Moving from CA for grad school at Temple (Philadelphia, Washington: rent, neighborhood)

[backandforth83]

First, I normally wouldn't bother to mention race, but I've been looking at some of the threads on this topic and it seems to be a big deal.

I'm looking to move to Philadelphia from Santa Barbara, California, for graduate school at Temple University. I don't have a car and kind of want to keep it that way, but I'm hearing the neighborhood around Temple isn't so great. Where's a good, safe, place to live that's reasonably close to campus? My threshold for "good" is "not completely trashed," and for "safe" it's "can walk around with my laptop in my backpack without worrying about getting jacked." I'm white, moving with my biracial boyfriend. Seems rent anywhere will be cheaper than over here, so I guess that's not really an issue.

[newmarlig]

I would look into Washington Square West in center city. You are very close to the subway which will take you to Temple. You are better off not bringing a car.

Washington Square West, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[bryson662001]

Originally Posted by newmarlig

I would look into Washington Square West in center city. You are very close to the subway which will take you to Temple. You are better off not bringing a car.

Washington Square West, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I agree. You don't sound like you would want to live close to Temple, although some white students do. Wash West is the most liberal neighborhood in what is already a very cosmopolitan downtown.

[solibs]

If you want a quick back and forth to school I would look anywhere on either side of Broad St. (Broad St. Subway) from Spring Garden down to Snyder.

If you find options limited you can refer to this map - GRAS - Google Maps . . . find a place within the shaded areas and it'll keep you out of trouble and, if you zoom in you can see all of the subway and train stations and if you zoom in further you can see the trolley stops - if you stay within 4 blocks of a station it shouldn't take you more than 25 minutes to get to school from the furthest points out on the map.

[thekish]

Originally Posted by backandforth83

First, I normally wouldn't bother to mention race, but I've been looking at some of the threads on this topic and it seems to be a big deal.

I'm looking to move to Philadelphia from Santa Barbara, California, for graduate school at Temple University. I don't have a car and kind of want to keep it that way, but I'm hearing the neighborhood around Temple isn't so great. Where's a good, safe, place to live that's reasonably close to campus? My threshold for "good" is "not completely trashed," and for "safe" it's "can walk around with my laptop in my backpack without worrying about getting jacked." I'm white, moving with my biracial boyfriend. Seems rent anywhere will be cheaper than over here, so I guess that's not really an issue.

Temple has a subway stop so you will have plenty of options on places to life. I like Spring Garden, and Fairmont from Broad to the Art Museum. Girard is ok from Broad toward the Art Museum. Anything north of Girard starts to get shady. Northern Liberties is up and coming. Art Museum Fitler Sq, Rittenhouse Sq, and Washington Sq are all good.

[backandforth83]

Thank you!