Best Place to Buy a House in Philadelphia

Searching for the best neighborhoods in Philadelphia to buy a home? Here's your guide to the all-time neighborhoods in Philadelphia to help yous as you begin your home search. Whether you lot're looking for a habitation in Center City, something in the city simply away from the downtown hustle and bustle, or something in the nearby suburbs yous'll everything y'all need to help you become started in this article.

When I offset moved to Philadelphia in 2004 I had a lot to learn well-nigh all of the neighborhoods in the city. At that fourth dimension I don't recall Google Maps existed yet. If Zillow existed and then I wasn't aware of it. I didn't have a smart telephone. Finding information nigh the best neighborhoods in Philadelphia was pretty hard to do, especially from a distance and as someone who had only visited once. My company at the time, REI, had moved me here and I had to discover a place to live and learn a new metropolis pretty quickly. It was a challenge.

Things have changed now and at that place'due south a ton of information for home buyers near Philadelphia neighborhoods. Simply, it's still a large city and there'due south a huge number of neighborhoods. Figuring out where to live is still a challenge, just in a unlike way. This Dwelling house Buyer'south Guide to Philadelphia Neighborhoods is designed as guide for those who volition be moving here and need to learn near the surface area and for those who already alive here but are narrowing downwards where they'd like to purchase a home.

Read on to find out more than about the best neighborhoods in Philadelphia to buy a home.

This guide to the best neighborhoods in Philadelphia includes areas in Center Urban center, northwest Philadelphia, and nearby Philadelphia suburbs.

The Best Neighborhoods in Philadelphia to Purchase a Dwelling house

What makes a neighborhood 1 of the best places to buy a home in Philadelphia? It really depends on your upkeep and what you're looking for in a neighborhood. I chose the neighborhoods in this listing based on the post-obit criteria:

• Neighborhood Amenities
• Restaurants
• Shopping
• Parks
• Walkability
• Admission to Transportation
• Appreciation of Dwelling Values

Philadelphia Neighborhoods Map

Below is a map of Philadelphia neighborhoods to help you lot get your bearings. The cluster at the lower end of the map are the neighborhoods in and around Center City (our proper name for downtown Philadelphia). The points on the upper part of the map are the northwest Philadelphia neighborhoods likewise listed in this post.

Center Metropolis Philadelphia Neighborhoods

Hither in Philadelphia our downtown area is called Center Metropolis. This is where you'll find major employers like Comcast. Center City is where you'll find high-ascension office buildings, condos, and apartment buildings. At that place are plenty of astonishing restaurants, great nightlife, beautiful urban parks, museums, and theaters. Center Urban center is extremely walkable and public transportation around the city is piece of cake to detect. Many residents of Center City, particularly those who live and work in the city, don't have cars because it'south so easy to get around.

In that location are a lot of neighborhoods that are role of Eye City Philadelphia. There are also many nearby neighborhoods that surround Eye City and all the same offer easy access.

Center City can be divided into two basic parts. Heart Urban center West and Center Metropolis East with Wide Street being the dividing line between the two.

Fitler Square

Fitler Square is a mostly residential neighborhood in Middle City West. The neighborhood is located between Rittenhouse Foursquare and the Schuylkill River. The neighborhood offers easy access to the Academy of Pennsylvania, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. It's not uncommon for residents of Fitler Square to commute to these employers by bike or walking to work.

Two of my favorite things in Fitler Square are Fitler Square Park and Schuylkill Banks Park. Fitler Foursquare Park is a small park in the Middle of the neighborhood which is abode the local farmer's market place. Schuykill Banks is a large park next to the river. Our kids beloved the large playground and our dog loves going to the fenced in domestic dog park. The dog park is the but dog park in Philadelphia that I've seen with a turf surface and there are separate areas for smaller dogs and larger dogs.

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Rittenhouse Square Neighborhood

The Rittenhouse Square neighborhood surrounds the scenic Rittenhouse Foursquare Park in Center Metropolis West. Rittenhouse Square is amidst the most expensive neighborhoods in the urban center. Living in Rittenhouse Square offers easy admission to many of the city's best restaurants and major employers like the University of Pennsylvania, CHOP, and Comcast.

The park is surrounded by high-ascension condos that offer astonishing views. Throughout the neighborhood you lot'll also find enough of unmarried-family rowhouses with some of the largest along Delancey Street.

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Graduate Hospital/Southwest Heart City

The Graduate Hospital/Southwest Center Urban center expanse is located between Broad Street in the heart of the metropolis and the Schuylkill River. The neighborhood is named for Graduate Hospital, which no longer exists. In contempo years the area has also go known as Southwest Center City. The name depends on who you lot ask, but they're pretty much interchangeable. I tend to call information technology Graduate Hospital.

