4 Philadelphia Neighborhoods for Families With Young Children

If you are moving to Philadelphia with a family in tow, you must choose the right neighborhood. Philadelphia is a beautiful city with a lot to offer. However, each neighborhood has its own pros and cons. As realtors with decades upon decades of local expertise, we wanted to give our prospective neighbors our advice on the top four Philadelphia neighborhoods for families with children.

1. Bella Vista

In recent years Bella Vista has become a haven in the city for families with young children. Located southeast of Center City, this area was once home to only college kids and artists. However, as it has several top-rated public schools, including Julia R. Masterman Secondary School (voted the second-best public high school in Pennsylvania), Central High School, the Science Leadership Academy, and Carver High School, it is now much more common to see strollers than skateboards. Though the area’s housing stock is mostly small, old-build, duplexes and single-family homes, there continues to be a steady stream of new developments that have increased the diversity in the types and sizes of homes you can buy.

2. Queen Village

Queen Village is directly east of Bella Vista and shares several of the same top-rated schools. Unlike Bella Vista, however, Queen Village offers an almost suburban feel. These homes have an incredible amount of lawn space for being located in a major US city. Queen Village also has great proximity to a lot of the big box stores in the commercial district along Columbus Boulevard. This will let you ditch the car for an afternoon shopping trip and take a walk with the family instead. Or, walk a few blocks to the riverfront instead! Your kids may take quite an interest in World War II and mast-and-sail sloops that stud the riverbank!

3. Filter Square

For parents of young children who are still trying to stay young themselves, Filter Square is the perfect middle-ground. With a spattering of bars and nightlife venues that feature the most successful of local artists and performers, juxtaposed in daylight by families taking their children on play dates in the gorgeous Schuylkill River Park, there is something for everyone in the family. Plus, the elementary school that serves Filter Square, Greenfield Elementary School, is one of the best in the city. That makes these brick townhouses a perfect spot to begin your family’s life in Philadelphia.

4. Chestnut Hill

It goes without saying that on any list like this, Chestnut Hill has to be included. Especially if your children are coming from the suburbs and need greenery to survive, Chestnut Hill is the place to be: with trees upon trees, huge lawns, and professional landscaping at every house, it is easily the most beautiful residential neighborhood in the city. It also sports the lowest crime rate and the highest per-capita income in the city, which is sure to put any family at ease as they are planning their move to Philadelphia.

While we hope the recommendation of these four neighborhoods can give you a head start in planning your move to our great city, they are by no means the only places fit for a family with young children. If you need help finding the best spot in Philadelphia neighborhoods for families, contact us. We know this city from top to bottom and can find you the perfect starter home in Philadelphia, or somewhere you can live the rest of your life.