Access to restaurants, attractions, and shops in Center City and even nearby in South Philly or Rittenhouse Square is superb. There is generally a lot of street traffic and drug addiction and homelessness are common in the area, but typically not a source of harm for passersby and also not much different than in any other major urban center in the U.S.
Best neighborhood in Center City - can't beat the price for what you get. Amazing location, just a short walk to Rittenhouse or Old City. Can't beat living in the heart of Center City, and only a 7 minute walk to the hospital. Plenty of night life.
Some crime in the area, but overall, great bar and restaurant scene with easy access to public transit.
Center city is arguably safe but sometimes there are some issues. Police are responsive.
Midtown Village is quickly becoming one of the best places in Philly to live. The quick downside is there's a lot of construction in the area, but that's also the positive if you're okay with the feel of a city that's constantly changing. The area already has lots of great bars and restaurants, and all the new construction is adding in great new options for grocery, coffee, and convenience items. There's now a Target, Mom's Grocery, multiple Wawas, Sweetgreen, etc. all in close proximity to mainstays like Reading Terminal.
Midtown Village is a fast-growing and both has great mainstay restaurants like El Vez and Barbuzzo as well as amazing chains like Chipotle and Sweet Green. The addition of a Target, Wawa, CVS, Starbucks, and Petco makes it even more accessible and naturally the location is as central as you can be in Philadelphia. In comparing options, you usually can get a bit of a discount versus Rittenhouse Square and Old City, mainly because the Midtown Village brand is still being built up, but you really can't beat the location and access to amenities. The only thing it's missing is a full-service grocery store, but between Reading Terminal Market, Target, Walgreens, and CVS you're pretty set. The main downside can be the noise and litter that comes with being in the heart of downtown, but it's a trade off I'm more than willing to make and has been getting better with time.
I love this neighborhood! It's very lively and great for young adults. There are a lot of cool restaurants/bars around. It's a little pricey but what can you expect from being in the center of a city like Philadelphia?
The area is filled with lots of young people. I don't feel unsafe walking around even at night because there are people out all the time. There are a couple of narrow streets I probably wouldn't walk through though.
The neighborhood is amazing and getting better every day! It combines access to great daily conveniences (coffee shops, Target, Wawa, etc.) with some of the best independent restaurants and bars in Philly. The location is incredibly central overall and transit options can get you pretty much anywhere in the city. It can get a bit noisy, though that's the price you pay for being downtown.
