Navigating Urban Challenges: Unveiling the Updated List of the 10 Worst Neighborhoods in Philadelphia for 2023

The following Philadelphia neighborhoods have been identified as the riskiest; this does not preclude you from visiting them, but it does mean that you should exercise extra caution and make sure you know what you are getting into before making travel plans.

10. North Central

It is obvious where this neighborhood is located just by looking at its name. The population of North Central is estimated to be 21,880. This neighborhood has a violent crime average that is 524% higher than the national average, which helps to explain why it can be so intimidating.

Although this neighborhood is on the list of Philadelphia’s worst, it does have some great features. For example, a portion of the Temple University campus is located in this community. Girard College is located outside of North Central’s southwest boundary, aside from that.

The region has a challenging economy despite having a small population and many interesting places to visit. Your prospects won’t be good if you’re not a student in this area. With a 7.9% unemployment rate and a median income of $25,296 per year, people here struggle.

9. Frankford

This neighborhood is located in Philadelphia’s northeastern region. Frankford Creek, Oxford Circle, and other towns encircle this town. Center City is about six miles to the northeast of it. The area was extremely dangerous back in the 1980s, and even though a lot has changed since then, there are still many issues with crime, jobs, schools, and amenities.

There are 39,792 people living in Frankford, and their average yearly salary is $33,217. For every 100,000 residents in this neighborhood, 1369 crimes are anticipated. These figures indicate that the neighborhood faces numerous social and economic obstacles.

History demonstrates how problems have crept into this community. Frankford Slasher was a serial killer who would always follow his victims before killing them. Furthermore, one particular intersection—Hawthorne and Bridge—was ranked as the sixth-best recreational drug corner in the country.

8. Elmwood

Situated in the southwest of this city, Elmwood—also known as Elmwood Park—benefits from being close to the airport. The Schuylkill River forms the eastern boundary of this neighborhood, while Mt. Moriah Cemetery forms the northern boundary.

Elmwood is home to 15,688 people, the majority of whom are Irish Americans and Poles. Elmwood’s villages emerged following the establishment of Catholic parishes in the 20th century, a development that continues to influence the region’s general culture.

It’s challenging to find a job in Elmwood. The unemployment rate in this neighborhood is 10.6%. Those fortunate enough to have a job find it difficult to pay their expenses because the median income is projected to be $36,392.

7. Haddington-Caroll Park

The west Philadelphia neighborhood of Haddington-Carroll Park is bordered to the north and south by West Girard Avenue and Lansdowne Avenue. Although Haddington-Carroll Park may not be your first choice if you’re looking for brotherly love, you will see banners on the streets that read, “Carroll Park—Where neighbors become friends.”

There are an estimated 35,068 people living in this neighborhood, and the majority of them are working-class African Americans. The lack of well-paying jobs in the area is causing people to live miserable lives and be unable to overcome both racial and economic hardships. The area is facing extremely serious economic problems.

In Haddington, the unemployment rate is 8.9%, and the median income for those in employment is $28,706. Carroll Park is listed as one of Philadelphia’s worst neighborhoods due to both its high crime rate and poverty. Statistics indicate that there will be 4,738 crimes committed for every 100,000 people. There is also more violent crime than the national average.

6. Harrowgate

Port Richmond and Kensington border this neighborhood on the west and north, respectively. This neighborhood, mostly made up of Puerto Ricans, is unknown, impoverished, and dilapidated; it is known as “North Philly” in the town. The socioeconomic challenges in this community make it difficult for Harrowgate to advance and resolve its problems. Harrowgate has severe issues even though it is home to fewer than 8,000 people.

The neighborhood was under siege for thirty minutes, leaving one adolescent caught in the crossfire. The teenager nearly died after taking a serious blow. In the months that have passed, similar incidents have occurred. The neighborhood is harmed by fatal shootings, which are all too common in this area.

The presence of painkillers in the area, which can cause addiction and illicit drug use, explains why this neighborhood is in such poor shape. In just seven years, 26 million painkillers were supplied to local pharmacies, wreaking havoc on countless families.

5. Allegheny West

Located at the northernmost point of the city, this neighborhood ranks third in terms of violent incidents in Philadelphia. Allegheny West, like most of Northern Philadelphia, is home to an African-American community that faces discrimination and struggles to close the gap between races.

Disinvestment and post-industrial depreciation have added to the damage in this neighborhood. The neighborhood’s population decreased by the greatest amount between 1990 and 2000.

Many abandoned industrial sites, similar to those used to build commuter rail trains, are readily noticeable. These locations have been transformed for the purpose of film production, claims Area Vibes. However, this neighborhood is among the poorest in Philadelphia, with an average household income of just $25,196. However, because of the area’s high crime rate, subpar housing, and inadequate educational system, you wouldn’t want to live there.

4. Fairhill

Fairhill is a small town with 4,443 residents, but it faces serious problems. Just 20% of the people in this area own a home, making it famous for its endless rows of houses. The Philadelphia Badlands and the Hispanic community of Philadelphia are located in Fairhill.

However, the neighborhood is not a good place to visit or live because of its reputation for drug use, poverty, and crimes. Ranking second on a list of the city’s most dangerous drug corners is the intersection of Indiana Avenue and 3rd Street.

Even those who are fortunate enough to find work still have financial difficulties. Residents are far below the poverty line, as evidenced by their average income. The annual median household income is roughly $18,000. The news that 61% of the population lives below the poverty line—five times higher than the national average—makes the situation even worse.

3. Strawberry Mansion

You could be easily led to believe that this is a good neighborhood just by looking at the name, but that is not the case. The neighborhood has a negative reputation for being among Philadelphia’s most dangerous, according to Original News Break.

One of the most infamous schools in the country is located in this neighborhood. Because Strawberry Mansion High was so awful, ABC News featured a profile on it. Each door at the school had a metal detector in addition to more than a hundred security cameras. Riots broke out during lunch, and teachers were being attacked. The severe circumstances the school faced can be understood by the fact that only 710 students out of 2100 were enrolled. The school has made an effort to better itself, but it is still struggling with its residual reputation.

The neighborhood is changing, for better or worse, with gentrification taking place on its west and south sides.

2. Hunting Park

Hunting Park is another Philadelphia neighborhood you should stay away from. The neighborhood’s gang activity is well-known. The local street gangs in this neighborhood are largely responsible for the crime that occurs there.

The increasing crime rate in the area has also been largely attributed to the drug trade. It’s also important to note that there are more organized gangs in the area. A few of these gangs are the Black Mafia and the Latin Kings, in addition to the various motorcycle gangs.

1. Tioga-Nicetown

This neighborhood is not nice, despite its “nice” name. Two distinct communities in Philadelphia’s northern region are Tioga and Nicetown. The community has collectively adopted the name Nicetown. You need to look no further to find out which area of Philadelphia is the worst.

After World War II, this region saw a downturn and found it difficult to survive without its industrial capital. The large number of abandoned buildings and rising crime rates brought on by economic difficulties were also influenced by white flight.

You can determine how dangerous a neighborhood might be if you Google its name and find results about crimes, shootings, and similar incidents. These days, the majority population in the area is African American, with a sizable Hispanic population. It is therefore home to some of the most marginalized populations in terms of both social and economic status, which makes overcoming adversity even more difficult.