Is Yorktown (Philadelphia) safe?
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Yorktown (Philadelphia) as “Caution”.
What makes up this score?Recent news
Gogo's take on Yorktown (Philadelphia)
“Go with care. While Yorktown is a remarkably quiet and tight-knit residential oasis, its proximity to busier North Philadelphia corridors and off-campus college housing means perimeter streets experience elevated property crime and occasional robberies. Sticking to interior residential blocks during daylight hours presents minimal issues.”
About the area
Yorktown is a mid-century planned residential enclave of brick townhomes and cul-de-sacs located directly south of Temple University. Developed in the 1960s as a model homeownership community, it maintains an unusually calm, suburban-style neighborhood layout set within North Philadelphia's broader urban grid.
- Quiet Residential
- Mid-Century Modern
- Close-Knit Community
- College Adjacent
Walking and biking in Yorktown (Philadelphia)
Walk score: 84/100 · Bike score: 82/100
Multiple Indego bike-share stations operate near Broad Street, connecting to North-South bike lanes on 13th and 10th Streets that lead into Center City.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- High homeownership and active civic association foster an unusually stable and quiet residential pocket
- Curving cul-de-sac street layouts naturally deter cut-through vehicular traffic and street crime
- Convenient walking access to Temple University academic facilities and Broad Street Line subway stations
Cons
- Elevated rates of package theft, vehicle break-ins, and opportunistic theft along perimeter streets
- Directly borders higher-crime transit corridors and commercial thoroughfares along Broad Street and Girard Avenue
- Occasional spillover noise and nighttime safety concerns linked to nearby off-campus student housing
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the residential interior, but panhandling and unhoused individuals are regularly observed at the adjacent Girard and Cecil B. Moore subway entrances.
What Yorktown (Philadelphia) is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Calm and quiet with residents walking dogs and heading out for daily commutes.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Generally peaceful within the interior blocks, with student and pedestrian activity increasing along the northern perimeter.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet inside the neighborhood, though situational awareness is advised along border avenues like Broad and Cecil B. Moore.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets are mostly deserted; late-night walking should be limited, particularly near poorly lit perimeter intersections.
Transit, parking and getting around
SEPTA operates the Broad Street Line (BSL) subway with stops at Cecil B. Moore and Girard Station within a 5-to-10-minute walk, supplemented by bus routes 4 and 23.
Street parking is subject to strict residential permit restrictions to prevent university commuter parking, though limited short-term visitor spaces can be found.
Things to do in Yorktown (Philadelphia)
- Walk the unique mid-century modernist brick townhome streets and landscaped cul-de-sacs
- Explore the historic architecture and exhibits at the nearby Wagner Free Institute of Science
- Attend concerts, lectures, or events at the adjacent Temple Performing Arts Center
Local favorites
- Champ's Diner · Diner · 4.4★ (1150)Popular local spot serving hearty breakfast plates, pancakes, and classic diner fare near the campus edge.
- Pita Chip · Middle Eastern Restaurant · 4.5★ (680)Casual counter-service eatery offering customized falafel, shawarma bowls, and fresh pita bread.
- Maxi's Pizza Bar and Grill · Pizza & Bar · 4.2★ (520)Long-running casual joint known for quick pizza slices, casual pub fare, and craft drafts.
Neighborhoods near Yorktown (Philadelphia)
Common questions about Yorktown (Philadelphia)
Is Yorktown (Philadelphia) safe to walk at night?
Take care after dark: stick to lit main streets or take a ride.
Is Yorktown (Philadelphia) a good place to live?
On safety, Yorktown (Philadelphia) scores 61/100 — below average, so visit at different times of day before deciding to move.
How walkable is Yorktown (Philadelphia)?
Walk score 84/100 and bike score 82/100. Most errands can be done on foot.
Which areas near Yorktown (Philadelphia) are safer?
Francisville (Philadelphia) (65), Kensington, Old (64), East Poplar (62) score higher nearby.
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