Philadelphia is one of America’s great cities, with a history stretching back hundreds of years. With a vibrant culture, delicious food, and numerous iconic cultural attractions, there’s a lot to do and explore in Philadelphia. The city has many iconic neighborhoods and must-visit spots, and is surrounded by gorgeous suburbs and picturesque towns.
In a big city, where there is a lot to explore and so much to do, narrowing down the options is never easy. The city of brotherly love and its surrounding areas are bursting at the seams with incredible places just waiting to be visited. Many of these places make for dream spots to settle down.
Let’s look at some of the top neighborhoods, suburbs, and towns in the Philadelphia area that are perfect for making a home.
Philadelphia Neighborhoods
Many classically Philadelphia areas have become iconic and are great options for those looking to enjoy a city lifestyle. Old City is a neighborhood known for its colonial-era sites and was one of the spots where the independence movement began. It is now a busy modern neighborhood with nightlife, restaurants, and attractions.
For more of a trendy, hipster location, Northern Liberties makes for a great option. Northeast of Fishtown, another trendy location, Northern Liberties has a great art scene, tons of bars and craft beer halls, and delicious restaurants. Manayunk is another area considered stylish and modern, although it attracts a more mainstream crowd with crowded bars, boutique shops, and galleries.
For a more residential, family-friendly spot, Bella Vista is a great place to reside. It also happens to be one of the best spots in the city for delicious eats. Bella Vista has an open-air Italian market, countless specialty grocery stores, bakeries, and a restaurant that was one of the early creators of the Philly Cheesesteak. Another residential and quiet neighborhood is Chestnut Hill, a green and historic area known for its Harry Potter Festival every year and the top-notch real estate it provides.
Point Breeze is a Philadelphia neighborhood on the rise, with a diverse local population reflected in various Vietnamese, Mexican, and other international restaurants. These are just some of the many great Philly neighborhoods.
Suburbs
The areas that surround Philadelphia are full of quaint and quiet suburbs with great proximity to the city. There are college towns, like Villanova, and classic small-town-America towns surrounded by greenery like Blue Bell. Philadelphia is a major city with a significant economy, but there’s much to like for those looking to live outside of the city.
Bryn Mawr is a well-known suburb just West of Philadelphia known for its serene streets lined with retail stores and restaurants and the colleges and schools nearby. It is an idyllic place for a family home. Not far away is King of Prussia, a Philadelphia edge city with affordable real estate and office space. It is also home to the King of Prussia Mall, the largest retail space in the U.S.
Located along the Schuylkill River, you’ll find Conshohocken, which is close to Bryn Mawr and another great suburb, Ardmore. Conshohocken was formerly a mill and industrial town, but after the industry’s decline, it has become a riverfront hotspot for many buyers seeking a pleasant place to settle. Media is a similarly small town with old architecture, brick buildings, and a strong community.
For even smaller suburbs, Devon and Berwyn are both very lightly populated areas that are part of Philadelphia’s Main Line suburbs. They’re perfect for people who want to live near Philadelphia but in a quieter area. Swarthmore is a suburb to the west of Philadelphia, which is a quaint college town with some quality natural scenery.
Other great suburbs that offer great access to Philadelphia are Narberth, Haddonfield, and Exton.
Towns
Further outside of Philadelphia, numerous towns are either famous or hidden gems. From quiet and small Pennsylvania locations to bigger towns with impressive histories, the outer edges of the Philadelphia area are ripe with beautiful locations.
For one, there’s Gettysburg, the site of the famed Gettysburg Address and Battle of Gettysburg. Another town with an interesting history is Johnstown, the site of a notorious flood. It has rebounded to become a strong city with a great local culture. Jim Thorpe is also a historic town because it is the resting place of all-time athlete Jim Thorpe. It has been called the “Switzerland of America” due to its incredible scenery.
If you’re looking for a great small town, how about one that was voted the “coolest small town in America?” Lititz has held that title, and the cities quaint streets and delicious food are a big reason. There’s also Bloomsburg, a vibrant little town with major job opportunities and a strong local economy. Bloomsburg also has a great downtown with a variety of small businesses like shops and restaurants.
A bigger town not far from Philadelphia is Lancaster. It is one of the oldest inland towns in the United States, and while it has come to be known for its large Amish population, it also has great food and gorgeous countryside. It’s a short drive away from Strasburg, a quiet small town with a great theater scene and quaint bed and breakfasts.
With other highly regarded small towns like Milford, Lawrenceville, New Hope, and Wellsboro, Pennsylvania is filled with small towns that are top-notch places to make a home.
