Darby, PA 611 Apartments for Rent

Darby, Pennsylvania, is named after the town of Derby in England -- which is actually pronounced Darby. Darby's claims to fame are that the vaudeville actor W.C. Fields was born here in 1880, and it's home to the second-oldest free library in the United States.

Even though Philadelphia residents might associate Darby with their own city, it is actually a separate and distinct municipality. On most maps, you calculate Darby to be five miles southwest of Philly, with a population of 10,687.

Moving to Darby

With such close proximity to Philly, many aspects of the City of Brotherly Love rub off onto Darby. In particular, it has a stock of older housing; over half of Darby's homes were built before 1940 and 95 percent were constructed before 1970. And as you might imagine with a Philly-inspired location, two-thirds of the homes are attached row houses. So if you're looking to move to Darby and like homes with some character, you're in luck!

The Rental Market in Darby

With so many row houses, you might think that most are owner occupied. Lucky for you, prospective renter, over 50 percent of the housing here consists of rental homes or rental apartments. The vast majority of the housing -- whether rented or owned -- is made up of either two-bedroom homes or two-bedroom apartments for rent (or larger). You probably won't have trouble finding the right apartment for your needs in Darby, as the vacancy rate is a little higher than the national average.

For those looking for pet-friendly confines, rest easy; there are a number of properties that will welcome your companion. If you choose not to work directly with an owner, you'll probably have to expand your search across the dividing line in Philly. In particular, you'll find locations like The Enclaves on Sheaff Lane. You may need to expect to pay a little more than the national average for pet-friendly apartments.

The pricing ranges in Darby are pretty varied. There is as much as a $1,000 difference between the highest and lowest monthly pricing on city apartments in Darby.

Renters looking for traditional apartment living can enjoy a little more space if they're willing to fork over some extra cash and work with a private owner looking to rent his or her row house. As is always the case though, you'll want to be crystal clear on what your rent price covers and what it doesn't. There are times when utilities and trash are factored in, so that once you've paid your rent you're all squared away. The main thing to remember is that Darby borders Philadelphia, and if there is something that you can't find, it almost certainly exists in Philly.

Darby Neighborhoods

Darby does have three distinct divisions, although it wouldn't be fair to call them neighborhoods, due to their size and function. First, there is the Borough Center which is densely populated, giving it an urban feel. It is filled with small/medium homes and apartment buildings. Occupied by a mix of owners and renters, many borough center residents commute by bus.

The second and third are the divisions of Darby Creek and Powell Park. Darby Creek is quite desirable and has above-average rental prices, while median real estate prices are below average. You'll want to keep this in mind when you're looking for an apt for rent in Darby.

Living in Darby

Darby is relatively small, and only five miles from Philadelphia -- so most Darby residents head to the big city for entertainment. However, if you want to stay in your new hometown for dinner, check out one of the myriad pizza eateries like Femi's Pizza or Main Street Pizza (bet you can guess where that one is). Take your full belly to see one of the shows at the historic Tower Theater in nearby Upper Darby Township.

If Darby itself does not hold your attention, make the trip into Philly, where -- like practically every other major city -- there is a considerable number of things to do. History buffs can take a walking tour through Philly and be transported back to the days of the country's founding. Take a walk through Independence National Historical Park, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, or the Franklin Institute Science Museum.

If the history and exhibits don't motivate you, perhaps you'll appreciate a tour through Longwood Gardens so that you can allow nature to drain some of the hustle and bustle from your body. Or maybe you need a little noise on your walk through the park; if so, take a walk through one of the world's largest city park systems, at Fairmount Park.

Have some learning fun at the Philadelphia Zoo. Of course if it's food that makes the experience for you, grab yourself one of the cheesesteaks that Philly is so famous for.