Graduate Hospital is one of the most user-friendly neighborhoods for access to UPenn, CHOP, and HUP. Many residents who commute to these employers walk or bicycle to work across the South Street Bridge. The neighborhood is located only south of Fitler Square and Rittenhouse Square making it very convenient to parks, shopping, and restaurants.

The neighborhood is mostly residential but you can find a number of neat restaurants hither, too. The homes in the area include a large number of new construction homes with parking and roof decks with views of the urban center. In that location are also a big number of older rowhouses that have been remodeled.

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Old City Philadelphia

Onetime City is a beautiful Center City neighborhood on the eastern side of the city. Hither you'll detect many of Philadelphia'southward tourist attractions like the Liberty Bong and Independence Hall, and then it certainly gets busy in the warmer months. The neighborhood includes the historic Elfreth's Alley, the oldest continually inhabited residential street in the Us. Erstwhile Metropolis is very walkable and provides easy access to the Ben Franklin Bridge, which leads to New Jersey, and I-95 which offers convenient access to New Jersey and Delaware.

The majority of the homes in Old Metropolis are mid-rise condos with 1-two bedrooms. The median price for all homes in the neighborhood, including condos, is $350,000.

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Washington Square West

The Washington Square West neighborhood is centrally located between Onetime City and Broad Street. The neighborhood borders Washington Foursquare Park on the east. The neighborhood offers a diversity of home styles including 2 and three story rowhouses and mid-rise condo buildings. You can notice some really amazing subconscious cobblestone streets with historic homes in the neighborhood. These quaint streets make yous wonder if y'all're still in the heart of major urban center.

The Washington Square West neighborhood is well-known for it'southward nifty restaurants and local shops. Within Washington Square Due west lies the Gayborhood, well-known for rainbow flags and an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants.

When visiting Washington Foursquare West exist certain to visit Washington Square Park. The park is abode to The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. You'll as well want to visit Talula's Garden, ane of my favorite restaurants in the city.

Washington Foursquare West includes a good mix of mid-rise condos and single-family homes.

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Society Hill

Lodge Hill is a picturesque and historic neighborhood located only southward of Old Metropolis in Center City East. The neighborhood is one of just a modest number of Philadelphia neighborhoods that has a zoning overlay to preserve the historic appearance and charm of the community. The neighborhood is one of the oldest in the metropolis, along with Erstwhile City, and that shows in the historic architecture. Throughout the neighborhood you'll find plenty of gorgeous rowhouses dating back to the 18th century and picturesque brick sidewalks.

Be sure to visit the seasonal farmer'southward market at Headhouse Square and the popular Three Bears Park on tertiary and Delancey when checking out the neighborhood.

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Queen Village

Queen Village is located just due south of Society Hill in Center Metropolis East. I love the architecture and picturesque streets and the amazing eating house scene. Throughout the neighborhood yous'll discover rowhouses dating dorsum to the 18th century and tree-lined streets. You can find some of the best sushi in the city at Royal Sushi & Izakaya and some of the best burgers around at Lucky's Last Chance. The neighborhood offers piece of cake admission to Centre City and I-95 making information technology a pop area for residents who commute to New Jersey and Delaware.

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Northern Liberties

Northern Liberties has seen a new structure boom in the past decade. It competes with Graduate Hospital for the acme spots in the city for new construction and appreciation of home values. The neighborhood is located north of Sometime City forth the banks of the Delaware River. One of the main attractions is Schmidt's Commons, a mixed-use development that includes an eclectic mix of cracking restaurants and a plaza with regular events and concerts.

The restaurant scene in Northern Liberties rivals just about any in the urban center with a unique mix of great local spots. The neighborhood is extremely walkable with restaurants and shops just a rock's throw abroad from anywhere in the neighborhood.

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Fairmount

The Fairmount neighborhood, also called The Fine art Museum Neighborhood, is located but north of Center City West. The neighborhood is mostly residential and has a great variety of local restaurants and shops. Ane of the interesting landmarks in the neighborhood is the historic Eastern State Penitentiary. The Penitentiary is open for tours and events. The neighborhood is too steps abroad from the Philadelphia Museum of Fine art, the Barnes Foundation, and The Rodin Museum. Ane of my favorite things most the neighborhood is the easy access to Boathouse Row where you tin access the Schuylkill River Trail, a paved path for walking, running, and biking that follows the river for miles.

Most of the homes in the neighborhood are 2-3 story rowhouses, many of which were built in the 1800's. There's also plenty of new construction homes throughout the neighborhood. Many of the new construction homes include garage parking and roof decks that offer astonishing views of the city.

