Niche recently announced their most recent ranking of the best places to live in Philadelphia, and you’ve got to appreciate their list! Graduate Hospital, Bella Vista and Chestnut Hill rank at the top – do you agree? We’ve looked at the data on Philadelphia neighborhoods and came up with our own list of the 10 best places to live in Philadelphia. We considered affordability, amenities, school systems, and more. We also split up into best for Millennials – who may be more concerned about affordability and commute – and best for Families, where schools and safety are top concerns. Is your neighborhood on the list?

Best for Millennials 1. Manayunk / Roxborough

Flickr / Jukie Bot Manayunk is known for having a “party crowd” thanks to the bars and clubs, but it’s also a great spot to live. It’s easier to find parking here than in many parts of Philadelphia (Fishtown, I’m looking at you!) and housing is more affordable than places closer to Center City. SEPTA makes it easy to get anywhere, and the neighborhoods feel a little more relaxed than some of the busier ones. Roxborough is like “Manayunk Lite,” and the spillover has created a beautiful, quieter neighborhood that’s still close to the Manayunk nightlife.

  1. Northern Liberties

Flickr / Justin Wolfe Northern Liberties has become Philadelphia’s Williamsburg over the past few years. With the popular Piazza featuring events, restaurants, and housing, many young professionals are moving into the neighborhood. It’s a diverse neighborhood with plenty of nightlife and dining options. The drawbacks are that the public schools are not the best in the city, and it’s not quite as safe as many Center City neighborhoods.

  1. Chinatown

Flickr / Rachel Zurier If you want to get close to Center City without paying Rittenhouse prices, Chinatown is your best bet. While it’s hard to find an apartment here, when you do, it’s often affordable and in a great location. No wonder people aren’t willing to give them up! With close proximity to nearly everything you could need in the city, Chinatown is one of the most underrated neighborhoods in Philadelphia.

  1. Fishtown

Flickr / Nic Justice Fishtown is another hot spot for the younger crowd. It has been improving year after year in terms of safety and amenities. All along Frankford Ave. you can find music venues, bars, restaurants, and shops. It’s not as expensive as Northern Liberties, despite being very similar, and it’s one of those neighborhoods in Philadelphia where you’ll actually find homeowners, not just renters. Oh, and the El and SEPTA make commuting from Fishtown a breeze.

  1. Point Breeze / Graduate Hospital

Flickr / pwbaker Can I combine them like that? I couldn’t decide which of these adjacent Philadelphia neighborhoods was truly better Point Breeze is a slightly more affordable Bella Vista, with a ton of great restaurants and food trucks; Graduate Hospital is one of the safest neighborhoods in Philadelphia with plenty of shops, bars, and a friendly crowd.

Best for Families6. Chestnut Hill

Flickr / George Bernstein Families flock to Chestnut Hill (if they can afford it), and it’s no wonder! Some of the best schools in the city are up here and in Mt. Airy, and these neighborhoods are among the safest in Philadelphia. Plenty of parks and open green space make this a good spot to raise kids, and you’re a little farther away from the most hectic areas of the city. However, it’s also the most expensive residential area in Philadelphia.

  1. Bella Vista

Flickr / Bitter Melon Bella Vista has long been a spot for young Philadelphians to lay their roots. The close-knit neighborhood atmosphere may feel hard to break into at first, but once you’re settled, you’ll find a vibrant, welcoming community. Bella Vista is known for having a great nightlife and dining scene, and the average commute is among the shortest in the city. The impressive public education, family-friendly events, and open park space make this a great place to raise children in Philadelphia.

  1. Queen Village

Flickr / R’lyeh Imaging Queen Village is one of the more expensive neighborhoods in Philadelphia, but you certainly get what you pay for. It’s beautiful, safe, and well kept, with great restaurants and nightlife. Good schools and easy commutes make this a top pick for young families.

  1. Society Hill

Flickr / Beyond DC Society Hill’s schools, location, and safety make it another top pick for families. It is expensive, but not prohibitively so, and the amenities of the neighborhood make it worth it to many. You’ll have easy access to commute roots and plenty to do every weekend.

