What do you think is the first thing that people consider when moving into a new place? It is probably the housing rates, available amenities, and such. However, what is the priority for most is how safe the neighborhood is. Because whether you are living alone or with your family, the safety of human lives is the most important thing in the world.
Now, with a place that is as large as Philadelphia, it is impossible and will probably be wrong to generalize the safety stats of one place for the whole city. There are both safe neighborhoods in Philadelphia as well as areas with high rates of violent crimes.
Although there are some violent neighborhoods in Philadelphia, the city as a whole is pretty safe especially if most other large US cities are considered. And what is more is that due to severe clamping down on crime, the total crime rates have dropped over the years.
What you are required to do is make a list of these safe neighborhoods and then intensify your survey by comparing the housing rates, amenities, and relative security to decide which place is suitable for you.
7 Safest Neighborhoods In Philadelphia
Fortunately for you, you do not have to scour the web to look for the neighborhoods in Philadelphia because it has been compiled right here for you.
This is a list of the safest Philadelphia neighborhoods in no particular order.
Bustleton
Just as the name sounds, this neighborhood is one of the largest ones and is teeming with a huge population of around 31,000 people. The residents here enjoy many amenities and also great overall safety as the total crime rate is a whopping 44% lower than the national average.
With a neighborhood this big in size, you cannot expect totally zero crime rates but the good thing is that crime out here in Bustleton has not increased in many years and is also on a slight decline. What is even better is that the violent crime rate is 46% lower than the national average making it one of the safe Philadelphia neighborhoods.
Out here you have a 1 in 77 chance of becoming a victim of a crime as according to the latest stats Bustleton is safer than 82% of other cities in Philadelphia.
The residents here are mostly young families as the average family residing here has a child younger than 18. You will also find retirees who own and some single professionals who rent housing in Bustleton.
The place is very homely as said by the residents themselves and although it has a steep housing rate, the amenities and prime locations make up for it.
Somerton
This beautiful neighborhood located in the far east-northern section of Philadelphia will remind you of those places they show in movies where the protagonist moves out, to get away from the bustle of city life and to get a fresh start.
The scenic villas, well-maintained roads, and sidewalks are sure to attract attention from people who are all about aesthetics. Besides that, it is also one of the safest neighborhoods in Philadelphia.
If we look at the crime stats, then this charming neighborhood has a violent crime rate that is 29% lower than the national average while the total crime rates over here tend to be 31% lower than the national average.
Here you have a 1 in 62 chance of becoming a victim of crime and Somerton is considered safer than 76% of other cities in Philadelphia. According to resident testimonies, it is very safe over here and there is virtually no crime be it night or day.
On a whole, if you would like to live in a suburban neighborhood away from the noisy city and in a safe environment, this is the place for you. Although on a side note, the housing rates are quite high here.
Rhawnhurst
This is a small neighborhood located in the northeastern region of Philadelphia. Although it is not as safe as, say, Bustleton, it can still be said to be one of the safe areas to live in Philadelphia.
In terms of safety, the total crime rates at Rhawnhurst are 14% lower than the national average and the violent crime rates are 12% lower than the national average. Here you have a 1 in 50 chance of becoming a victim of any crime as the neighborhood is considered 69% safer than other cities in Pennsylvania.
The residents here are very welcoming and homely as people look out for each other which in turn keeps the crime rates low. Living here will allow you a suburban feel and most people here own their houses.
There are plenty of cafes and public parks here which makes it great for community building but the nightlife, although there cannot be said to be overwhelming.
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Fox Chase
This neighborhood is easily one of the safest places to live in Philadelphia. And to top that off, the housing rates are also affordable which makes it possible for a larger variety of people to be able to buy or rent real estate over here.
Total crime rates here are 29% lower than the national average but are also 60% lower than the average rate in Philadelphia which makes it such an ideal place for settling down. The violent crime rate out here at Fox Chase is also 30% lower than the national average.
The locality is safer than 74% of other cities in Penn state and here you have a 1 in 61 percent chance of becoming a victim of crime.
Academy Gardens
More than a neighborhood, Academy Gardens will feel like a suburban small town to you. It has a population of fewer than 5000 people. It has many cultural, historical, and recreational attractions and is widely known for the same.
The rent here is quite affordable and that’s why more people over here rent their homes instead of buying them because the price of the local homes is a bit steep.
Now if we look at the crime stats, Academy Gardens is definitely one of the safe parts of Philadelphia to live in. Here you have a 1 in 61 chance of becoming a victim of any kind of crime. The total crime rates here are 29% lower than the national average and the violent crime rates are 6% percent lower than the national average.
It is definitely not the safest neighborhood in Philadelphia but is definitely safer than 69% of other cities in Pennsylvania state and although the violent crime rate may be a bit disconcerting, especially if compared with the other places on the list, you need to know that the crime rate here is stagnant and has neither decreased nor increased.
Chestnut Hill
From the very get-go, know that this neighborhood is an affluent one, the cost of living being 36% higher than the city average. But the amenities that this place has definitely make up for it.
Firstly Chestnut Hill is safer than 83% of other cities in Pennsylvania making it one of the safest places to live in Philadelphia.
The homes over here are classy and comfortable and you will find both family homes as well as units for singles and people who live alone and would like a smaller place. Transportation is also not an issue as there are two regional rail lines and there are multiple ways to get to the city.
There are schools, public parks, green spaces, commercial zones as well as restaurants and cafes so whatever you may need day to day, you can get by just walking a small distance to the nearest store.
In essence, this is a great place to live if you value safety and living within a loud and bustling community.
Pennsport
The fact that this neighborhood has been listed as the last does not have anything to do with it being the least safe. In fact, it is one of the safer areas of Philadelphia despite the place having a high unemployment rate.
Transportation and connectivity are also quite good over here so even if you do not find a job in the neighborhood itself, you can easily commute to other places.
The cost of living is higher than what you would expect but it is safe to say that given how secure the area is, the rent is worth it.
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Wrapping Up
This was a comprehensive list of all the neighborhoods that are considered the safest to live in Philadelphia according to surveys and the latest statistics.
That said, do not take it for word and make sure to visit the area yourself before you settle down.