The city of Philadelphia is beautiful, rich in history and culture. However, like most major cities in America, Philly has a dark side with poverty and crime. Therefore, if you’re considering visiting or moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It’s essential to be aware of the most troubled neighborhoods in Philadelphia and plan accordingly. In this detailed guide, we will cover the top 10 worst areas of Philadelphia, along with safety tips on how to survive these sections of the city.

Top 10 Worst Neighborhoods in Philadelphia

We’re born and raised in Philadelphia, and since we were young in the 1990’s we have seen certain neighborhoods drastically change. Some areas improved, while other sections of the city filled with crime and drug abuse. As a real estate investor in Philly, we see it all. At times, when entering vacant houses in Philadelphia, greeted by unwanted guests and trespassers. Just goes to show how unpredictable Philly neighborhoods can be. The worst neighborhoods in Philadelphia can be very dangerous, so it’s important to know which areas to be more alert within.

Kensington 19134: Potentially the Worst Neighborhoods in Philadelphia

The first neighborhood we discuss will be Kensington, Philadelphia, also known as “Kenzo”. Located just North of Center City Philadelphia, once a safe and booming neighborhood, won’t be recognized by prior residents. Like many neighborhoods in Philadelphia, Kensington was once heavily industrialized. Once deindustrialization began in the 1950’s things began to shift due to population growth and a high number of unemployed adults.

At this point, Kensington’s best known for its open-air drug market, and many individuals struggling with addiction and homelessness. With a population of roughly 42,000, you wouldn’t expect such a high crime area. However, you have many individuals from the city and surrounding counties who find themselves getting into trouble in Kensington. The sad part is that normal, hardworking individuals are stuck in this drug-ridden environment due to low income. In our opinion, it’s best to avoid the Kensington 19134 Philadelphia zip code.

The crime rate in Kensington, Philadelphia, is 275% higher than the national average, making Kensington undesirable and dangerous. The city of Philadelphia has attempted to improve the quality of life within Kensington, and find help for the homeless individuals. However, it’ll take a lot more time and effort to remove Kensington from the list of worst neighborhoods in Philadelphia PA.

Fairhill Philadelphia 19133

The neighborhood that made number two on our list of bad parts of Philadelphia happens to be next to Kensington. This area is named Fairhill, also known as “The Badlands.” Fairhill experiences similar problems to its surrounding neighborhoods: high crime and poverty, along with addicts and dealers. Fairhill is a very small part of the city, with a population of less than 5,000.

It has been said that most drug dealers within Kensington reside in the neighboring area, “Fairhill.” It’s important to note that although Kensington is higher on the list of worst areas of Philadelphia. It’s more welcoming to outsiders and visitors than Fairhill. However, be careful in both neighborhoods because you run a high chance of being robbed or getting caught in the middle of a crime as an innocent bystander.

Strawberry Mansion: Number 3 Worst Philly Neighborhoods

Population: Roughly 14,510 individuals.

Don’t be fooled by the welcoming and unique name, Strawberry Mansion is not as sweet as fruit.  Strawberry Mansion High School was named one of the most dangerous schools in the country. Labeled as “Persistently Dangerous Schools,” it has drastically improved, although the neighborhood is still dangerous and one of the worst neighborhoods in Philadelphia. A factor to consider when ranking this neighborhood is that roughly 37.2% of adult residents live below the poverty line. The quality of life in Strawberry Mansion is lower than in most sections of the city.

Allegheny West 19132: North Philadelphia

Allegheny West 19132, another neighborhood in Philly hit hard when factories began to shut down. To this day, abandoned warehouses and factories littered throughout Allegheny West. A population of about 13,600, this section has seen improved housing and crime rate. However, the house values are still very low, with a median home price of around 80k, which can lead to poverty and higher crime.

Nicetown/Tioga Philadelphia

Ironically, another friendly name, “Nicetown,” happens to be not so nice. Over the years, Nicetown has had a long history of violent crime, especially gun violence. The level of crime isn’t the only problem residents of Nicetown experience. The air quality in Nicetown is very low due to air pollution and illegal dumping of trash, which directly affects the health of its residents. Sadly, Nicetown is a section of Philly that doesn’t receive much attention or investment opportunities. The real estate market is very stale in Nicetown/Tioga; it may take decades to see serious improvement within this area.

Hunting Park: A Top 10 Worst Neighborhoods in Philadelphia

Another North Philly neighborhood to make the list. Located right off the Roosevelt Boulevard, a dangerous street for pedestrians and car accidents. With a population of roughly 16.6k, a massive issue they deal with is vacant homes and apartments. It’s said that the current vacancy rate is 20.4%. Most of the time, empty buildings attract rodents, disease, drug abuse, and violent crime, which can drastically affect the overall quality of life.

