If you are thinking of moving and are looking for a new home in West Philadelphia neighborhoods, you should know which are the best. Everyone wants to live in a safe area and one that has plenty of amenities, and then there’s the cost of living, which is a huge factor as well. We’ll present our top 5 West Philly neighborhoods and help you avoid the bad ones. And then, it will be up to you to make the final decision regarding the place where you want your movers in Philadelphia to take all your belongings and settle down.
What Is the Best Area to Live in Philadelphia?
Before you start packing your bags and deal with questions like how to pack books for moving or making a list of the most commonly forgotten things to pack, so you don’t forget them, you’re bound to wonder where to live in Philadelphia. The answer to this question lies in your preferences, budget, and the lifestyle you plan to lead. There’s a reason why many celebrities such as Meek Mill, Bam Margera, David Morse, Terrance Howard, and others chose this city as a place of residence.
Today, we will tell you why you shouldn’t overlook the western part of The City of Brotherly Love and what this area’s finest neighborhoods and hot spots are. And, then you choose if you would like to move here and join all those celebrities. Before you even start thinking about which Philadelphia movers to choose to help you move efficiently, you should look into Philadelphia neighborhoods. In this article, we will show you our top 5 safe West Philadelphia neighborhoods. And if you want to know more about South Philadelphia neighborhoods, click on the link as we’ve got you covered on that, too. But, for now, let’s take a look at why you should choose this particular part of our town, and what you can expect from living in each one of these neighborhoods.
What Is West Philly Known For?
Will Smith, the movie star that gave this neighborhood its unofficial theme song, has deep roots with it and still owns property here. Why is that? It might have something to do with the rich history of the place that’s reflected in beautiful Victorian homes and the fact the coolest amenities like the zoo and the Please Touch Museum are located here. There are two major universities here and a strong presence of students as well as young families with children that together form a strong community. Plus, the restaurant and bar scene is lively, with excellent food and drink options. There always seems to be something going on in this part of town, and it’s known for being diverse, vibrant, and lively.
#1 University City Has Beautiful Victorian Homes
It’s nestled right across the Schuylkill River from Center City, bounded by Market Street to the north and 40th Street to the west. It’s where the University of Sciences, Drexel University, and the University of Pennsylvania are located, and it has a strong student population. The eastern side is home to these universities, businesses, and hospitals, and the western part is residential. It features beautiful Victorian townhomes, as well as apartment complexes. It has about 20,000 residents, and the median home price is around $254,000. While this area is a bit on the pricier side, it’s definitely worth it as it is the center of activity and very safe. If you are not sure you want to buy a property right away, you can try renting out first. In that case, you should know that the median rent is just short of $1,500.
This Vibrant Neighborhood Is the Center of Activity
This place is full of activity, and it really shines in the summer when the Farmers Market is open, and there are tons of weekly events in the park. The park is a great place to relieve some of that moving stress if you still have any lingering. If you like hiking, biking, or simply walking, the go-to place is the Schuylkill River Trail – and it’s a great photo op as well. Then, there are Mutter Museum and Penn Museum, which are great spots to enjoy some art and culture. There are diverse options when it comes to food. The best way to make sure you don’t miss a great cafe or restaurant is to take a StrEATS food tour. They will take you around the coolest restaurants and food shops, and this place really is a foodie’s paradise, so you’ll have lots to taste and enjoy.
#2 Powelton Village – The Cutest West Philadelphia Neighborhood
Powelton Village may as well be the most aesthetic neighborhood of them all with its porch-fronted Victorian townhomes. It’s located within the University City district (but not the neighborhood), and it stretches north of Drexel University and south of Spring Garden Street. This charming place is mostly residential, with the twin homes being either single-family homes or turned into apartments. Due to the proximity to universities, the prices of homes in Powelton Village have increased as students like living here.
But so do the elderly and young families, due to its serenity, the proximity to hospitals, and safety, of course. The river is also nearby if you ever feel like taking a walk or riding a bicycle. The area counts close to 8,000 people altogether. If you plan on buying a property here, make sure you have your moving expenses checklist in order, as a median house will cost you around $350,000.
Transportation Is Easy by Both Rail and Land
Powelton Village is well-connected to other parts of the city and easily accessible by automobile and public transportation. Interstate 76 is close by, and it offers easy access by car. Several major streets are there as well as bike lanes. As per public transport – there are two underground trolley stops – 33rd and Market – serving all trolley lines. Bus lines 31 and 43 run through the place, and 30th Street Station is close by. It serves all Northeast Corridor trains, all Regional rail lines, the New Jersey Transit Atlantic City Line, Market-Frankford Line, and the subway surface trolley lines. The area itself is pretty walkable, so you will be able to walk to any part of Powelton Village easily.
