Hi everyone, moving to Philly! East Falls or West Philly? (Philadelphia: rentals, neighborhoods)

[Mayei]

Hello all! So I completed an internship in your great city last summer and am returning to continue to work down there!! I am a 24 y/o female artist. I am not attracted to the college lifestyle necessarily but do want a neighborhood with a good population of people in my age range. I lived in West Philly and loved it. However, I am also looking at East Falls/Manayunk area because it seems to be a bit safer and cheaper. I do not have a car, so I am relying on public transport and my feet.

Can anyone give me insight into the lifestyle differences between East Falls and West Philly (Spruce Hill/Cedar Park)?

Thanks so much!!

[criedman101]

I'm no expert, but I think it would be harder to live in Manayunk since there aren't many buses there. I think that could inconvenience you a lot if you're trying to get some grocery shopping done, or are just trying to get to another section of the city without having to hop on bus-to-bus to do so.

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

I'd be surprised if Manayunk and East Falls were cheaper than West Philly, besides for the immediate undergrad area of University City. A lot of what I see is pretty pricey for rentals, in my opinion, and Manayunk has lots of college residents (although it's not completely geared to them). Roxborough, just up the hill from Manayunk, can be a little cheaper.

There are plenty of buses in the Manayunk/East Falls/Roxborough Area. Off the top of my head, the 9, 27, 32, 38 and 61 serving downtown. The 35 is a neighborhood loop. And the 65, R, and K provide crosstown service. Plus the regional rail.

There's plenty to do in Manayunk. East Falls is a little sleepier. Roxborough is somewhere in between, but more blue collar than Manayunk. Unfortunately, as is often the case in Philly (both further out neighborhoods and neighborhood closer to Center City) stuff like grocery shopping gravitates towards strip malls outside of neighborhood centers. But you could make a go of it still. There's an Acme on Ridge Avenue in Roxborough's main street shopping (as well as several further up Ridge Avenue in more car centric places).

Perhaps you'd also be interested in Chestnut Hill, Mount Airy, or Germantown (each neighborhood less expensive than the one before) - Germantown Avenue with the route 23 is one of more significant transit and pedestrian friendly commercial streets in Philadelphia. Several spots in those neighborhoods have good train service and access to other buses as well.

[KansastoSouthphilly]

East Falls, Manyunk, and the UCity neighborhoods are all great areas. You can live in any of those neighborhoods without a car but it will be a bit easier in West Philly due to the bus, trolley, el access.

[Janszoon]

In addition to the easier access to public transportation, West Philly has far better options and variety as far as restaurants and bars go.

[mancat100]

Without a car, West Philly is definitely the way to go.

[Larry Bowa]

Originally Posted by Mayei

Hello all! So I completed an internship in your great city last summer and am returning to continue to work down there!! I am a 24 y/o female artist. I am not attracted to the college lifestyle necessarily but do want a neighborhood with a good population of people in my age range. I lived in West Philly and loved it. However, I am also looking at East Falls/Manayunk area because it seems to be a bit safer and cheaper. I do not have a car, so I am relying on public transport and my feet.

Can anyone give me insight into the lifestyle differences between East Falls and West Philly (Spruce Hill/Cedar Park)?

Thanks so much!!

Think of your well-being. You'll be safer and more comfortable in Manayunk.

[Janszoon]

Originally Posted by Larry Bowa

Think of your well-being. You'll be safer and more comfortable in Manayunk.

Taking the Ridge bus into Center City? Come on now.

[Larry Bowa]

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Taking the Ridge bus into Center City? Come on now.

No. Walking around the neighborhood on a warm summer evening. The bus is generally safe.

[mancat100]

Originally Posted by Larry Bowa

Think of your well-being. You'll be safer and more comfortable in Manayunk.

I get what you're saying and there is truth to it, but there are substantial parts of West Philly that are fine. I live in Spruce Hill and it's fine here.