would like to purchase in philly moving from low crime city NYC (Philadelphia: hardwood floors, appointed)

[Hustla718]

It depends on what part of NYC you are from. Philly may have more high crime areas but there are neighborhoods in NYC as bad as the worst areas in Philly. There is also more total crime in low income areas of NYC due to higher population density. More stuff going on.

If you are from a low income section of NYC you won't see much of a difference moving to North or West Philly. If you are from a better off or yuppy section like Tribeca, you won't feel comfortable in many areas of Philly, although there are comparable areas.

As for the comment of the city of Philly today being as bad as pre-Giuliani NYC, very wrong. The overall city of Philly is just different, more higher crime areas in terms of percentage of the city. NYC in the late 80's and early 90's was significantly worse then Philly is today. Especially in comparison of the low income areas. Personally I think NYC was worse then Philly at that time.

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by Hustla718

As for the comment of the city of Philly today being as bad as pre-Giuliani NYC, very wrong. The overall city of Philly is just different, more higher crime areas in terms of percentage of the city. NYC in the late 80's and early 90's was significantly worse then Philly is today. Especially in comparison of the low income areas. Personally I think NYC was worse then Philly at that time.

That's the point I was trying to make so we are actually in agreement. I'm not knocking NYC at all but it certainly had its share of challenges not so long ago which make Philly's troubles pale in comparison. While there are some who might justifiably question Giuliani's tactics regarding crime, he appeared to get the results that he wanted. Like you, I also suspect that the OP lives in at least a middle-class or upscale New York neighborhood. However, there are still huge swaths of the city where crime is still a major issue.

[hanoka]

No offense taken , I checked realtor.com and saw these prices, actually I missed out on a great fixer upper brownstone near Temple earlier this year, The broker said it was an area under going gentrification. Yes I totally agree$80-150k is low, I just wondered what kind of neighborhood were available in this price range. I can actually go to about 200k maybe a little higher to 250k,I just wanted to move into the philly area within a decent area and then get to know the surrounding counties.This is just a first move not the last, I expect to move at least once more. I will check out Upper Darby and Millbourne as suggested by Khmer and Tone509...I am a translpanted JamaicanAmerican, so I am comfortable in neighborhoods that are definatley diverse, ..Thanks appreciate your candor

[need advice]

You should look in fishtown it is affortable and up and coming. Soon it will be the next northern liberties.

[hanoka]

I did not get the impression that the crime rate in Philadelphia was so bad, I think it is directly proportional to the size of the city, I think that if I have lived in New York for most of my life, I can live in Philly, however when I tell friends that I want to move to Philadelphia they express shock and advise me to stay here in NYC as the crime rate in Phlly is so much higher. I have visited Philadelphia often and Liked the city very much. Crime is everywhere

[Carter19104]

You can get a really nice home in West Philly just outside of University City for $100-$150k. Where just only 2 blocks away prices are reaching $400k.

[THASPECIAL]

Hey Hustla718, Go to google and google maps and visit Miami and New York on the street view and then tell me which one looks more dangerous....in NY it is less likely that someone will rob you in front of alot of people out in the street but Miami it can happen anytime of day because people arent walking all over the streets therefore no witnesses...you have more of a comfort of knowing you have witnesses or someone to play a hero in NY with all those people around in Other cities with a less dense population there isnt the comfort of knowing if "anyone" will be walking by to call the cops after youve been shot.....you could be laying there and just die since there is no one around,,but i guess you'll tell me that the clouds and older looking building without palm trees is a scarier place no matter what tha statistics say right?.....lol

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by Carter19104

You can get a really nice home in West Philly just outside of University City for $100-$150k. Where just only 2 blocks away prices are reaching $400k.

I agree. I was particularly fond of the homes on the 5000 and 5100 blocks of Osage Avenue which were just a few blocks west from where I lived at the time. Of course, there's not so much difference between the homes in West Philly and UC, only the perception of crime and/or assumptions made because of the diversity in those neighborhoods.

[hanoka]

West Philly in relation to University City sounds like Ft Greene to Bedford Stuyvesant, Bklyn.For those who know Brooklyn. Bed.Stuy in 1995 was also in transition ,houses then were in the 180ks in the space of 5 years prices jumped approximately 60k-80k and now those homes are 750k and over a million. I think West Philly is like Bedford Stuyvesant .Is any one familiar with these areas in New York City? Is this comparison accurate?

[Optimistic]

I would really like to hear more about moving to Philadelphia I am very much interested in doing so. I am a native NYer who is now in GA but in need of the culture that the North has to offer. I would like to live on the outskirts but have access to the city. Any suggestions?