Beyond Campus: Exploring the Best Philadelphia Neighborhoods for College Life

Philadelphia isn’t necessarily thought of as a college town, but it’s home to some of Pennsylvania’s biggest colleges and universities, and thousands of students call the city home. If you’re headed off to school in Philly and feeling a bit overwhelmed by the housing options—don’t worry! Each of the city’s major colleges and universities is surrounded by a varied patchwork of neighborhoods, each with its own vibe.

Want to be close to campus? Want a neighborhood with a lively bar scene? Want to be near great restaurants, coffee shops and art galleries? There’s a neighborhood for you with affordable student housing. I’m Richard, and I’m here to be your ApartmentHomeLiving.com local guide to student rentals in Philadelphia!

University of Pennsylvania

With roughly 10,000 undergraduates and 14,000 graduate students, the University of Pennsylvania is Philadelphia’s largest and most prestigious university. This Ivy League school was founded in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin, and its beautiful campus in West Philly is both historic and state-of-the-art. UPenn is also just minutes from Drexel University, and students of both schools live in many of the same areas.

University City

It doesn’t get much more convenient than living in University City, the neighborhood immediately surrounding both UPenn and Drexel. This is a lively urban neighborhood with a seemingly endless supply of great bars, cafes and restaurants. Baltimore Avenue is one of the main arteries through the neighborhood, and you’ll never run out of new places to eat (check out Pitruco Pizza for some of the best pies in West Philly). University City is also a safe area, highly walkable and bikeable, and a mix of young professionals and students live here.

Spruce Hill

Spruce Hill is considered by many to be part of University City, but it’s also very much its own neighborhood. This is one of the most beautiful parts of West Philadelphia, with tree-lined streets and block after block of stunning Victorian-style row homes. And while the neighborhood has plenty of historic charm, it’s not stuffy at all. In fact, Spruce Hill is known for its easygoing Bohemian vibe. There are some great little corner bars and neighborhood cafes here. Knockbox Cafe and Green Line Cafe both have excellent coffee and a friendly atmosphere, and they’re great places to study while sipping a latte.

Cedar Park

Cedar Park is just west of Spruce Hill, and these neighborhoods are very much two sides of the same coin. Though Cedar Park is the smaller of the two, it has many of the same selling points—beautiful Victorian homes, a tight-knit community and great walkability—along with lots of student rentals. Cedar Park has excellent local shops like Mariposa Food Co-op on Baltimore Ave., and easy SEPTA access connects the neighborhood to campus and Downtown Philly.

Graduate Hospital

Graduate Hospital is a large, mostly residential neighborhood right across the Schuylkill River from the University of Pennsylvania. It’s technically in South Philly, and it’s a great option if you want to be a bit closer to Center City while still being just a short drive or bus ride from campus. Graduate Hospital might feel a bit sleepy compared to the energy of University City, but I would argue that Graduate Hospital is one of Philadelphia’s best-kept secrets. South Street has a great restaurant and bar scene, including Bob and Barbara's Lounge, an iconic (and well-worn) institution that’s been serving up cheap beer-and-a-shot “City-Wide” specials since 1969.

Temple University

The second-largest university in Pennsylvania by enrollment, Temple is a diverse urban university with a tight-knit student community. A research powerhouse known for its outstanding professional programs like medicine, law, dentistry and pharmacy, Temple University is conveniently located right in the heart of North Philly. Some of the city’s best restaurants, iconic landmarks and most vibrant neighborhoods are just a short commute away.

North Central

North Central is a vaguely-defined area in the immediate vicinity of Temple University (a lot of Philly neighborhoods have distinct borders, but this one—not so much). A lot of Temple students live in and around North Central, and you can pretty much walk to campus within 15 minutes from anywhere in the neighborhood. It’s a super affordable area with an urban vibe and lots of cool shops and restaurants along Broad Street. Cecil B. Moore Subway Station is footsteps from campus, and you can be almost anywhere in the city from there within 30 minutes by train.

Brewerytown

A rapidly developing—some might say gentrifying—neighborhood about a mile west of Temple University, Brewerytown is an eclectic area that, I would argue, still has that classic “old Philly neighborhood” feel despite some modern developments. Affordable, student-friendly housing is plentiful, and parking is above average, making Brewerytown one of the better neighborhoods if you own a car. I also love that this part of the city has well-established eateries and bars. Check out Era, a fantastic Ethiopian Restaurant and dive bar, and try the handcrafted burgers and Philly-style sandwiches at Spot Gourmet Burgers.

Fishtown

A tiny fishing village in the 1700s, a tight-knit blue-collar enclave in the 50s and 60s, a casualty of drugs and industrial decline in the 80s and 90s, reborn as Philly’s trendiest neighborhoods in the 21st century. That’s a (very) brief history of Fishtown, a neighborhood that remains Philadelphia’s haven for artists and makers as well as young professionals and entrepreneurs. A short commute from Temple University, Fishtown is a great place to live for students who want to be surrounded by some of the city’s best bars, coffee shops, restaurants, art galleries and nightlife spots.

