Philly Neighborhood Guide - West Philly, Best Philly

WEST PHILADELPHIA 

Bigger than South Philly by about 4 square miles (14.2), West Philadelphia is largely residential and includes Fairmount Park and University City, home to Drexel University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Saint Joseph’s University, plus branch campuses for a few other colleges and universities.  

Famous as Will Smith’s birthplace, there is much more than that going on in West Philly. It can be described as artsy, bohemian, historic, and gritty. Depending on the area, you can find dive bars, art galleries, boutiques, parks, culturally-diverse restaurants, book shops, skate parks, and more. 

Living in the UNIVERSITY CITY neighborhood of West Philly means you are surrounded by academic institutions, a bustling student community, and many cultural landmarks. Row homes, modern apartments, and high rise condos are the norm here, which is why you see students, young professionals, and families choosing to live in University City.

FAIRMOUNT PARK offers a blend of nature and urban living, as it's one of the largest urban parks in the U.S. You can find historic mansions, modern apartments, and row houses in Fairmount Park, all within walking distance to scenic trails and lakes. Let's not forget the year-round farmer's market at Clark Park.

As you can see, living in West Philly varies greatly. From tree-lined, quiet streets to busy, energetic main roads, you can find whatever kind of housing you desire. The median sold price of a house in West Philadelphia was $200,000 in 2022. Because the area is so large, that price can vary, sometimes from block to block. Also due to its vastness, West Philly boasts countless schools (public, private, and charter), so there is something for every family’s needs. 

FAIRMOUNT

The Fairmount area (including the newer “Brewerytown”) is bordered by Broad Street to the east, the Schuylkill River to the west, Spring Garden Street to the south, and Cecil B. Moore Avenue to the north. Though small, there is lots to do in this neighborhood.

Fairmount is home to many museums (The Philadelphia Museum of Art and Barnes Foundation for example), the Philadelphia Zoo, Eastern State Penitentiary (a former prison turned museum), Boathouse Row, Mural Arts Philadelphia, and the scenic Kelly Drive. An extremely walkable neighborhood, you can get to almost all of these attractions by foot. 

Visit Fairmount Avenue for a myriad of food, drinks, and entertainment, or stroll a couple blocks north or south and spend time in parks and playgrounds. There are a handful of neighborhood schools in Fairmount and homes range from brick row houses built in the 1920s to new construction popping up daily. The median sold price for a home in Fairmount was $430,000 in 2022.