The Fairmount / Art District section of Philadelphia is where you’ll find access to the Schuylkill River, Philly’s Art Museum, The Barnes Foundation, a WHOLE FOODS, and America’s most haunted prison which turns into a haunted attraction every October. If you are looking for a quiet neighborhood with plenty to offer, Fairmount is it. You’ll get the excitement of the Made in America festival, the Thanksgiving Parade, and 4th of July Fireworks all on the Ben Franklin Parkway, but the small streets set off the parkway are quiet and might even remind you a bit of Brooklyn’s old brownstones.
The most common home is a 2 or 3-story rowhome, but apartments and condos are also available. According to Zillow, the 2020 median home price in Fairmount is $405,000 (compared to Philly-wide average of $188,000). If that is outside your price range, consider Fishtown, South Philly, or Manayunk, which will give you a similar residential-yet-urban feel but at a lower price point.