Northern Liberties

I don’t like to play favorites, but I’ll just say Northern Liberties is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Philadelphia. Much like neighboring Fishtown, Northern Liberties is a former industrial suburb that has turned into a 21st-century hipster hot spot. But the feel is a bit more low-key, somewhat less rowdy, and not quite as packed with out-of-towners. But there is still a lot going on here. Northern Liberties has a vibrant arts community, a lively music scene and no shortage of creative eateries and watering holes. It’s fun, highly walkable, and just 20 minutes from Temple by train.

Community College of Pennsylvania

Serving more than 22,000 students, the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) is a public community college with multiple campuses throughout Philadelphia. The Main Campus is located a stone’s throw from Center City, and it’s largely a commuter college. Students will find a wealth of affordable housing in the neighborhoods that surround the campus.

Fairmount

Starting just a few blocks north of CCP, Fairmount is a large neighborhood that extends from Broad Street westward to the Schuylkill River. It’s a dense, urban, mostly residential neighborhood with lots of trees and housing that ranges from historic rowhomes to modern condominiums. There’s a lot going on here, including plenty of shopping and dining options, but the neighborhood seldom feels crowded or congested. And of course, you can’t beat living this close to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the extensive parklands along the river.

Spring Garden

A charming residential neighborhood of historic brownstones, Victorian homes and modern townhouses, Spring Garden lies immediately north of the Community College campus, wedged between Spring Garden Street and Fairmont Avenue. Spring Garden is considered by some locals to be merely the southern half of Fairmount, but the neighborhood feels different—slightly more upscale—and has arguably better restaurants and bars. There are also excellent shopping destinations in Spring Garden, ranging from local boutiques to major grocery store chains (good news for students: Aldi and Whole Foods are both nearby!)

Poplar

Known as a safe, walkable and renter-friendly neighborhood, Poplar (including West Poplar) lies immediately to the east of Spring Garden. I would argue that the best thing about Poplar is what it's close to—like Chinatown, Northern Liberties and Reading Terminal Market. If there’s a downside to Poplar, it’s that it lacks amenities of its own. But it is highly convenient. Rentals are available at a wide range of price points, and nowhere in the neighborhood is more than a 10-minute drive or 35-minute walk from campus.

Callowhill

Although it's a small neighborhood that spans just a handful of city blocks, Callowhill has risen in recent years to become one of the top places to live for people who want to be close to the heart of Philly. Just across Broad Street from the CCP campus, Callowhill has been nicknamed the "Loft District" for its abundance of high rises and former factories and industrial buildings-turned-apartments. Buzzing nightlife and a thriving art community make it a great place for students, not to mention being convenient to some of Philadelphia's best entertainment venues.

La Salle University

Located in Northwest Philadelphia, about 25 minutes north of Center City, La Salle University is a private Catholic university known for its strong programs in nursing, business and education. The campus spans 133 acres and has a lush, green, almost park-like vibe. Although the majority of students live off campus, the surrounding neighborhoods are mostly residential and offer a lot of great student housing options.

Germantown

I love Germantown! One of Philadelphia’s oldest neighborhoods, Germantown was established by German immigrants in 1683, and some of the homes here are 300 years old. There are modern developments too, giving the neighborhood a playful mix of old and new. Along the cobblestoned Germantown Avenue, you’ll find indie clothing boutiques, funky coffee shops and contemporary art spaces. La Salle University is less than 10 minutes away, as is the stunning Wissahickon Park. Germantown is home to many students of La Salle as well as Thomas Jefferson University, which lies just west of the neighborhood.

Olney

In the last 5 or 10 years, Olney has been quietly turning into one of Philadelphia’s coolest neighborhoods and one of North Philly’s best-kept secrets. Olney is growing rapidly, but there isn’t a sign of gentrification in sight. In addition to being beautiful, well-kept and affordable, Olney is one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in the city. And it has a fantastically eclectic restaurant scene—everything from Colombian cafes and Haitian bakeries to African restaurants and Korean BBQ joints. The east end of the neighborhood abuts the lovely Tacony Creek Park, in which the 3.2-mile Tacony Creek Trail hugs the banks of its namesake creek.

Wister

The area immediately south of La Salle University, Wister is both convenient and affordable for students. Wister has very nice parks and tree-lined residential streets, as well as a modest amount of shopping and dining options. There are more in the surrounding neighborhoods, including Germantown, with which Wister shares a somewhat indistinct border. One of the great things about this area is how well-connected it is via public transportation. The Wister Train Station is a few steps from campus, and you can hop on a train there and find yourself in Center City within 25 minutes, depending on the time of day.

Ogontz

Quiet, peaceful and relaxed, Ogontz and the neighboring Belfield neighborhood make up the tight-knit areas just to the north of La Salle University. This section of the city is well-established, and many families have lived here for generations. That being said, Ogontz is also a welcoming area for newcomers, and students will find plenty of affordable apartments here. It's not the hippest or most happening neighborhood, so it's ideal if you're looking for someplace a bit off the beaten path. Of course, it's not totally removed from city life; bus and train service is rel;iable, and Broad Street provides a straight shot to downtown.