The 5 best neighborhoods for retirees in Philadelphia

Thao Tram Ngo

01 Nov 2023

The Western face of Philadelphia's city hall during the sunset hour

We used our proprietary Location Scores to rank the neighborhoods in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based on the following characteristics that matter to retirees: Pedestrian-friendly, Transit-friendly, Parks, Groceries, and Quiet.

Here’s our list of the best neighborhoods for retirees in Philadelphia:

  1. Bella Vista
  2. Society Hill
  3. Point Breeze
  4. Fitler Square
  5. Fairmount

Quantifying the characteristics of the best places to live in Philadelphia for retirees

Getting a sense of place in Philadelphia through location data

Local Logic builds location intelligence solutions to help home seekers and investors find opportunities that are most suited to their preferences and requirements. We draw upon thousands of data points to develop 18 proprietary Location Scores to provide street and neighborhood-level insights.

Location Scores measure amenities close by and mobility patterns around a neighborhood, so homebuyers can better understand and assess a location. Using our location insights, you can find properties based on specific characteristics, such as proximity to shopping, restaurants, or quiet neighborhoods, and make more informed decisions on where to live.

Benchmarking neighborhood scores against Philadelphia’s average scores

Below you’ll find the Location Scores for the best neighborhoods in Philadelphia for retirees, as well as Philadelphia’s average. We looked at the following scores:

  • Pedestrian-friendly: Represents how many stores and institutions are nearby and how pleasant it is to walk to them
  • Transit-friendly: Represents the frequency and level of service of public transit
  • Parks: Quantity and area of parks nearby
  • Groceries: Distance to closest grocery store and quantity of grocery stores nearby
  • Quiet: Level of noise nearby

Then, we ranked each neighborhood by a composite score of all these factors.

Here are the average scores for Philadelphia:

  • Pedestrian-friendly: 7.8 — All day-to-day needs are within walking distance
  • Transit-friendly: 7.4 — Within walking distance of rapid transit and frequent bus lines
  • Parks: 8.5 — Large amount of park space nearby
  • Groceries: 7.9 — At least one grocery store within a few minutes’ walk
  • Quiet: 4.3 — Multiple sources of noise nearby

👩‍🦳👨‍🦳 Composite score for retirees: 7.2

Ranking the best neighborhoods in Philadelphia for retirees

Here’s our data-informed list of Philadelphia’s top neighborhoods for retirees:

1. Bella Vista

Map of Bella Vista neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Pedestrian-friendly: 10.0 — All day-to-day needs are within a few minutes’ walk
  • Transit-friendly: 9.8 — Near rapid transit and frequent bus lines
  • Parks: 8.8 — Large amount of park space nearby
  • Groceries: 9.8 — Several grocery stores nearby
  • Quiet: 5.7 — Some sources of noise nearby

👩‍🦳👨‍🦳 Composite score for retirees: 8.8

Translating to “beautiful sight” in Italian, the neighborhood of Bella Vista delivers on its name. The tree-lined residential area offers a diverse range of grocery options, bakeries, and restaurants. There are a number of green spaces, like Palumbo Park and Cianfrani Park. In Bardascino Park, there are a number of bocce ball courts available for a little bit of friendly competition.

The neighborhood is watched over by the Bella Vista Neighbors Association, and they handle issues like safety, zoning, cleanup and beautification, and social events.

2. Society Hill

Map of Society Hill neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

  • Pedestrian-friendly: 10.0 — All day-to-day needs are within a few minutes’ walk
  • Transit-friendly: 9.9 — Near rapid transit and frequent bus lines
  • Parks: 9.8 — Very large amount of park space within a few minutes’ walk
  • Groceries: 9.7 — Several grocery stores nearby
  • Quiet: 3.7 — Multiple sources of noise nearby

👩‍🦳👨‍🦳 Composite score for retirees: 8.6

The Society Hill neighborhood is a place where both young professionals and retirees coexist quite well. Overall, it’s considered one of the best places to live in Philadelphia. The area offers many restaurants, coffee shops, and parks, making a slower lifestyle possible.

