Exploring the Top 10 Safest Neighborhoods in Philadelphia

Historically, Philadelphia is known to struggle with high crime rates. According to the AreaVibes report, the city’s overall crime rate is roughly 131% higher than the United States average. In 2025, the Philly Police Department reported over 10,000 violent crimes and 53,000 property crimes.

However, crime is not uniform, as some neighborhoods, including Bustleton, Chestnut Hill, and Fox Chase, are among the safest in the city. So, where you live in Philadelphia matters greatly in terms of safety.

Keeping your safety in mind, we have gathered a list of the safest neighborhoods in Philadelphia. Read on to discover such low-crime areas and get essential security tips to protect yourself in the city.

How We Measured the Safety of Neighborhoods in Philadelphia?

We measured neighborhood safety using trusted sources, including AreaVibes and NeighborhoodScout. Both these statistics platforms aggregate FBI and local police data to give insights into crime trends.

Is Philadelphia Completely Safe? Crime Statistics

No, Philadelphia is not completely safe. It has an overall high crime rate by national standards. AreaVibes data show Philly’s crime rate is about 165% above the USA average. In fact, Philly routinely ranks among the worst major United States cities for violent crime.

Even NeighborhoodScout reports that there is over a 1-in-101 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime in this city. With total crimes reaching over 60.96 per 1000 residents, Philly is surely one of the dangerous cities in the United States.

Nevertheless, you can still live peacefully in Philadelphia if you pick an area with low crime. Some of the safest neighborhoods in Philadelphia to live in include Chestnut Hill and Bustleton. Still, residents should follow safety tips while living in these areas to remain protected from crimes.

Top 10 Philadelphia Safest Neighborhoods in 2025

After analyzing the crime rates on authentic platforms, such as NeighborhoodScout and AreaVibes, we have identified Philadelphia’s safest neighborhoods. Go through this quick table and its details for an in-depth review of safety status.

1. Bustleton

Bustleton’s crime rate is essentially at the national average, just 1% above the United States norm. Violent crime there is much lower, reaching about 2.04 per 1000, which is 44% below the national rate. As a result, Bustleton becomes safer than roughly 86% of cities in Pennsylvania.

Moreover, Bustleton is known for its quiet blocks, Pennypack Park, and good schools. Based on the recent statistics, there is only a 1-in-44 chance of becoming a victim of crime in this safest neighborhood in Philadelphia.

2. Chestnut Hill

Chestnut Hill has a Crime Grade of C+. Compared to the rest of Philadelphia, its violent crime (279 per 100k) is 23% below the country’s average. In practical terms, Chestnut Hill is safer than 83% of Pennsylvania cities.

Moreover, this neighborhood has top-rated schools and quiet streets, making it ideal for a safe family lifestyle. It is called “peaceful and quiet” with above-average safety from crime in Pennsylvania.

3. Fox Chase

Fox Chase reports 43% fewer crimes than the city average. Being safer than the rest of Philadelphia, its total crime (3440 per 100k) is still about 154% of the United States average.

However, the violent crime rate of this neighborhood (341 per 100k) is 6%below the national rate. In this safest neighborhood in Philadelphia 2025, families enjoy large yards, the Fox Chase Farm park, and a commuter rail station.

4. Somerton

Somerton sits at Philadelphia’s far northeast tip, containing single-family homes with shopping strips. Its total crime (3,623 per 100k) is over 159% of the national average, but violent crime is 7%below the USA average.

Overall, this Philadelphia safest neighborhood is safer than around 81% of Pennsylvania cities. With neighborhood watches in place, Somerton’s residents generally feel safe, even at night.

5. Rhawnhurst

Rhawnhurst has 32% less crime than the city. Moreover, this neighborhood gets a D+ crime grade, but still remains safer than 72% of other Pennsylvania cities. With over 392 per 100k violentcrimes reported, it has a bit higher crime rate than the previous safest neighborhoods in Philadelphia.

