Questions about different neighborhoods in Philly to live in (Philadelphia: apartment, for rent)

[charlesxm]

Hello everyone,
I posted on here recently about my great experience in the city and my plans to move there. I have 6 months until I move and I am doing research on where to live. A little about me, Im a single, white male in my mid-twenties. I will be a college grad by the time I move. Im into biking, hiking, kayaking, and jogging so being close to a good park would be awesome.

Im looking to pay no more than $1000/month for rent. I have read good and bad about neighborhoods in north, south, and west Philly. So I want to know what neighborhoods should someone like myself look for? Id like to be close to the subway or regional rail. I would love to be in Center City but want to give consideration to other neighborhoods, too.

Also, I haven't really heard anything about far northeast Philly. What's this area like?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[SKJSS]

You'll want to stay out of North or West Philly. Bad neighborhoods (not all, but a lot), high crime, high poverty. From your description, Center City or areas close around it are your best bet. I'm using a bit of a broad brush, but pull up a map of Philly. You'll see the center city area is bascially a grid. The area I'd focus in on starts at South Street on the south end, north to about Spring Garden. From the east side you can go as far as the river (Delaware Ave or Front Street), and to the west side maybe as far as 22nd Street or so. There are lots of "neighborhoods" in that area I gave you, such as Olde City, Rittenhouse Square, Spring Garden, etc...

My first choice based on what you said would be somewhere around the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, if you can find something in your price range. That will put you close to the trails along the river, so you can jog or bike, go on the river. Very bike and jogger friendly. You'll also be within walking distance of the train station and the subway. I lived in the city when I was your age...which is going back several years, but I still worked and frequented the city often until I moved just a few months ago. I lived at 9th and Pine, 10th and South and 22nd and Walnut. They were all very good.

The far Northeast is OK, but it's not the same feel as living in the city. It has a vibe all it's own. Some very good, some not so much. May not be as amenable to your biking, jogging, kayak wants.

[charlesxm]

Great thanks for the advice!

[kidphilly]

Originally Posted by SKJSS

You'll want to stay out of North or West Philly. Bad neighborhoods (not all, but a lot), high crime, high poverty. From your description, Center City or areas close around it are your best bet. I'm using a bit of a broad brush, but pull up a map of Philly. You'll see the center city area is bascially a grid. The area I'd focus in on starts at South Street on the south end, north to about Spring Garden. From the east side you can go as far as the river (Delaware Ave or Front Street), and to the west side maybe as far as 22nd Street or so. There are lots of "neighborhoods" in that area I gave you, such as Olde City, Rittenhouse Square, Spring Garden, etc...

My first choice based on what you said would be somewhere around the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, if you can find something in your price range. That will put you close to the trails along the river, so you can jog or bike, go on the river. Very bike and jogger friendly. You'll also be within walking distance of the train station and the subway. I lived in the city when I was your age...which is going back several years, but I still worked and frequented the city often until I moved just a few months ago. I lived at 9th and Pine, 10th and South and 22nd and Walnut. They were all very good.

The far Northeast is OK, but it's not the same feel as living in the city. It has a vibe all it's own. Some very good, some not so much. May not be as amenable to your biking, jogging, kayak wants.

agree with nearly all except would also say west of Broad you can go as far south as Washington or Federal

and East of Broad to Girard

[FrankInPhilly]

The Northwest neighborhoods Wissahickon and Manayunk are well-served by public transit (20-25 minutes to Center City). Wissahickon borders Wissahickon Valley Park, which has 60 (+/-) miles of trails suitable for cycling & running (see Home | Friends of the Wissahickon). Manayunk is home to part of the Schuylkill River Trail (Schuylkill River Trail Map - Schuylkill River Trail), which extends from Center City to beyond Valley Forge. The 'hoods border each other, so in both you have easy access to the Wissahickon Valley and the Schuylkill Trail.
Go to Google Maps and search for "Wissahickon, Philadelphia, PA" and "Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA" to get an idea of their location.

[SKJSS]

Originally Posted by kidphilly

agree with nearly all except would also say west of Broad you can go as far south as Washington or Federal

and East of Broad to Girard

Yeah, I'd agree with that. I didn't post it because I didn't think it would be most suited to OPs wants, but the first apartment in Philly I lived in was at 5th and Girard. I went to Temple, so I used to walk to school. At the time, the neighborhood was a bit sketchy, but has made improvements since.

[charlesxm]

Awesome. Ive also seen some stuff about the Brewerytown area being gentrified. Anyone know much about that?

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by SKJSS

Yeah, I'd agree with that. I didn't post it because I didn't think it would be most suited to OPs wants, but the first apartment in Philly I lived in was at 5th and Girard. I went to Temple, so I used to walk to school. At the time, the neighborhood was a bit sketchy, but has made improvements since.

Definitely improving and a lot of development still going on. A grand probably isn't enough for rent around there now.

[AgelessStranger]

Originally Posted by SKJSS

You'll want to stay out of North or West Philly. Bad neighborhoods (not all, but a lot), high crime, high poverty. From your description, Center City or areas close around it are your best bet. I'm using a bit of a broad brush, but pull up a map of Philly. You'll see the center city area is bascially a grid. The area I'd focus in on starts at South Street on the south end, north to about Spring Garden. From the east side you can go as far as the river (Delaware Ave or Front Street), and to the west side maybe as far as 22nd Street or so. There are lots of "neighborhoods" in that area I gave you, such as Olde City, Rittenhouse Square, Spring Garden, etc...

My first choice based on what you said would be somewhere around the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, if you can find something in your price range. That will put you close to the trails along the river, so you can jog or bike, go on the river. Very bike and jogger friendly. You'll also be within walking distance of the train station and the subway. I lived in the city when I was your age...which is going back several years, but I still worked and frequented the city often until I moved just a few months ago. I lived at 9th and Pine, 10th and South and 22nd and Walnut. They were all very good.

The far Northeast is OK, but it's not the same feel as living in the city. It has a vibe all it's own. Some very good, some not so much. May not be as amenable to your biking, jogging, kayak wants.

While I agree with some of your post regarding the OP desire to live in Center City, I just have to shake my head at the highlighted part. You do realize the NE is part of the city, don't you? Why on earth do CC fan-boys like yourself have difficulty accepting that the city is more than the area where tall building are? A lot more. Boggles my mind. And what exactly are the not so good "vibes" about the far NE? I don't see any. No jogging, or bicycling going on except in CC? Please...

[SKJSS]

My, my...defensive, are we? I didn't slam the northeast, I have nothing against it. Spent plenty of time there, had an uncle who had a business on Roosevelt Blvd. My point is that it's different than CC. It just is. Yes, it's a part of the city, but it has a very different feel than living in CC. Am I wrong? Whether that's good or bad is opinion, and I didn't say or imply it was one or the other. I'd say the same about Roxborough/Manayunk. Great places, but different in feel than CC. Easy there...

Moving on, I'd probably avoid Brewerytown