Graduate Hospital has an excellent combination of being close to campus (~20-25 minutes walk), social (lots of classmates in Grad Hospital who hand out with one another), close to Center City (~20 minute walk), relatively cheap, and safe. The neighborhood also has good grocery stores, bars, and restaurants.
Wonderful residential neighborhood just over the bridge from UPenn. Relatively quiet, low density (row homes, not many high-rise apartment buildings), but with almost no large green spaces. Great access to multiple grocery stores, pharmacies, public transit, and walking distance from more lively parts of Center City. Some concern given recent uptick in violent crime on the edges of the neighborhood, but generally quite safe. Sadly, packages are stolen off of porches regularly in the neighborhood. Parking is also an issue, for those with a car. Overall, a great place to live, especially if you get around by biking, walking, or public transit, prefer a house to an apartment, and prefer a slightly quieter neighborhood.
Great location, commute to hospitals and clinic is very convenient (20 min walk, 7 minute bike, 10-12 minute bus). Very walkable, 10-15 minutes from most center city locations, many great restaurants within walking range. We have a car but rarely use it during the week. Less space for your money is the compromise for convenience of location (small 2 bedroom here vs larger 3+ bedroom and more outdoor space in less favorable location).
Graduate Hospital is the best bang-for-your-buck neighborhood in Philadelphia and is the obvious choice for couples / families looking for more space (largely full homes) and a more residential feel with easy access to great restaurants (South St. has plenty) and grocery options (Heirloom Market is the best).
Located on the eastern edge of graduate hospital, Smedley St is a side street tucked between Bainbridge and Fitzwater thoroughfares. We're surrounded by a combination of young (20-35) couples and established, multigenerational families. About half renters, half home owners. There is a strong community on the block and in the neighborhood--neighbors know each other, decorate for holidays, and meet up at the recently renovated neighborhood pool (public), sports fields (close basketball courts, baseball field), and playgrounds.
Convenient establishments within a couple blocks include Kater Street bicycle (bike shop), Sprouts Farmers Market (grocery, new), and a number of restaurants on South Street. The block is quiet (a couple blocks removed from major business streets) with easy access to Center City nightlife, events, and activities.
Cons: walk to school (~30 min), lack of on-site amenities (brownstones, not apartment buildings), far from Trader Joe's (best high quality food, bargain price grocery store), very residential (must go to South Street--2 blocks--for most businesses).
Graduate hospital is situated nicely between Penn's campus and Center City. One downside is the lack of affordable grocery store options in the immediate area, but there are several good options within a mile of the neighborhood. The neighborhood is very residential and feels safe, but for active nightlife and restaurants you need to walk to Center City.
I love Graduate Hospital -- outside the "Wharton bubble" it is less than a 10 minute walk from most of the Wharton housing downtown, and I love being slightly away from the major crowd. It is a fantastic neighborhood -- lovely neighbors, good bars and easy grocery store, with more opening by the minute. It is much more comfortable to me than Rittenhouse Square neighborhood as well, with more affordable housing and a more community feel, given the lack of apartment buildings. I stayed in the neighborhood when I moved out of Sanctuary Lofts.
Graduate hospital does not have as many Wharton MBA students (lots of med school students) but is still a fantastic neighborhood. There are man bars / restaurants close by. Honey's Sit & Eat and Ants Pants are fantastic neighborhood spots.
Most of the rentals in this area are houses which mean more space, and there is also street parking in the neighborhood.
