Is Philadelphia safe for my family?

Philadelphia Safe Areas: Specifically!?

• Hello, I'm moving to Philly from Seattle with my partner and we want to be in a safe neighborhood. We've been told that Manayunk and Roxborough are safe, and parts of Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill. But the details are a bit sketchy. I would like to know as precisely as possible which areas are safe (the ones above or others) for 2 gay men. If only part of an area is safe, I would love to know exactly which part. We lived in New York City for 15 years so we're not new to big cities, but NYC is now so safe it's never a worry. Thanks.

• Answer:

  In my experience, Manayunk and Roxborough are safe areas. I lived on the Manayunk/Roxborough line for about a year. I never had a problem. However, in terms of really feeling safe, staying away from Philly and its different "boroughs" would be the smartest. New Hope is a really good option. As someone before had said, it has a sizeable gay & lesbian population, and its a very cute, artsy town. However, in terms of being close to the city, this wouldn't really be your best bet. New Hope is a bit of a hike from the Philly life. To be within reasonable distance (quick car ride or by SEPTA bus/train), I'd recommend somewhere along the "Main Line." These are wealtier, and much safer, neighborhoods: Bala Cynwyd, Wynnewood, Haverford, Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, Malvern, Wayne, etc. (most of these are within 15-20 minutes driving time to Center City). However, these areas tend to be much more expensive in both living and housing costs. So they may not be good options for you. But it may not be terrible... I currently live in a large 2-bedroom apt on the main line for about $1200/month, so it's possible to find something that doesn't completely break the bank. Another option that would be less expensive would be King of Prussia, Plymouth Meeting or Conshohocken, etc. Pretty much anything that is out further on the I-76 expressway from the city. The three that I mentioned are a couple to several hundred dollars cheaper in apartment/living costs, but are further from the city (more like a 30 min drive). If your desire is to really be IN the city, I'd recommend the Art Museum area, Olde City, or Society Hill. It can be pricey, depending on what you're looking for, but it's probably the safest you can get for Philadelphia. My personal experience in these areas is lacking, but I have many friends that do live or have lived in these areas and they have never had a problem. I also thought that maybe you'd like to know about where most of the homicides are taking place in Philadelphia, so here's a link to an interactive map (you can zoom in pretty close to be able to see even the streets that murders happen on most often) so you could potentially really plan out where you want to be living. Don't let it freak you out too much, because there are great places to live both in and just outside the city, but I think it's important that you have all the relevant info. http://www.nbc10.com/safercity/13405221/detail.html I wish you and your partner the best of luck. I think you'll both like this city and the areas around it. Just take your time deciding where you want to be. The city has a lot to offer, as do many of its suburbs, and safety is really important... I hope this helps!!