East Germantown Philly Neighborhood

Once known for its unique architecture, life, and real estate in East Germantown has changed. Many properties are deteriorating, along with multiple school closures in 2013. Even though Philadelphia as a whole experienced a decrease in homicides, East Germantown remains a high-crime area. Another downside to East Germantown is its lack of options for nearby shops and restaurants compared to other parts of Philly.

Haddington 19139 “West Philadelphia”

Population: Roughly 19,500 Residents.

Haddington is our first West Philly neighborhood to make the list of worst neighborhoods in Philadelphia PA. It’s important to note the high chance of falling victim to crime, with a percentage of 1 in 60. Many businesses fail to succeed in Haddington 19139, which can contribute to a poor quality of life. In addition, the residents may face transportation issues such as multiple transfers with public transportation, making it difficult to work or enjoy different parts of the city.

Parkside: West Philly

Parkside is a neighborhood in West Philadelphia that experiences a wide range of crimes, including car theft. Few residents live near parks and recreation centers, the youth being limited to positive things to do, which leads to trouble and crime. Over the last few years, West Philadelphia has experienced a high number of gang-related violent. Mostly due to “drill rap,” which is a form of music that encourages violence and gang behavior. An amount of gang violence so high that it was designated a “promise zone,” which focuses resources on the community and reduces violence.

Frankford: Number 10 Worst Neighborhoods Philadelphia

Roughly six miles outside of Center City Philadelphia, sits the neighborhood of Frankford. A population of roughly 25k, Frankford experiences a fair share of empty properties along with a crime score rating of 7 out of 10, which is higher than the national average. Once a booming commercial district, a decline began in the 1950’s which led to most stores relocating to other sections of the city. In addition, being roughly 2.5 miles from Kensington, Frankford experiences some carryover crime.

Factors to Determine Worst Neighborhoods in Philadelphia

• Crime rate: Number of violent crimes and the overall homicide rate.
• Drug abuse and drug dealing. Drug abuse leads to theft, while dealing can lead to violent crime over turf wars and control of drug blocks.
• Quality of air. Some parts of Philly experience a high level of air pollution. In addition, some parts of Philly deal with higher littering and illegal trash dumping.
• Quality of Schools. Neighborhoods such as Strawberry Mansion dealt with the reputation of one of the worst schools in America.
• Number of vacant properties. Abandoned homes give criminals a comfortable place to store illegal things (drugs & weapons) and a safe place to commit crimes.
• Lack of resources. Things such as libraries, playgrounds, food pantries, and health care services.

How to Avoid the Worst Neighborhoods in Philadelphia PA

1. Always conduct research on areas of Philadelphia before visiting or relocating to that neighborhood. The internet is a powerful tool that reports recent crime, rates local schools, and can provide great insight into your overall safety.
2. If you’re traveling through Philadelphia, look for alternative routes on Google Maps. Therefore, you can avoid the dangerous neighborhoods in Philadelphia.

Safety Tips for the Worst Neighborhoods in Philadelphia

• If you’re in one of the worst areas of Philadelphia, the most important thing you can do is be aware of your surroundings. Do not have headphones in your ears or continue staring at your cell phone. If someone is walking behind you, keep a safe distance and eye on that person. Avoid backstreets and alleys, and stay on main, well-lit roads.
• Keep your valuables safe. Similar to staying off your phone, you don’t want to be flashy or wear clothes/jewelry that will bring the wrong attention. A great way to decrease your chances of being robbed, wear plain clothes and items.
• Keep your car windows and doors locked. Be aware of the stop signs and traffic lights of individuals around you. If you leave your vehicle, never leave it running to avoid car theft.
• Report suspicious activity. Reducing crime within our communities is a full neighborhood effort. The neighbors need to work with the police by reporting any shady people or activities. On average, with neighborhood watch assisting the police, crime’s reduced by 16%-77% in various case studies.
• If you have no other options but to live within one of the worst neighborhoods in Philadelphia, it’s vital to install home security. Homes with security cameras will deter most criminals from committing theft while providing a sense of security.

Be Aware of The Worst Areas of Philadelphia

Whether you’re looking to visit Philadelphia or have an interest in living in Philly, it’s vital to be aware of the good neighborhoods and the bad parts of Philadelphia. Our main goal is the health and safety of ourselves and our families. Philadelphia is a beautiful city with diversity and rich history, although some parts are undesirable and dangerous.

Always be aware of your surroundings, and avoid the urban neighborhoods that we listed within this article if possible. If you reside in one of the worst neighborhoods in Philadelphia, keep your house locked and avoid traveling at night. Improving a neighborhood is a team effort, from the residents to the police district. Work with those around you to improve the quality of life and reduce overall crime. Don’t be fearful of living life and enjoying the city of Philadelphia; just be aware of the bad neighborhoods and the important safety tips.