Unlock Your Philly Commute: Your Guide to Renting Near the City's Biggest Employers

Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods. Those who live here take great pride in our specific corners of the city. With many of Philadelphia’s largest employers scattered across very different parts of the city, Philly offers unique and diverse opportunities to live near where you work. I'm Richard, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for finding the perfect apartment in each Philly neighborhood.

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University of Pennsylvania & Penn Medicine

More than 54,000 people work for the University of Pennsylvania & Penn Medicine, making it the largest employer in Philadelphia. The picturesque campus and hospital complex is located west of the Schuylkill River, amid a collection of neighborhoods collectively referred to as West Philadelphia.

University City

The area immediately surrounding the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Medicine is called University City, and as you can probably tell from the name alone, this is basically Philly’s college town. It’s a bustling, upbeat area with a lot going on. There are a ton of shops, bars, restaurants and other businesses throughout the area, especially on and around Walnut Street.

Areas close to campus are predominantly student rentals, and you can expect to encounter the crowds and noise levels that go along with that. But head farther out and you’ll find that much of the neighborhood is inhabited by young professionals, doctors and professors. Another perk of University City is excellent access to parks and green spaces.

Powelton Village

A stone’s throw from UPenn, Drexel and other colleges in University City, Powelton Village is a funky little enclave known for its diversity, community atmosphere and all-are-welcome vibe. It’s a fun place to live, and you can’t beat the convenience of living 10 minutes from where you work.

Lancaster Ave. serves as the neighborhood’s semi-official southwestern boundary, and the avenue is home to a great variety of restaurants and cafes (try Madis Coffee Roasters for some of the best coffee in the area). Powelton Village is home to people from all walks of life. It has a reputation as one of the safest West Philly neighborhoods, and it’s also relatively affordable to rent in an old Victorian home or quaint townhouse.

Fitler Square

Directly across the Schuylkill River from University City, Fitler Park is a beautiful neighborhood that offers a really excellent blend of historic charm and contemporary amenities. The neighborhood is mostly quiet and residential, with stately old row houses and clean streets lined with mature trees. It has that hard-to-define classic Philly feel.

Fitler Square is a short commute from the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Medicine—just a quick jaunt across the river via either Walnut or South Street. The neighborhood has some lovely green spaces too, including Schuylkill River Park and its namesake park, Fitler Square, which hosts one of my favorite local farmers’ markets every Saturday.

Spruce Hill

Historic homes with big porches and shady trees typify Spruce Hill, a West Philadelphia neighborhood that has become one of the most desirable places to live in the city. Spruce Hill has beautiful Victorian architecture, diverse shopping and dining options and beautiful parks. It’s very pet-friendly, and you’ll want to explore Clark Park, which serves as a gathering place for local residents and four-legged friends.

Spruce Hill is barely a 5 to 10-minute drive from Penn Medicine, and excellent access to public transportation means having a car isn’t really necessary here. Spruce Hill was originally dubbed a “streetcar suburb” when it was first connected to the city by trolley car, and the trolleys still run along Baltimore Avenue.

Cedar Park

Cedar Park is located immediately west of Spruce Hill, and in many ways, these two neighborhoods are two sides of the same coin. Known for its large historic homes, Cedar Park offers a culturally diverse vibe with a strong sense of community. Like Spruce Hill, it’s connected to the city at large via streetcar, making it a great neighborhood to live in Philly if you don’t have a car.

The majority of Cedar Park is quiet and residential. The neighborhood’s main commercial artery is Baltimore Avenue, which is also its southern boundary. I love Maripose Food Co-Op for local produce and organic food, and Baltimore Ave. offers a fantastic array of multicultural restaurants ranging from Halal food to Vietnamese, Pakistani and Laotian.

Comcast

The Comcast Corporation employs roughly 16,000 people in Philadelphia. The company’s headquarters in Philadelphia is the Comcast Center, also known as the Comcast Tower, in Center City West.

Poplar

Just north of Center City and 10 minutes from the Comcast Center, Poplar is a historic neighborhood in the process of undergoing some major revitalization. As recently as 10 years ago, it might not have been one of the best areas to live, but today’s Poplar looks very different, with new loft-style apartments and increasing numbers of restaurants and other local businesses.

West Poplar is arguably the best part of the neighborhood. There are plenty of shopping and dining options here, and the area is an increasingly popular place to live for young professionals and families. There are great live music venues in the area too, with PhilaMOCA and Union Transfer being just a few blocks apart.

Northern Liberties

One of Philadelphia’s trendiest neighborhoods, Northern Liberties has seen a tremendous amount of development in the last 15 years, but it hasn’t swallowed up the neighborhood’s historic charm. Apartments are abundant, and you might find yourself renting in a historic walk-up or a pristine new build—it just depends on your preference.

Northern Liberties is friendly and walkable, with a picturesque riverfront. It has a real “neighborhood” vibe, and it’s a great place for folks who enjoy urban living. There’s a lively bar scene, lots of excellent restaurants and cafes, and the neighborhood is well-connected by public transportation. The Comcast Center is a 15-minute drive or a 20-minute train ride away.