While that retail district attracts some street activity, much of Rhawnhurst’s interior is quiet. Plus, it even includes the large Cottman-Castor business strip and several schools for families.

6. City Center East

City Center East’s crime volume is 60% below the citywide average based on the rankings. Of course, it ranks poorly by national standards with the F crime grade on the platform. However, compared to Philadelphia’s neighborhoods, it’s still relatively safe.

When it comes to violent crimes, this one of the safest neighborhoods in Philadelphia, 2025 experiences 393 per 100k residents. This area includes the Pennsylvania Convention Center and Dilworth Park for families to hang around in peace.

7. South Philadelphia

South Philadelphia is historically a densely populated area with strong community life. It has 39% fewer crimes than the Philadelphia average. However, on a national scale, it still gets an F rating and is only safer than 42% of Pennsylvania cities.

Talking about the violent crimes, this is the safest neighborhood in Philadelphia to live in, experiencing 672 incidents per 100k residents.

8. Holmesburry-Torresdale

Located in the far Northeast, Holmesburg is a mostly residential area with older homes. It sees about 36% less crime than the Philadelphia average. Nonetheless, this platform gives it an F rating on the national scale, since any Philly crime still looks high versus the USA norms.

Being safer than 25% of PA cities, this neighborhood has homes near rivers and parks like Pennypack. Shopping is limited, which also means few disturbances.

9. Cedarbrook

Despite being among the safest neighborhoods in Philadelphia, Cedarbrook has an F rating nationally. Although only 22% of PA cities are safer than this place, local residents see streets with relatively little trouble. Cedarbrook’s tree-lined blocks and neighborhood schools make this area perfect for family safety.

Moreover, it has few major commercial corridors, which keeps evening crime low. Nearby parks and recreation areas, such as Fairmount Park’s Edge Hill, make this place attractive.

10. Olney

Olney is one of the city’s most populous neighborhoods. Despite having 36% less crime than the Philadelphia average, it still receives an F crime rating nationally. Also, Olney is only safer than 18% of Pennsylvania cities, reflecting the crime challenges in some parts.

It even has busy commercial avenues, such as Broad Street and Olney Avenue. Crime tends to concentrate on those main commercial corridors after dark.

How to Select the Safest Places to Live in Philadelphia?

When considering the move to Philadelphia, the list above will help you pick the right place. To better choose the Philadelphia safest neighborhood, explore these tips:

• Assess Local Infrastructure: Safe areas often have well-lit streets and visible law enforcement or security patrols. Check if the area has neighborhood watch programs or private security, which are common in some gated communities.
• Consider Socioeconomic Factors: You should pick areas with higher education levels and stable employment rates, which means lower crime. Overall, well-funded neighborhoods in PA tend to invest more in safety.
• Visit In Person: Before picking the safest neighborhood in Philadelphia to live in, walk the area at different times. Feeling welcome and seeing families is a positive sign, while obvious signs of neglect or fear mean caution.
• Plan for Lifestyle: Even safe neighborhoods have blocks that are less secure. So, you need to choose areas near schools and active businesses rather than isolated blocks.

Most Dangerous Neighborhoods to Avoid in Philadelphia

When looking for the safest places to live in Philadelphia, you need to avoid neighborhoods with much higher crime rates than the city's average. Some of these areas include:

1. Nicetown – Tioga

Nicetown is notorious for violence, as it faces nearly 3 times the city’s violent crime rate. The total crime rate reaches about 2894 per 100k, which is 194% above average.

2. Kensington

Present in North Philadelphia, Kensington has been in the news for crime and drugs. Its crime rates are 275% higher than the national average.

3. Hunting Park

Hunting Park also sees a sky-high violent crime rate, roughly double the city norm. Hunting Park has about 2,052 violent crimes per 100k, which is over 109% above average.

4. North Central Philadelphia

This neighborhood has extremely high crime statistics, with a violent crime rate of 952 per 100k. Its crime rate reaches 156% above national norms.

