Relocating to attend Temple Med from out of state, advice needed! (Philadelphia: apartments, renting)

[Owlet]

I will be relocating to Philadelphia to attend Temple for medical school, and as I am from out of state and unfamiliar with the area, was wondering if anyone could provide any advice as far as housing. Some information about me/what I am looking for:

-White female, 20s, no kids (may bring a small dog, but not sure yet)
-Went to a very rural state school for undergrad, so no experience living in a big city
-Top priority is finding somewhere safe/secure
-Hoping to stay around $1200 or lower- (is this reasonable?)
-I will be bringing a car, so I will need somewhere with available parking
-Preferably no longer than 30 min car ride from TUSM campus
-Prefer an apartment building than renting a unit in a house/townhome
-Clean/newly renovated (or at least no major pest problems)


I have mostly been looking at Center City listings online, and have just started looking at Germantown/Mt Airy as well, but am really open to anywhere that would best fit this criteria. The biggest issue I have been having so far is knowing whether individual apartments are in "safe" areas- I am planning on visiting again in the next few weeks, so hopefully this will give me a better idea. Any recommendations of specific buildings that you may have heard good things about would also be greatly appreciated if that is allowed here!

[jazzy jeff]

Center City and a car at 1200 a month may be tough. If your willing to live 30 mins away there are plenty of areas that are safe and affordable. One area I would suggest is Elkins Park or Cheltenham. You could even live close to the Ambler Campus in which there is a shuttle bus that travels back and forth to the North Philly campus.

[Janszoon]

Originally Posted by Owlet

I will be relocating to Philadelphia to attend Temple for medical school, and as I am from out of state and unfamiliar with the area, was wondering if anyone could provide any advice as far as housing. Some information about me/what I am looking for:

-White female, 20s, no kids (may bring a small dog, but not sure yet)
-Went to a very rural state school for undergrad, so no experience living in a big city
-Top priority is finding somewhere safe/secure
-Hoping to stay around $1200 or lower- (is this reasonable?)
-I will be bringing a car, so I will need somewhere with available parking
-Preferably no longer than 30 min car ride from TUSM campus
-Prefer an apartment building than renting a unit in a house/townhome
-Clean/newly renovated (or at least no major pest problems)


I have mostly been looking at Center City listings online, and have just started looking at Germantown/Mt Airy as well, but am really open to anywhere that would best fit this criteria. The biggest issue I have been having so far is knowing whether individual apartments are in "safe" areas- I am planning on visiting again in the next few weeks, so hopefully this will give me a better idea. Any recommendations of specific buildings that you may have heard good things about would also be greatly appreciated if that is allowed here!

I would check out Francisville (sometimes included as part of the bordering neighborhood of Fairmount), which is an up and coming neighborhood that's very close to Temple. There are some parts of the neighborhood that haven't quite come all the way up yet, but anything south of Girard Ave. and west of Ridge Ave. should be fine for you. Street parking is generally easy to find as well.

[RightonWalnut]

I would recommend anything south of Fairmount and west of Broad. Or in the Northern Liberties area. Or maybe in South Philly. Or even in Manayunk, since you'll have a car, it'll make it easier for you to commute to the Health Sciences campus being in Manayunk. Fairmount/Spring Garden, Northern Liberties neighborhoods and anywhere in South Philly (for the most part) it would be most convenient for you to take the subway

[blktoptrvl]

I would also recommend staying in or close to center city. Elkins Park, Cheltenham, and other such areas are good, but distant.

If you found a place downtown, you could hop on and off the sub; get there summer, winter, spring, or fall.

Locating downtown will also mean not needing a car. Saving many dollars. If you really feel you must have a car, also consider West Mt. Airy and City Ave.

Personally, I would choose to be right on campus if possible - not on the fringe - but on the campus.

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by blktoptrvl

I would also recommend staying in or close to center city. Elkins Park, Cheltenham, and other such areas are good, but distant.

If you found a place downtown, you could hop on and off the sub; get there summer, winter, spring, or fall.

Locating downtown will also mean not needing a car. Saving many dollars. If you really feel you must have a car, also consider West Mt. Airy and City Ave.

Personally, I would choose to be right on campus if possible - not on the fringe - but on the campus.

Also consider that automobile liability insurance alone for a 20 something on their own in a city like Philadelphia could reach many thousands of dollars a year. When i was 20 ([1980] living two blocks from TU hospital, liability cost $3k a year).