Passyunk Square

South Philly’s Passyunk Square is a classic Philadelphia neighborhood. Both historic and trendy, it’s urban living at its best. Most of the homes here are 19th and early 20th-century row houses, including iconic Philadelphia trinity houses. The neighborhood’s core artery is East Passyunk Avenue, one of the few diagonal streets that breaks up South Philly’s grid-like pattern.

It’s a great place to live for families and working professionals, and Comcast is less than 15 minutes away. Passyunk Square has gone through many phases over its long history. These days, it’s known as one of Philadelphia’s major foodie neighborhoods, with eateries ranging from iconic cheesesteaks (Gino’s) to James Beard Award winners (Mawn).

Queen Village

A long-established neighborhood that has endured multiple generations of upswing and downturn, Queen Village was a gritty punk hangout in the 1970s and 80s. Today, it’s inhabited by working professionals who enjoy the quick commute to City Center, young families and first-time home buyers, along with plenty of neighborhood regulars who have been here for decades.

South Street is the heart of the neighborhood’s commercial corridor, and it’s lined with dozens of great restaurants and bars. Parts of the street turn into kind of a party zone on summer weekend nights, and it can get a bit raucous at times, but the neighborhood as a whole is safe and (mostly) quiet. The residential streets are quaint and leafy, with beautiful old houses.

Washington Square West

Located immediately northwest of Queen Village, Washington Square West is easily one of the most fun places to live in Philadelphia. It has what I consider to be the perfect balance between stately historic charm and fun, upbeat contemporary culture. Houses here are mostly old row homes, and the neighborhood has a vibrancy that’s hard to describe.

Washington Square West is eclectic, welcoming, LGBTQ-friendly and generally willing to have a good time. The food scene ranges from bustling diners to tiny hole-in-the-wall eateries, many of them tucked away in Alice-in-Wonderland-esque alleyways. One of my favorite ways to pass the time in Washington Square West is browsing the dozen-plus antique shops that line Pine Street, i.e. “Antique Alley.”

Temple University & Health System

Nearly 20,000 people work for Temple University & Health System in Philadelphia, making it one of several education and healthcare powerhouses ranked among the city’s largest employers. Temple Health System has multiple facilities all over the city, with the Temple University Hospital Main Campus located in North Philadelphia.

East Falls

East Falls is one of Philadelphia’s great under-the-radar neighborhoods, and despite mentioning it here, I kind of hope it stays under the radar. Located along the Schuylkill River in Northwest Philadelphia, it’s a former fishing and industrial hub that has taken on a more suburban character as the years have passed. Call it a “suburban oasis” surrounded by the city on all sides.

Homes here are mostly quaint old single-family residences, though there are also some modern developments. Standout places to eat and drink in East Falls include Billy Murphy’s (one of the best dive bars in Philly) and the ever-reliable Wissahickon Brewing Company. The drive to Temple University Hospital is under 15 minutes.

Germantown

One of Philadelphia’s most historic neighborhoods, Germantown feels like its own little village tacked onto Northwest Philly. There are some great shops and cafes along Chelton and Germantown Avenues (shout out to Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books!) and there are lots of opportunities to live in beautiful, historic homes with real yards and mature trees. It’s a great family neighborhood.

Despite being a bit far from the City Center, Germantown is still well-connected. From the heart of Germantown, you can be at Temple University in 15 minutes by car or 30 minutes by train. The neighborhood itself is very walkable and has great access to many acres of spectacular parklands along Wissahickon Creek.

Fishtown

Hip, vibrant, trendy, revitalized—all adjectives regularly used to describe Fishtown, an industrial area turned arts haven alongside the Delaware River. Fishtown has blossomed in the 21st century, becoming the hottest neighborhoods for young people moving to Philly. It remains a truly fun, energized place to live. Fishtown is home to some of Philadelphia’s most unique bars, restaurants, art galleries and music venues.

Most people who live here are renters, and options range from classic row houses to brand-spanking-new mid-rise apartment buildings. There has been a ton of development here over the last 20 years, but it hasn’t erased the neighborhood’s funky vibe. Temple University & Health System is under 20 minutes away by car, or about 30 minutes if you take the “L.”

Port Richmond

East of Fishtown and 15 minutes from Temple University, Port Richmond is an old Philly neighborhood that still has its historic character mostly intact. I-95 runs right through the neighborhood, connecting it to the rest of the city, and there’s a walking trail to Fishtown under the freeway.

Residents are a mix of transplants and old timers, and homes are mostly typical brick row houses. Occasional new builds are sprinkled in, but you won’t find much in the way of gentrification here. Stroll along Richmond Street and check out all the classic cafes, Polish delis, neighborhood pubs and mom-and-pop shops (Launderette Records might just be my favorite record store in Philly).

Manayunk

The best way I can describe Manayunk is as if a small town somehow got stuck in the middle of Philadelphia. Nestled in the hills above the Schuylkill River, it has water on one side and extensive parkland on the other, making it feel almost completely removed from city life. Even so, public transit and easy access to I-76 make it well-connected. The Temple University Hospital Main Campus is about 20 minutes away.

Most of Manayunk is charming and residential, with lots of picturesque houses. It’s a popular neighborhood for people to “leave the city” and start a family. The upper part of the neighborhood is especially quiet and family-oriented, while the “bottom of the hill” area closer to Main Street is more bustling, including some areas with a lively college-town vibe.