One thing to know is that Philly isn't as densely populated, and basic amenities within walking distance can be few and far between in certain areas, which is one of the reasons why we settled where we did. You aren't going to have a bodega, wine store, pizza place, and grocery store all right around the corner, and on the same block, like you do in NYC. There's nothing comparable to Steinway Street, for example. We actually spent a year checking out different neighborhoods and either staying with friends or renting Air B&Bs until we zeroed in on where we are, just to find out if a neighborhood would meet our needs. In the end, I'm happy we took the time to do that.