The best neighborhoods in Philadelphia for Families
Finding the right neighborhood means prioritizing safety, affordability, and access to parks and community spaces. This guide ranks Philadelphia's best family neighborhoods by how well they balance these factors, from highest-rated safety and family appeal to practical considerations like rent and transit access. Use this ranking to explore options that fit your family's needs and budget.
- $1,600/mo 1BR80/100 safetyfamily, affordable, quiet, parks0 transit lines
Roxborough ranks first with the highest safety rating (80/100), affordable rents starting at $1300 for studios, and strong family and parks tags that directly match family priorities.
- $1,500/mo 1BR72/100 safetyaffordable, quiet, family0 transit lines
Port Richmond offers the lowest rents in the guide (studio $1250, 1BR $1500) with family and quiet tags, though its 72/100 safety rating places it second.
- $1,650/mo 1BR78/100 safetyfamily, historic, parks0 transit lines
Mount Airy combines a solid 78/100 safety rating with family and parks tags, and comparable rents to Roxborough, making it a strong mid-tier option.
- $1,800/mo 1BR78/100 safetyfamily, parks, restaurants, cafes1 transit line
Fairmount features family and parks amenities plus transit access via the B line, but higher rents ($1450–$1800) and a 78/100 safety rating place it fourth.
- $1,950/mo 1BR85/100 safetyhistoric, family, cafes, quiet, shopping0 transit lines
Chestnut Hill ties for the highest safety rating (85/100) with strong family and quiet tags, but rents are notably higher ($1550–$1950), reflecting its premium positioning.
- $2,150/mo 1BR84/100 safetyquiet, family, cafes, walkable0 transit lines
Fitler Square offers a high safety rating (84/100) and family-friendly quiet and walkable tags, but Center City rents ($1750–$2150) make it a premium choice.
- $2,300/mo 1BR85/100 safetyhistoric, quiet, family, walkable1 transit line
Society Hill ranks last due to the highest rents ($1850–$2300), despite matching the top safety rating (85/100) and offering historic, quiet, and walkable attributes plus L line transit.
How this ranking works
This ranking scores every neighborhood in Philadelphia on Settle's curated neighborhood data — typical rents, safety ratings, transit access, and neighborhood character tags — weighted for what matters most to families, then surfaces the top 7. Settle community reviews and live city data appear on each neighborhood's guide page.