8.9 out of 10

Whitman

Ranked 1st best neighborhood in Philadelphia
39.9140661618161 -75.1417114155979
Great for
  • Neighborly Spirit
  • Safe & Sound
  • Clean & Green
  • Peace & Quiet
  • Public Transport
Not great for
  • Internet Access
  • Lack of Traffic
  • Medical Facilities
  • Pest Free
  • Schools
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Hipsters
  • LGBT+

Reviews

5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Parking 5/5
  • Cost of Living 5/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
2yrs+

"Nice and safe neighborhood for families and young professionals"

My girlfriend works at the Navy Yard and I just started working in Center City so we decided to find a good neighborhood that allows easy access to both our jobs. The public transport here is good, with easy access to the freeway; and living so close to Oregon Ave lets us easily get all our shopping done and gives us many dining options. I live near the Murphy Recreation center, which has been a god send because my girlfriend loves aerobics and I like to play the occasional basketball and soccer. Some of the homes we initially looked at were small, but we found a nice family home with two private parking spots in the back.

The best part is that the prices are way cheaper than the apartments right outside Center City. These homes are more spacious for a portion of the price, but still gives us access to transportation. Plus, the neighbors are so friendly that it feels almost suburb like again.

I'm still on the lookout for the best bar, as there are a lot of dive bars here and I'm looking for more of a date night hangout place. I would appreciate recommendations for a date night!
Pros
  • Diverse community
  • Nice homes
  • Quiet
  • Lawns & Parks
  • Safe
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Country Lovers
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Parking 5/5
  • Cost of Living 5/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"Whitman neighborhood is safe and quaint"

Whitman, like the rest of South Philly, has gone through a lot of gentrification throughout the recent years. Many of the homes closer to Oregon Ave are now filled with young professionals from the Navy Yard. The homes are very mixed, with some smaller ones for singles and the larger family homes with lawns, garages, etc. They have the best parks around, with many access to baseball fields, swimming pools, and other activities for athletes. Convenient location with Septa so you can get to Navy Yard or Center City easily on various different buses or subway. The nightlife can't be as great as Center City, but you're not far away; it has been improving dramatically with the South Bowl and new bars and restaurants opening up on Oregon Ave. Overall, if you can find the right house and fits your family need, it is probably the best choice in terms of safety, accessibility, and neighbor friendliness. Whitman gives me of the vibe of a small town located in a big city.
Pros
  • Diverse community
  • Nice homes
  • Quiet
  • Safe
  • Lawns & Parks
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"You wont find Leaves of Grass here"

Whitman is a predominantly African American neighborhood located in the Southeast section of Philadelphia. It is situated between Front Street to the east, Bigler Street to the south, 6th Street to the west and Snyder Avenue to the north. The neighborhood is named after the Walt Whitman Bridge that is located near it.
The area is home to 26,300 residents consisting of many different ethnic backgrounds including Asian, Latino, Irish, Italian and Polish.
Whitman offers typical two and three-story row homes as its main housing units. There are also a couple of apartment complexes in the area that provide affordable living options for residents.
Whitman is not the most appealing neighborhood to live in for young people. It’s safe and affordable, but it is a largely residential family oriented area. During baseball season, the area can see major traffic congestion due to all of the Phillies fans going to Citizens Bank Park to watch the game.
The main shopping areas of Whitman are located along Snyder Avenue. This is also the main transportation artery for the neighborhood and offers easy access to Interstate 76.
Whitman enjoys a low crime rate and can be a great place to live if you want to be somewhat removed from the action of the city.
Pros
  • Quiet
  • Diverse community
  • Nice homes
Cons
  • Baseball traffic
  • Not a lot of nightlife opportunities
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
JohnM9
JohnM9 According to the census and my own experience, Whitman is predominantly White, with a lot of Italians and Irish; but now there is a lot of diversity and growing. In 2000 the census shows majority caucasian, but the influx of students and young professionals have mixed it up a lot more in recent years.
2yrs+
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39.9150517787861 -75.1521748714608
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39.915707223973 -75.1564981136684

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