Ready to relocate to or within Philadelphia? There are dozens of amazing neighborhoods to choose from, from densely populated urban communities to family-friendly neighborhoods with top-rated parks and other amenities. Whether you’re looking for a walkable neighborhood, an active nightlife, or amazing food, here are the eight best neighborhoods in Philadelphia you’ll want to explore.
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Bella Vista – Great Philly Neighborhood for Foodies
- Population: 6,000
- Average home price: $470,000
- Best for: Foodies, families, singles
- Guide to living in Bella Vista, Philadelphia
Bella Vista is Philadelphia’s Little Italy and it was one of the first neighborhoods for the city’s Italian immigrants. Today, Bella Vista attracts foodies from around the city who appreciate the established Italian eateries in the neighborhood. Bella Vista’s 9th Street Italian Market is the country’s oldest open-air marketplace and a great place to enjoy fresh food and ethnic cuisine. You’ll find restaurants, groceries, and bakeries serving everything from Italian to Mexican and Asian cuisine. It’s an up and coming neighborhood with a cool vibe.
Great cuisine isn’t all Bella Vista has to offer. The neighborhood is known for its murals, low crime rate, walkable layout, and ideal location just minutes from downtown.
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Roxborough – Best Philadelphia Neighborhood for Young Professionals & Millennials
- Population: 31,000
- Average home price: $286,500
- Best for: millennials, young professionals, and families
- Guide to living in Roxborough, Philadelphia
Roxborough is located in Northwest Philly next to the Schuylkill River, Manayunk, and Fairmont Park. Popular with young families and millennials looking for a safe and affordable place to live in Philadelphia, Roxborough is a charming community that’s often overlooked. More than 30% of residents in Roxborough are millennials and the neighborhood has a high homeownership rate.
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What attracts millennials to the area? Its low crime rate, affordable home prices, cheap rent averaging just $1,380, and its amazing amenities. You’ll enjoy the Andorra Shopping Center right in town plus the Roxborough YMCA and large Wissahickon Valley Park which boasts over 50 miles of trails and an 18-hole city golf course. Roxborough allows you to enjoy nature and a sense of community without giving up the amenities of urban living just a few miles away.
Chestnut Hill – Top Philadelphia Neighborhood for Seniors
- Population: 11,000
- Average home price: $925,000
- Best for: Retirees
Looking for a safe place to settle down after retirement? Chestnut Hill is Philadelphia’s garden district and known for its Victorian townhomes, mansions, and the Morris Arboretum. It also hosts the annual Harry Potter Festival every year that draws in visitors of all ages! Along the beautiful Germantown Avenue you’ll find art galleries, antique shops, tearooms, and more to explore on a lazy afternoon. Chestnut Hill is surrounded to the west and south by Wissahickon Valley Park with miles of trails and a trout-stocked creek.
Chestnut Hill is one of the safest places to live in Philadelphia and one of the city’s most affluent neighborhoods. The median age in Chestnut Hill is about 30% higher than average for the city.
Fitler Square – One of Best Philadelphia Neighborhoods for Dogs
- Population: 2,000
- Average home price: $613,000
- Best for: Families and dog owners
Philadelphia is one of the most dog-friendly cities with amazing dog parks throughout the city. Looking for one of the best neighborhoods in Philly for dog owners? Definitely don’t overlook the quaint neighborhood of Fitler Square.
Located right along the Schuylkill River in southwestern Center City, Fitler Square is a walkable residential neighborhood known for its brick townhomes, wine bars, and cafes. The centerpiece of Fitler Square is the pocket park of the same name. The Fitler Square park is a beautiful century-old half-acre park with a Victorian-era fountain and bronze turtles within walking distance of the busy commercial areas of the city.
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Even better, a block away you’ll find Schuylkill River Park, one of the Philadelphia’s hidden gems. This park on the river boasts paved walking paths, a playground, sports areas, a pool, and two dog runs for large and small dogs. It’s open 24-hours so your dog can always get a big of exercise no matter your schedule. The entire dog park area is covered in pet-friendly AstroTurf and it boasts a new $14,000 dog drinking fountain!
