I can think of lot's of cities I find more depressing than Philly. Camden NJ. Trenton NJ. Chester PA. I find most of New York ugly, dreary, run-down and depressing.
Almost all the cities south of Virginia and north of Florida are boring as hell.
We visited Philadelphia several years ago on an American History tour (of our own making). Philadelphia was RANK. We stayed downtown in a B&B, the partying did not stop all night long. And it was gross. Holy Water needed. We left days early.
Filthadelphia is merely Newark, NJ with more historical monuments.