5. Strawberry Mansion

Strawberry Mansion sees the highest violent crime rate of any Philadelphia neighborhood on record. The total crime rate of this city is 405% higher than the national average.

What are The Best Ways to Stay Safe in Violent Neighborhoods in Philadelphia?

Even if you live or travel in a high-crime area, there are precautions you can take to improve safety. Here are some tips you can follow:

1. Reinforce Entry Points

Strong locks and secure windows make a huge difference in preventing break-ins. If you’re upgrading, a eufy Smart Lock is a great choice because you can lock or unlock your door from your phone and even use fingerprint access.

Pair it with a eufy Video Doorbell to clearly see who’s outside and get motion alerts in real time. Add window film and anti-lift devices to sliding doors for extra protection.

2. Build Community Awareness

To create overall safety, get to know neighbors and participate in a neighborhood watch. Strong social ties deter crime and create informal surveillance. Plus, exchange contact info with trusted neighbors, and consider forming a local safety network to quickly share alerts.

3. Install Quality Security Cameras

Modern cameras greatly increase security in some of the most dangerous Philly neighborhoods. For example, the eufy Security Camera Collection offers wireless outdoor cameras like the EufyCam 3 and SoloCam S330. These cameras record in high resolution and have IP67 waterproof housing to keep running in bad weather.

Moreover, these cameras stream live video to your phone and send motion alerts, so you can see anyone near your home. They work in low light and store encrypted footage locally to the device, making them a perfect deterrent to potential intruders.

4. Stay Alert and Plan

When visiting dangerous neighborhoods, walk with confidence and plan routes on populated streets. Keep doors locked and valuables hidden at all times. If parking, use secured lots or garages. When possible, travel with others, especially at night.

5. Use an All-in-One Alarm System

Consider a monitored system like the eufy ExpertSecure system for layered protection. This system combines local AI-powered monitoring with on-demand expert backup. It uses a HomeBase unit plus cameras, sensors, and motion detectors.

If an alarm triggers, the local AI verifies the event using video, and it can alert a live monitoring center. Some of its key features include instant video verification, integrated fire alarms, and encrypted local storage.

Critically, because it works without relying solely on Wi-Fi, it keeps working during outages. In a violent neighborhood of Philadelphia, this means your home is watched continuously. The system’s app also lets you manage sensors remotely and contact authorities quickly.

Conclusion

While Philadelphia overall has a high crime rate, several communities, including Bustleton, Chestnut Hill, and Fox Chase, enjoy much lower crime rates. By choosing to live in these safer areas, residents can minimize risks. No matter if you live in the safest neighborhoods in Philadelphia or the dangerous ones, implementing advanced security measures is key.

In particular, modern systems like eufy’s security solutions can improve safety. As the best solution, we recommend that residents buy eufy ExpertSecure systems for home protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What part of Philly is safest?

Chestnut Hill and Bustleton frequently top safety rankings for Philadelphia. For example, Bustleton’s crime rate is about 62% below the city average, making it one of Philadelphia's safest neighborhoods.

Which Philadelphia neighborhood has the lowest crime rate?

By several metrics, Bustleton and Chestnut Hill have the lowest crime rates. Bustleton’s total crime is near the national average, with roughly 2,300 crimes per 100k residents. Moreover, Chestnut Hill’s violent crime rate is 23% below the USA rate.

Is Philadelphia safe to live in?

Philadelphia overall has higher crime than most USA cities (crime 165% above the national average). That doesn’t mean it’s universally unsafe. Many residents live here safely by choosing the safest neighborhoods in Philadelphia. City centers have a moderate risk at night, but suburbs like Chestnut Hill or Bustleton have very low violent crime.

Which city is safer, NYC or Philadelphia?

Statistically, New York City is safer than Philadelphia. Comparisons show NYC has about 44% less violent crime and 47% less property crime than Philadelphia. In other words, moving from Philadelphia to New York generally means a lower risk of crime.