official figure of a sharp summit.

Sources

  • USGS 3DEP (EPQS service) The elevation: the ground height at the reference point. Public domain.
  • USGS GNIS (official gazetteer) The city’s reference point (“Populated Place”). Public domain.
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 estimates Population, land area (2025 Gazetteer) and counties. Public domain.
  • TIGERweb (U.S. Census Bureau) Which county and city the point falls in. Public domain.
  • timezone-boundary-builder The point’s time zone (ODbL, © OpenStreetMap contributors).
  • Terrain Tiles, OpenStreetMap and OpenFreeMap The relief shading and the base map (ODbL).

Methodology and sources · Spotted a mistake? Let us know