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Fishtown

Fishtown is located only north of Northern Liberties along the Delaware River on the northeastern side of the city. The location makes it relatively easy to get to Eye City and New Bailiwick of jersey. Fishtown can be described as vibrant and eclectic. The neighborhood has tons of peachy restaurants and bars. Some favorites are the whiskey bar Lloyd, Ekta Indian Restaurant, and charcoal-broil at Fete Sau. There are and then many great bars and restaurants it'd exist tough to list them all.

When checking out Fishtown be sure to visit Penn Treaty Park. This riverside park offers great views of the h2o, a playground, and plenty of infinite to relax in the open air.

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Passyunk Square

Passyunk Foursquare is a S Philadelphia neighborhood with an amazing cardinal business organisation commune filled with local shops and restaurants. Throughout the neighborhood you'll find hip vintage shops, eclectic restaurants from Vietnamese Pho, gastropubs, and the well-known Pat'south and Gino's for cheesesteaks. The neighborhood is bordered by Broad Street making for piece of cake access to transportation routes including the Broad Street Line, the subway that runs n to due south through Center City.

1 of the things that I honey about Passyunk Square is that the neighborhood has maintained its unique charm with quaint streets and homes.

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Betoken Cakewalk

Signal Breeze has seen a nail in real estate development and home values over the terminal several years. At that place are new construction homes and existing homes that are in the procedure of being remodeled just about everywhere in the neighborhood. While abode values are increasing, the neighborhood is still relatively affordable compared to many other areas in and around Center City.

The neighborhood lies only due south of Graduate Hospital/Southwest Center City. The location makes access to Center City reasonably piece of cake, though if you're walking there information technology's going to take some time. There are a few restaurants in the neighborhood but you lot'll find far more options in nearby Graduate Hospital.

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The Best Neighborhoods to Buy a Domicile in Philadelphia'southward Northwest

Northwest Philadelphia is located simply about five miles north of Eye City. The area is pop for the easy commute to Center Metropolis via the regional trains and highway. Yet, you tin expect a lot of traffic on the highways. This is especially true during rush hours.

Northwest Philadelphia is popular for the easy access to Middle Urban center and the suburbs. The expanse is also home to the Wissahickon Valley Park. The park offers visitors 1800-acres of hiking and biking trails along the scenic Wissahickon Creek. We live nigh 2 blocks from access to park and dearest that nosotros tin take our dog and kids for hikes just about every mean solar day.

Due east Falls

East Falls is the closest of the northwest Philadelphia neighborhoods to Center City. Information technology'due south located virtually 5 miles from Center City along the Schuylkill River. Residents of East Falls can get to Centre City via I-76, Kelly Drive, or via train from the centrally located Due east Falls Station. Getting to Heart City from East Falls past car takes nearly 15 minutes without traffic.

The neighborhood is mostly rowhouses built during the Industrial Revolution though there's besides enough of new construction homes. Further upwards the hill past Henry Avenue you'll notice larger twin and single homes.

Eastward Falls is well-known for great local restaurants and gastropubs including Falls Taproom and Le Jitney East Falls. The neighborhood is as well home to Wissahickon Brewery, a craft beer brewery that's open for tastings (and to just hang out).

I of the most unique spots in East Falls is Laurel Loma Cemetery. The historic cemetery is open up to the public and they offer tours and events throughout the year. If you visit the cemetery be sure to check out "Millionaires Row" named for the wealthy Philadelphian's who are buried there. Millionaires Row offers some amazing views of the Schuylkill River.

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Chestnut Hill

Chestnut Hill is a quaint northwest Philadelphia neighborhood that borders Mt. Airy and Montgomery County. The center of the neighborhood is Germantown Avenue where yous'll detect enough of corking restaurants and boutique shops. Like other northwest Philadelphia neighborhoods you'll find easy access to the trails of the Wissahickon Valley Park. At that place are ii train stations in Chestnut Colina which provide like shooting fish in a barrel access to Centre City.

Chestnut Hill is the near expensive of the northwest Philadelphia neighborhoods only there'south a wide diversity of domicile styles. You lot'll find mostly twin homes and detached single-family homes though there are also rowhouses and some condos. You'll also find some of the largest homes in Philadelphia in Chestnut Hill, especially in the area near The Philadelphia Cricket Club.

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Mt. Airy

Mt. Airy is adjacent to Anecdote Loma forth Germantown Avenue. Germantown Avenue is the neighborhood's main business corridor. You'll notice enough of great restaurants and shops here. Some favorites are Globe, Breadstuff, and Brewery and La Puebla. Mt. Airy is also home to Weaver's Fashion Market (known as The Co-op) and pop neighborhood hangout Loftier Signal Cafe.

Of form, one of the reasons that residents love living in Mt. Airy is the easy access to the Wissahickon Valley Park. Another reason people love living here is that information technology may be one of the greenest neighborhoods in the metropolis with plenty of trees and beautiful streets.