Washington Square is a picturesque, tree-lined pocket of the neighborhood, which is also known for being home to the Liberty Bell. On Sundays, both locals and visitors enjoy hopping over to Headhouse Square to experience the oldest farmers’ market in the city.

3. Point Breeze

Map of Point Breeze neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Pedestrian-friendly: 10.0 — All day-to-day needs are within a few minutes’ walk
  • Transit-friendly: 9.1 — Near rapid transit and frequent bus lines
  • Parks: 7.8 — Large amount of park space nearby
  • Groceries: 9.7 — Several grocery stores nearby
  • Quiet: 6.5 — Some sources of noise nearby

👩‍🦳👨‍🦳 Composite score for retirees: 8.6

Much like Bella Vista, Point Breeze prides itself on being a multicultural neighborhood. Those who live in the neighborhood are known for being a more relaxed crowd that indulges in the food offered in the area’s casual Mexican and Vietnamese eateries, like El Mezcal Cantina.

During the summer months, Ellsworth Street comes alive with outdoor jazz gigs and a pop-up beer garden. Although a great place for retirees to live, the area is mainly occupied by young professionals.

4. Fitler Square

Map of Fitler Square neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

  • Pedestrian-friendly: 9.9 — All day-to-day needs are within a few minutes’ walk
  • Transit-friendly: 9.9 — Near rapid transit and frequent bus lines
  • Parks: 9.8 — Very large amount of park space within a few minutes’ walk
  • Groceries: 9.0 — Several grocery stores nearby
  • Quiet: 4.4 — Multiple sources of noise nearby

👩‍🦳👨‍🦳 Composite score for retirees: 8.6

Fitler Square is known for being more of a tranquil and family-friendly neighborhood in Philadelphia. The landscape mostly consists of brick townhouses, relaxed wine bars, and unique cafés. Similarly to Society Hill, locals love to support their farmers’ market on Saturdays. The area is just a stone’s throw away from the Philadelphia Museum of Art and is home to the Schuylkill River Park.

The neighborhood offers a lot of Italian eateries, but if you want a blend between a cozy café atmosphere, and excellent pizza and wine options, then SALLY Philadelphia will quickly become your third place.

5. Fairmount

Map of Fairmount neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Pedestrian-friendly: 9.9 — All day-to-day needs are within a few minutes’ walk
  • Transit-friendly: 9.5 — Near rapid transit and frequent bus lines
  • Parks: 9.0 — Very large amount of park space within a few minutes’ walk
  • Groceries: 8.9 — At least one grocery store within a few minutes’ walk
  • Quiet: 4.4 — Multiple sources of noise nearby

👩‍🦳👨‍🦳 Composite score for retirees: 8.4

Calling all museum lovers; Fairmount is for you. You’ll find a number of renowned museums, like The Franklin Institute and Rodin Museum, along Benjamin Franklin Parkway. When you’re not at the museum, treat your grandkids to a Philadelphia Zoo visit.

If you’re someone who likes casual fare, there is no shortage of American restaurants in the neighborhood, like Jack’s Firehouse and Bad Brother.

Finding the right neighborhood in Philadelphia for your retirement

Art, culture, greenery, diverse cuisines, and relaxing activities are all things that our best neighborhoods in Philadelphia for retirees have to offer. If you like to stroll through art galleries or parks and end with a coffee or a nice glass of wine, then this city is a must-consider for your retirement years.

Our Location Scores are available through Local Content on many of our partner sites and their real estate listings in Philadelphia. When searching for your next home, or a new neighborhood, you can look for specific characteristics on each individual listing to find the perfect place for you and your retirement.

Curious about how other neighborhoods (or cities!) might fare?
Try the Insights Atlas to get in-depth location insights on any neighborhood, city, or address in the US and Canada.