Washington Square West – LGBT-Friendly Philadelphia Neighborhood Nicknamed Gayborhood
- Population: 13,500
- Average home price: $384,000
- Best for: LGBTQ+, artists, and millennials
- Guide to living in Washington Square West, Philadelphia
Washington Square West, or Gayborhood, is the epicenter of Philly’s LGBTQ+ community. Also known as Wash West, the community is located in Center City with famously walkable streets and plenty of public transit options. Most residents in Wash West are in their 20s and 30s and over 60% are single-person households while just 17% are married.
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Want to live near the nightlife, shopping, and amazing restaurants? Washington Square West is definitely one of the top neighborhoods in Philadelphia to call home. Stroll along Antique Row, head to 13th Street for Irish pubs, sushi spots, and LGBT-friendly bars, and admire the neighborhood’s rainbow flag street signs while enjoying Philly life at its best.
Bustleton – Safest Neighborhood in Philadelphia
- Population: 32,000
- Average home price: $310,000
- Best for: Families, seniors, and singles
Looking for a safe place to live in Philadelphia? Consider Bustleton, one of the safest Philly neighborhoods with a crime rate 51% lower than the national average. You’ll enjoy tons of great amenities for young families in this neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia.
Once centered around the Bustleton Tavern, which was established prior to the American Revolution, Bustleton today is home to one of America’s oldest churches and a close-knit working class community. You’ll find a mix of housing options including apartments, condos, single-family homes, and many duplexes or “twins.” You’ll even find plenty of employment opportunities in the neighborhood, especially in health and social services.
Rittenhouse Square – Upscale, Affluent Philly Neighborhood Near Downtown
- Population: 21,500
- Average home price: $579,000
- Best for: Young professionals
- Guide to living in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia
Rittenhouse Square is often overlooked in favor of more exciting neighborhoods in Center City, PA, but this charming neighborhood has a lot to offer. The neighborhood is best known for its iconic Rittenhouse Square Park and it’s just half a mile from downtown Philly for a walkable commute.
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Rittenhouse Square is home to many apartments and condos that make room for over 21,000 residents despite its small size. While surrounded by the skyscrapers of downtown, you’ll enjoy a quieter lifestyle with cultural destinations like the Rosenbach Museum & Library right next door. You’ll also find plenty of housing options in the community. Most people living in Rittenhouse Square are renters with everything from tiny apartments to spacious condos. One of the most popular buildings is 10 Rittenhouse Square, a luxury condo building designed by a world-renowned architect with views of the park.
Graduate Hospital – Best Neighborhood in Philadelphia for Families & Young Couples
- Population: 12,000
- Average home price: $599,000
- Best for: Singles and families
- Guide to living in Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia
Looking for a safe, established neighborhood in Philadelphia for kids? You’ll love Graduate Hospital. Nearly half of all people in Graduate Hospital have kids so your kids will always have friends in the neighborhood. You’ll find a good mix of condos and single-family homes in the area that surprisingly feels more like a suburb despite being in the City Center next to Rittenhouse Square and Fitler Square.
While living in Graduate Hospital, you’ll enjoy family-friendly amenities like the Marian Anderson Recreation Center with a pool and sports facility, regular neighborhood events, and amazing local restaurants. A large share of residents are singles who enjoy a fun nightlife and short walk or train ride to neighboring areas.
Philadelphia Neighborhoods to Avoid
- Philadelphia Badlands. “The Badlands” is an area of Lower Northeast Philly and North Philadelphia known for its gang and drug-related violence.
- Hunting Park. Home to 16,000 people, this neighborhood has a poverty rate of almost 50% and a high crime rate.
- Kensington. Kensington is known for its low rent prices and hip bars, but it’s also been home to large opioid encampments with high rates of heroin use and high unemployment.
Best Neighborhoods in Philadelphia Map
Have you settled on the right Philly neighborhood to call home? It can definitely be hard to choose just one with dozens of amazing neighborhoods in Philadelphia offering all sorts of lifestyles, amenities, and experiences. Once you’ve made your decision, give the friendly movers at Suburban Solutions a call for a free estimate so we can deliver a top-notch moving experience!