Homes in the neighborhood range from thou square foot rowhouses to beautiful 100+ year old mansions with landscaped yards and over 3000 square feet. In that location are some new construction homes in the neighborhood but the vast majority are older homes with historic charm.

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Manayunk

When almost people recollect of Manayunk they immediately think of Main Street. Main Street is the central business concern corridor in the northwest Philadelphia neighborhood. It'south a lively and vibrant spot in the neighborhood where you'll find no shortage of dandy restaurants and unique local shops. Main Street is home to events and activities throughout the year including The Manayunk Arts Festival, amidst the biggest arts festivals on the east coast.

When checking out Chief Street be sure to visit Taqueria Feliz, Jake'southward and Cooper's Wine Bar, Han Dynasty, and Tubby Robot Ice Cream. Just off of Primary Street y'all'll find admission to the Manayunk Canal. Manayunk was home to a number of fabric mills during the Industrial Revolution and the canal was used to transport materials and finished products. Today the scenic canal is a destination for walkers and bikers. My daughter and I accept gone line-fishing downward there as well and I tin say it'due south a peachy spot for a 4 year old to fish and sentinel turtles.

Other places in Manayunk that I recommend visiting when considering the area are the Manayunk Bridge and Pretzel Park. The span is an erstwhile railroad bridge that's been converted to a pedestrian bridge over the Schuylkill River leading into Lower Merion. Pretzel Park is located just i block off of Main Street. The park features a great playground and a fenced-in dog park. It's as well dwelling to the seasonal Pretzel Park Farmer's Market.

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Roxborough

Roxborough shares borders with Manayunk and the Wissahickon Valley Park. One of the great things about living in Roxborough is the piece of cake access to the park. Information technology's hard to exist more than than about 5 minutes from a trailhead when y'all're anywhere in Roxborough. In add-on to the Wissahickon Valley Park there are plenty of keen neighborhood parks and playgrounds in Roxborough.

Some favorite parks are Gorgas Park (abode to a seasonal farmer's market, events throughout the year, and a big playground), Houston Playground which has tennis courts, ball fields, a big playground, and a sprayground, and Wissahickon Neighbor'due south Park which as a playground and a sprayground. For nature lovers, exist sure to visit The Schuylkill Environmental Middle and The Upper Roxborough Reservoir Preserve.

Roxborough covers a large area. Within the cypher lawmaking there several neighborhoods that are a part of Roxborough. The Wissahickon Neighborhood is the area virtually the Wissahickon Train Station, Central Roxborough is where you'll detect i of the ii major business concern districts (lots of great restaurants here), Upper Roxborough where you'll find the Mini Target and typically larger homes, and Andorra which is the almost suburban-like neighborhood in Roxborough.

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The Best Neighborhoods to Buy a Home in Philadelphia's Suburbs

There are nigh unlimited suburban Philadelphia neighborhoods so I'll briefly cover those that are most convenient to Eye Urban center Philadelphia and those where I work the most since those are the ones that I know. These areas are inside a short drive (depending on traffic) or railroad train ride into the city and are located in Montgomery Canton. I'll go over these in more detail in another post specifically dedicated to suburban Philadelphia neighborhoods.

Lower Merion School District

Lower Merion School Commune includes the Main Line towns of Narberth, Bala Cynwyd (pronounced 'kin-wood'), and Merion Station amongst others. The area is just across the Schuylkill River from Manayunk in Philadelphia. The majority of the homes are single-family detached homes but yous'll also find a number of condo buildings.

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Colonial School District

Colonial School Commune is located further up the Schuylkill River past Roxborough and Manayunk. Towns include Conshohocken, Lafayette Colina, and Plymouth Meeting. Y'all'll observe major retailers in this area including Home Depot, Lowe's, Target, Whole Foods, and more than. In Conshohocken you'll discover a thriving main street on Fayette Street with local restaurants, gastropubs, and shops.

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The Schoolhouse District of Springfield Township

The School Commune of Springfield Township is located simply north of Chestnut Hill in Philadelphia. FYI, in that location is also Springfield School District in nearby Delaware County which can cause some confusion. Towns in The School District of Springfield Township include Erdenheim, Flourtown, and Wyndmoor. When visiting this area be certain to check out some of the remnants of Whitemarsh Manor. At one time the estate was amongst the largest homes in the state. The firm is long gone but y'all'll find plenty of remnants of the garden throughout the area. Another primary attraction is Morris Arboretum which includes amazing gardens and activities for kids.

More Info

Practice you lot need more information most the best neighborhoods in Philadelphia to buy a home? Email u.s. at jon@phillycitytosuburbs.com with your questions!

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