  1. East Falls

Flickr / Partnership for the Delaware Estuary East Falls is an up-and-coming neighborhood that’s full of students and families, and the open air feeling of the neighborhood makes this great for those who need some fresh air. It’s a safe neighborhood and there is plenty to do in regards to outdoor activities. Even the nightlife here is lively, but not overly so. It’s a great neighborhood overall, but it’s clear to see why families are building their lives here.

If you want to read more in-depth analysis of the best places to live in Philadelphia, check out the full Niche rankings and data here.

Flickr / Jukie Bot

Manayunk is known for having a “party crowd” thanks to the bars and clubs, but it’s also a great spot to live. It’s easier to find parking here than in many parts of Philadelphia (Fishtown, I’m looking at you!) and housing is more affordable than places closer to Center City. SEPTA makes it easy to get anywhere, and the neighborhoods feel a little more relaxed than some of the busier ones. Roxborough is like “Manayunk Lite,” and the spillover has created a beautiful, quieter neighborhood that’s still close to the Manayunk nightlife.

Flickr / Justin Wolfe

Northern Liberties has become Philadelphia’s Williamsburg over the past few years. With the popular Piazza featuring events, restaurants, and housing, many young professionals are moving into the neighborhood. It’s a diverse neighborhood with plenty of nightlife and dining options. The drawbacks are that the public schools are not the best in the city, and it’s not quite as safe as many Center City neighborhoods.

Flickr / Rachel Zurier

If you want to get close to Center City without paying Rittenhouse prices, Chinatown is your best bet. While it’s hard to find an apartment here, when you do, it’s often affordable and in a great location. No wonder people aren’t willing to give them up! With close proximity to nearly everything you could need in the city, Chinatown is one of the most underrated neighborhoods in Philadelphia.

Flickr / Nic Justice

Fishtown is another hot spot for the younger crowd. It has been improving year after year in terms of safety and amenities. All along Frankford Ave. you can find music venues, bars, restaurants, and shops. It’s not as expensive as Northern Liberties, despite being very similar, and it’s one of those neighborhoods in Philadelphia where you’ll actually find homeowners, not just renters. Oh, and the El and SEPTA make commuting from Fishtown a breeze.

Flickr / pwbaker

Can I combine them like that? I couldn’t decide which of these adjacent Philadelphia neighborhoods was truly better Point Breeze is a slightly more affordable Bella Vista, with a ton of great restaurants and food trucks; Graduate Hospital is one of the safest neighborhoods in Philadelphia with plenty of shops, bars, and a friendly crowd.

Flickr / George Bernstein

Families flock to Chestnut Hill (if they can afford it), and it’s no wonder! Some of the best schools in the city are up here and in Mt. Airy, and these neighborhoods are among the safest in Philadelphia. Plenty of parks and open green space make this a good spot to raise kids, and you’re a little farther away from the most hectic areas of the city. However, it’s also the most expensive residential area in Philadelphia.

Flickr / Bitter Melon

Bella Vista has long been a spot for young Philadelphians to lay their roots. The close-knit neighborhood atmosphere may feel hard to break into at first, but once you’re settled, you’ll find a vibrant, welcoming community. Bella Vista is known for having a great nightlife and dining scene, and the average commute is among the shortest in the city. The impressive public education, family-friendly events, and open park space make this a great place to raise children in Philadelphia.

Flickr / R’lyeh Imaging

Queen Village is one of the more expensive neighborhoods in Philadelphia, but you certainly get what you pay for. It’s beautiful, safe, and well kept, with great restaurants and nightlife. Good schools and easy commutes make this a top pick for young families.

Flickr / Beyond DC

Society Hill’s schools, location, and safety make it another top pick for families. It is expensive, but not prohibitively so, and the amenities of the neighborhood make it worth it to many. You’ll have easy access to commute roots and plenty to do every weekend.

Flickr / Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

East Falls is an up-and-coming neighborhood that’s full of students and families, and the open air feeling of the neighborhood makes this great for those who need some fresh air. It’s a safe neighborhood and there is plenty to do in regards to outdoor activities. Even the nightlife here is lively, but not overly so. It’s a great neighborhood overall, but it’s clear to see why families are building their lives here.

 

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