As one of the most vibrant cities on the East Coast, Philadelphia is a multicultural, large, bustling metropolis with plenty of career opportunities, extensive nightlife, and restaurants, and it is a wonderful place to start and grow your family.
Like with all big cities, individuals constantly move to and from Philadelphia, which was immediately noticeable post-pandemic.
Between 2022 and 2023, the city population increased by 0.5 percent, showing plenty of interest in moving to The City of Brotherly Love.
Despite this year-over-year growth, is Philadelphia considered a safe city?
News outlets regularly report issues in Philly, but is that across the entire city or specific neighborhoods and pockets?
If you’re considering relocating or visiting this exciting city, keep reading to learn more about the safest neighborhoods in Philadelphia!
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10 Safest Neighborhoods in Philadelphia
Ten: Pennsport
Rounding out this list as the tenth-safest neighborhood in Philadelphia is Pennsport, which is a primarily residential area of South Philly.
This sleepy neighborhood has 31 percent fewer crimes than the city average.
Since a large retail complex is within the neighborhood limits, the most common crime types are theft and vandalism.
Nine: Fishtown
Fishtown is considered one of the best neighborhoods in the city for young professionals due to the affordable rents, access to the Market Frankford subway line, trolleys, buses, and growing nightlife and restaurants.
While residents and visitors have a 1 in 35 chance of being the victim of a crime, property crime is the most common, so it’s unlikely to be involved in a violent situation.
Fishtown boasts many new rowhouses with the most modern amenities at an affordable price as gentrification continues to expand up the I-95 Corridor.
Eight: Somerton
Situated in Northeast Philadelphia near the city line, Somerton has around 36 percent fewer crimes than the rest of the city, with the greatest number of crimes, such as theft, nonviolent burglary, vandalism, and other property damage, being in the property category.
Somerton is a family-friendly section of the city and a great place to live for those commuting to the many companies in the northeastern suburbs or across the river in South Jersey.
Seven: Bustleton
Also located in Northeast Philly adjacent to the Northeast Philadelphia Executive Airport and next to Somerton, Bustleton is a mostly suburban section of the city since it’s close to the city line.
The area is family-friendly, with plenty of family attractions and community events.
Bustleton is seventh on this list because it has 38 percent fewer crimes than the rest of Philadelphia.
Bustleton would not be in the top ten compared to the rest of the state, but it is generally a safe place in Philadelphia.
Six: Mount Airy
Sixth on this list is the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia.
Located between Germantown and Chestnut Hill in Northwest Philadelphia, Mount Airy has a crime rate around 44 percent safer than the Philly average, with residents having a 1 in 40 chance of being a victim.
Like the surrounding neighborhoods, Mount Airy is a quiet place with old homes and is a great place to start and raise a family or be a young professional who wants to be close to but not in action.
Five: Manayunk
Manayunk is mostly populated with recent college graduates starting their careers at one of the many Philadelphia-area organizations.
As a result of these young professionals maintaining this neighborhood, it has the fifth lowest number of crimes per person across all categories, with the lowest crimes per person being violent.
Overall, the neighborhood has 45 percent fewer crimes per resident than the rest of the city.
Manayunk boasts many great restaurants and bars, so walking around at night is safe.
Four: Roxborough
Many reasons exist as to why Roxborough is one of the safest and best neighborhoods for Philadelphia families, with the biggest being the 51 percent lower crime rate than the city average in all categories.
This means the neighborhood boasts 51 percent fewer violent and property crimes, making it twice as safe as many other areas of Philly.
Roxborough is seven times safer than the least safe neighborhood in Philadelphia.
Three: East Falls
Situated northwest of Center City, East Falls had an impressive crime rate of just 0.0234 crimes per resident, making it the third safest neighborhood in Philadelphia.
This charming neighborhood on the Schuylkill River has the fourth fewest property crimes and third-fewest violent crimes per person.
Overall, the likelihood of being the victim of any crime type in East Falls is a 1 in 47 chance.
Although this may seem high, it’s better than most other neighborhoods in Philadelphia.
Two: Fairmount
Fairmount is the only neighborhood to rival the top spot on this list, which had incredibly close statistics.
In addition to impressively low violent and property crimes per 100,000 people, Fairmount had the third-fewest property crimes per resident.
This means that Fairmount has 60 percent fewer crimes than the city average, with a breakdown of a 60 percent lower number of violent crimes and 59 percent lower amount of property crimes.
One: Chestnut Hill
Leading the pack is Chestnut Hill, a beautiful suburban-vibe neighborhood that had the fewest property and violent crimes per 100,000 residents in Philadelphia.
This equates to a violent crime rate that’s 60 percent lower and a property crime that is 59 percent lower than the city average.
When reading these statistics, it’s always important to consider that Philadelphia’s crime index is 89 percent higher than the state average.
Still, Chestnut Hill continues to be a gem of safety and beauty.
5 Safety Tips for Traveling to Philadelphia
While Philadelphia is generally a safe city with plenty of historical attractions, great nightlife, world-class restaurants, and an endless number of community events, it’s essential to follow these five safety tips when visiting:
One: Don’t Wander into Unlit Areas
Wandering into unlit alleys, abandoned buildings, or desolate streets is exactly what criminals wait for, especially with tourists.
You never know who’s lurking in the shadows, so it’s best to avoid these places and not find out.
Two: Don’t Flash Valuables on Mass Transit
While this may seem like common sense, don’t flash valuable items on the subway, bus, tram, or train; it’s just drawing attention to you and asking for trouble.
While it’s always best to keep your valuables at home if you must bring them, keep them in a bag.
Three: Trust Your Instinct
Like in any major city, if something doesn’t feel right, then it usually isn’t.
Scammers can be found in every corner of the Earth, including Philly, so using common sense to avoid these individuals will keep you out of trouble.
If something is too good to be true, it is usually not worth pursuing.
Four: Know Your Route
Before venturing out for the day or night, always know where you are going and how to get there.
Making a wrong turn could get you into major trouble, so use GPS maps and other tools to ensure you’re on the right path.
The SEPTA mass transit system provides excellent city coverage with easy-to-read signs, so you can easily get anywhere at an affordable price.
Five: Remain in Touristy Areas
Philadelphia neighborhoods can transition in the blink of an eye.
Therefore, it’s always advisable to remain in touristy areas, most of which are in Center City, a highly safe area.
Tourist areas tend to be cleaner, more well-maintained, have better lighting at night for visitors, are better patrolled by police and security, and have more people walking around.
Since Philly is the fourth most walkable city in the U.S., it’s easy to stumble across a historical monument, especially in Old City.
Philadelphia Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Philadelphia Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to live in downtown Philadelphia?
Downtown Philadelphia is generally a safe place to live, work, and play, but it is a major city with countless people walking around, driving, and commuting.
Like in all large downtown areas, it’s critical to be on guard, aware of your surroundings, and take the proper steps to protect your property and yourself, especially at night.
What is the best area of Philly to live in?
While many factors play into the best areas to live in, one major consideration is if you’re looking to rent or buy.
Many consider Fishtown, Manayunk, and Rittenhouse Square some of the best areas to live in due to attractions, nightlife, restaurants, cafes, and other community activities.
Is Philadelphia safer than New York City?
The FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program determined that Philadelphia has a higher crime rate than neighboring New York.
Philly had a higher violent crime rate of 9.82 per 1,000 individuals compared to 5.80 per 1,000 residents in 2020.
Philadelphia’s property crime rate is 29.48 per 1,000 people versus New York’s 20.00 per 1,000 individuals in the same year.