#3 Cedar Park – One of the Best West Philadelphia Neighborhoods
Originally built as a streetcar suburb of Center City, this charming area is now the community meeting spot. Located between 49th and 50th Street and Baltimore Avenue and Catherine Street, it houses over 11,000 residents. If you want to buy a new home here, you are looking at property prices of about $382,000. It’s one of the best places to live in Philly for families as it is peaceful, quaint, and safe. Schools are well-rated, and teachers go above and beyond for their students. The community is tight-knit, and people socialize a lot, and even your dog might meet a new buddy if you are moving with pets.
Cedar Park Has the Best Food in Philadelphia
You will find the most amazing food in Cedar Park as the place is so diverse, and that diversity really reflects on the food options. If you like traditional American food, go to Sticky’s Finger Joint – you want to lick your fingers after you’ve had their burger. Mood Cafe offers great Pakistani food, as well as halal food. There’s a wide variety of Asian food to choose from – Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese – you name it, they’ve got it. We recommend Hayashi Sushi, Vietnam Cafe, and Vientiane Cafe, but feel free to explore – there are lots to be discovered.
#4 Garden Court Is a Peaceful Oasis
Garden Court is a small and narrow place located between Walnut Hill and Cedar Park and Spruce Hill, and Cobbs Creek. This is a peaceful and serene hub, perfect for families or retirees. It has about 7,300 residents, and the community is pretty close-knit. Most people know each other and are friendly and welcoming. It’s mostly made up of cute English Gothic-style single-family homes and red-bricked industrial-style buildings. If you wish to buy a house or an apartment here, you are looking at a median property price of about $305,000. If you are a renter, you can expect a monthly rental fee of around $1,060, which is pretty good value for money.
A Peaceful Retreat From the Hustle and Bustle
If you want to live in a quaint neighborhood and prefer to stay away from the busy nightlife scene – this is the place for you. Malcolm X and Barkan parks are great places to relax, take a stroll, or have a picnic with family or friends. There are cute cafes where you can sit and have a drink while you cross the last thing off your moving to-do list. There are also a few restaurants here and there with more than enough food choices. The place is extremely walkable, so you’ll be able to get around it easily, and it’s well connected to other areas if you ever feel like visiting some of the nearby attractions.
#5 Haverford North Is an Affordable Option
This triangular neighborhood is located north of Haverford Avenue, east of Belmont Avenue, and south of Lancaster Avenue. It borders Dunlap, Mantua, and Powelton Village. It is pretty small, but charming and it has around 1,700 residents. This is, by far, the most affordable option out of the nice areas around here. The median house value is about $120,000, which is pretty good. If you are more interested in renting, you can expect a median rental fee of about $600, which is, again, pretty affordable. This is what made this area attractive to those looking for an affordable and quiet place to live after they’ve retired.
Great for Retirees or First Time Home Buyers
This part of the City of Brotherly Love is a diverse and multicultural melting spot. Besides people of different ethnic groups, you can also find people of all ages here, living in harmony. Retirees like the serenity of the place and the fact that it’s within walking distance of the Institute of the Pennsylvania Hospital. Families with young children have two schools nearby – Locke School and Washington School. And they can all enjoy the beautiful Lee Park. The community holds different events throughout the year, and there are a couple of great restaurants. It’s also within walking distance of the zoo, which is what kiddies really like.
What Part of Philly Is Ghetto?
When you are house-hunting or choosing a place to live, you will want to know all about those bad parts you want to steer away from. Much like every other town, our own has some parts that carry a bad name due to the high rate of violent or property crimes taking place. Here are the so-called Philly Badlands:
- Tioga-Nicetown,
- Strawberry Mansion,
- Hunting Park,
- Fairhill,
- Harrowgate,
- Elmwood,
- Frankford.
Choose the Finest Among Philadelphia Moving Companies
Wherever you decide to move, you want to make sure you have the most reliable Philadelphia moving company on your side. We are reliable Philly movers with years of experience, and we offer various moving services in Philadelphia. If you want professionals to pack dishes or just pack plates for you, turn to us and our packing services. Take a look at the items movers won’t move, just so you know what they are before you start packing. We can move your piano or anything you want us to, or you can choose our in-and-out-of storage service and have us deliver it all to a storage place you’ve rented. We can help out with any moving task you can think of – we’ve got the moving hacks for it, and you will be able to enjoy your moving-away party carefree. Contact us to get a free quote and see how you like it.