PhillyLove

Affectionately called G.Ho by most of the younger residents of this neighborhood, Graduate Hospital is one of the best places to live in Philadelphia if you want a neighborhood feel, fairly clean streets and proximity to Center City just south of Rittenhouse Square. This neighborhood stretches down to Broad Street and over to Washington Ave.

A few years ago, new construction was very prevalent in this neighborhood, with rehabbed row homes going up practically every day. This led to greater gentrification of the area, and now it's normal to see college students and young professionals walking the streets in addition to residents who own homes here and have for many years.

Part of the reason that this area is popular to live in is that you don't need to walk into Center City to find a cool bar or restaurant. Places like Grace's Tavern, Resurrection Ale House and Side Car Bar attract not only residents of the neighborhood, but people from all over the city. Graduate Hospital is also less pricey than neighboring Rittenhouse Square and Washington Square, so living here gives you that city feel without emptying your pockets.

One of the biggest downfalls of living in G.Ho is that as more people move into the area, parking spots diminish. Expect to circle the neighborhood for a while before finding a space to park in, especially on weekends.

Northern Liberties, or NoLibs as it's called by many, is a little bit past the up-and-coming stage in my point of view. The nightlife, dining, shopping and music scenes are all clearly defined, and more and more people are moving into this neighborhood without hesitation. Fishtown is up-and-coming, NoLibs is already there.

The boundaries of NoLibs are roughly Girard Avenue, Callowhill Street, the Delaware River and 6th Street. Within this rectangle you'll find town homes,row homes, apartment buildings, lofts and condos. While the area seems mostly to belong to renters, its evident that buyers will continue to look at NoLibs as the place to purchase.

One of the reasons that many people flock towards Northern Liberties is the Piazza at Schmidts. Recently opened, the Piazza serves as a hub for dining, shopping and live events. When the weather is nice, the Piazza is packed. The bars, restaurants and shops along 2nd Street are also extremely popular.

Because of all the revitalization and rejuvenation of this area, prices are on their way up in terms of cost of living. Northern Liberties has thus become sort of an exclusive place to live. Get in while there are still quality places available!

When living in University City while attending college in Philadelphia, I was always somewhat jealous of those living in Powelton Village, as it seemed to be an actual neighborhood just outside of the raucous that is University City. Powelton Village is definitely the nicer part of West Philadelphia, and while it once seemed that this area was relatively student-free, that seems to have changed in the past few years.

The old, Victorian homes in Powelton Village are attractive to most, especially those going to graduate school at Drexel or Penn, or working in the Penn Hospital. You get a lot of rooms in each property, and some great architecture. Most of the streets are lined with trees, and parking is much easier than a few streets to the south where Drexel's campus takes over.

Powelton Village has more of a community feel than University City proper, which can seen disjointed since residents are always moving in and out. Residents of Powelton Village genuinely seem to care about the neighborhood and how changes to the neighborhood will affect their community.

Overall, Powelton Village is a great place for those attending one of the nearby universities to live if they want to be a little bit further removed from the college atmosphere of University City. It's also a nice place for families. While property value is still low compared to areas within Center City, prices will continue to rise as this area gains popularity.

Packed with history and charm, Old City is a must-see spot in Philadelphia for both residents of the city and visitors. Because of this, however, Old City might not be an ideal spot to live for many. A consistent flow of tourists to this area makes parking a nightmare, and noise an issue.

Tucked along the Delaware River just east of Center City, Old City is where you'll find historic monuments and buildings. It's fun to just walk around the cobblestone streets looking at the architecture, visiting the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, and sitting in the public parks people watching. At night, the area transforms into a happening spot to go out, with plenty of bars, clubs and restaurants. Around 2am, the streets get really crowded and noisy as people leave the bars.

Living in Old City isn't cheap, as this area is considered prime real estate. Opt for a place that comes with parking to avoid having to circle the block hundreds of times looking for a spot, and buyers would best with purchasing a place that comes with a garage. Steer clear of Market Street and Chestnut Street around 2nd Street to get away from the noisiest parts of Old City.

There is always something going on in University City thanks to the residents that inhabit this lively, academic neighborhood. Home to students of Drexel University, Penn University and the University of the Sciences, University City is one of the best places to live if you are starting out at college or looking for a place to meet other college students.

The majority of homes and apartments in University City are rented by students, which means that this location is probably not ideal for families with children. At any hour of the day, groups of students can be seen walking the streets, on their way to or from class or other activities. Weekends are noisy, and the streets are crowded.

However, with the influx of students moving to this area, the neighborhood has recently added a number of new dining and shopping areas. The main streets, Market, Walnut and Chestnut is where you'll find the majority of bars and restaurants, but some are also tucked along Sansom Street.

Head to this neighborhood if you are a student, or even recently graduated. The social atmosphere is excellent, and there are plenty of opportunities to meet new people. University City is also one of the safer areas of the city, as Penn security canvases the streets on bikes at all hours of the day and night.

It seems that East Falls gets forgotten about a lot when discussing Philadelphia. This small neighborhood is nestled between the city and Manayunk, making it a great place to live for those who work in the city but still want to feel like they aren't living IN Center City. With easy access to the R5, commuting long the river to and from East Falls is easy and affordable.

Just like its neighbor Manayunk, East Falls was basically built on hills, making parking a bit of a nightmare and one way streets not easy to navigate. Nearby Philadelphia University means that a lot of renters in this area will be students, so noise levels may be an issue for some looking to rent or buy.

However, many people see the proximity to the city and proximity to the Kelly Drive walking and biking trail and Fairmount Park entrances a major plus and can overlook the hills and the noisy renters. There are a few good restaurants and bars in this neighborhood, but it's most likely that residents would drive or take the train to Manayunk or the city on the weekends or at night.

While there isn't much to actually do in Fairmount in terms of shopping and attractions, this location definitely feels like a neighborhood. The Fairmount and Art Museum neighborhoods feature some of the most picturesque streets in Philly, with brownstone and tree lined streets. A lot of people, both renters and home owners, are packed into this relatively small neighborhood.

One of the best parts about this neighborhood is the park - Fairmount/Art Museum stretches along Boathouse Row and Kelly Drive, giving access to the biking/walking path and park areas that are really nice when the temps are warm. However, because of its proximity to the Art Museum, there's often a lot of traffic.

Fairmount Ave is definitely the place to go for food and drinks in this neighborhood. The street is lined with restaurants and bars, and can get pretty busy, especially when the weather is nice. Fairmount also has a couple smaller restaurants and BYOBs that are off the main drag, a favorite of mine being Umai Umai.

Overall, this neighborhood is a great place to rent or buy since it's close to center city (within walking distance at some points) and has a great neighborhood feel. The downside is that you pay for being close to the city in a nicer neighborhood, so rental and purchase rates can be high.