Rittenhouse Square
Upscale shopping and the finest restaurants in Philadelphia
With several hotels in Rittenhouse Square, locals are used to shopping and dining alongside tourists exploring the neighborhood, mostly on the north side. Popular brands and high-end retailers like J. Crew and Tiffany & Co. line what’s known as Rittenhouse Row, an approximately quarter-mile strip of Walnut Street that’s one of Philadelphia’s busiest commercial districts. Locals can walk just two blocks farther to Chestnut Street, another booming area, featuring more everyday shopping with retailers like Target, Barnes & Noble and Di Bruno Bros., a gourmet grocery store. Valenti says she and many other locals also get their groceries from local vendors at the Rittenhouse farmers markets, held every Tuesday and Saturday at Rittenhouse Square Park.Among the myriad of restaurants locals can walk to are some of the finest establishments in the country. “We are fortunate to have so many local restaurants,” Valenti says. “All the owners are great people, and you form relationships with them." Upscale eatery Friday Saturday Sunday received the national 2023 James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant for its exquisite eight-course seasonal menu. People also enjoy dining alfresco at the neighborhood’s many parklets, aka “streeteries,” the most celebrated being Parc, a French bistro next to Rittenhouse Square Park, where the ambiance of Paris is brought to the streets of Philly.
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Luxury high-rise condos and historic rowhouses
“There’s a price point for all,” says Valenti of the neighborhood’s homes, “and what’s nice is you get the culture of New York City for much cheaper.” Residents on the north side live in high-rise condominiums, some from the 1920s with brick facades and others that are more modern, covered in windows, like The Laurel, Philadelphia’s tallest residential tower. There’s a huge price range, with 300-square-foot studios starting at $200,000, larger luxury condos with impressive city views selling for $10 million and then everything in between. On the south side, three-story brick and brownstone rowhouses built in the 1700s and 1800s feature charming Italianate and Second Empire architecture. These historic homes line tight, tree-lined streets, reminiscent of the city’s beginnings, while featuring modern interior upgrades. They can be anywhere from 800 to 9,000 square feet, at prices ranging from $550,000 to $10 million and sometimes more.
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A break from city life at Rittenhouse Square Park
Rittenhouse Square Park is the neighborhood spot to escape city life. The one-square-block park is frequently visited by locals, business professionals and tourists, whether to relax on a bench along the walkways, sit in the grass under some trees or admire the reflecting pool and garden statues while walking a dog. Just a half-mile west, the Schuylkill River Trail allows residents to enjoy walks and bike rides by the water.
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Community events draw in tens of thousands
Neighborhood residents and other Philadelphians look forward to annual events held in Rittenhouse Square. One of the city’s biggest events, the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival, blocks off the famous commercial strip for more than 50,000 pedestrians to celebrate the beginning of spring with live music and food from local restaurants. Rittenhouse Square Park hosts events throughout the year, including the Holiday Tree Lighting. “It’s magical,” Valenti says. “The square is packed, we all sing carols and the lights are absolutely beautiful.” The section of Broad Street in Rittenhouse Square is known as Avenue of the Arts, and it’s home to several theaters like the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, one of the city’s most prominent performing arts venues.National Blue Ribbon elementary/middle school
Kindergarten through eighth-grade students can attend Albert M. Greenfield School, which gets a B-plus grade from Niche and received the prestigious National Blue Ribbon designation in 2018. Students can then go on to the C-minus-graded Benjamin Franklin High School, where they can earn professional certificates through the Careers & Technical Education Program.
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Steps from SEPTA bus stops and subways
While most locals get around by foot, public transportation is available through SEPTA, which offers bus stops on just about every corner and two subway stations on Broad Street. There’s also a PATCO subway station on Locust Street, which goes to Camden County, New Jersey.
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Written By
Nicolas Stuart
Photography Contributed By
Jay Ratchford
Video By
Bill Jennings
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Jennifer Grosskopf
Jennifer Grosskopf
KW Empower
(888) 477-1296
126 Total Sales
4 in Rittenhouse Square
$193K - $1.3M Price Range
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Kim Taliaferro
Kim Taliaferro
HomeSmart First Advantage Realty
(626) 263-5882
30 Total Sales
1 in Rittenhouse Square
$586,000 Price
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Marie Gordon
Marie Gordon
Compass RE
(610) 492-6951
113 Total Sales
1 in Rittenhouse Square
$1,425,000 Price
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Charles Davies
Charles Davies
EXP Realty, LLC
(984) 733-1171
75 Total Sales
1 in Rittenhouse Square
$212,000 Price
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David Quimby
David Quimby
D.C. Casper Real Estate
(215) 839-0981
65 Total Sales
1 in Rittenhouse Square
$355,000 Price
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Lauren Macdonald
Lauren Macdonald
Responds QuicklyEXP Realty, LLC
(610) 600-9757
57 Total Sales
2 in Rittenhouse Square
$825K - $1.2M Price Range
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- K to 8th
- Public
- K to 8th
- Charter
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Parks in this Area
Rittenhouse Square
- Trails
- Events
John F. Collins Park
- Picnic Area
Fitler Square Park
- Bike Trails
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Marian Anderson Recreation Center
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
911 Schuykill Memorial
Schuylkill Banks
- Bike Trails
- Trails
Transit
Airport
Philadelphia International
20 min drive
Subway
15Th-16Th & Locust St
Bus
Broad St & Spruce St
Bus
20th St & Spruce St
Bus
16th St & Spruce St
Bus
Lombard St & 21st St
Bus
17th St & Pine St
Bus
Locust St & 21st St
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Rittenhouse Square | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
| Robbery | 5 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
| Larceny | 5 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Rittenhouse Square Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia sell after 57 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia over the last 12 months is $565,000, up 190% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$520,000
Median Sale Price
$565,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$499,900
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$435,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$210,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
2%
Last 12 months Home Sales
72
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
190%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$277
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
2,271
Number of Homes for Sale
2
Median Year Built
1925
Months of Supply
0.30
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,416
Significantly below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,634
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,444
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
797
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
520
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
1,306
Open Houses
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Saturday, Aug 212 - 2pm
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Saturday, Aug 212 - 3pm
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Saturday, Aug 22 - 4pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Condo Buildings
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
16,378
Median Age
36
Population Density
92 ppl/acre
Population under 18
15.7%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
17.9%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$107,279
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$144,657
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
98.8%
College Graduates
88.7%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
48.5%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
77.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
26°F
Average Summer High Temperature
87°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score®
91
/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
99
/ 100
Rider's Paradise
Transit Score®
100
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Center City Market East
Upbeat, fast-paced urban community in the heart of Philadelphia
Center City West
Condos, town houses and single-family housing near upscale shopping and dining
Fitler Square
Historic urban village tucked between the Schuylkill River and Rittenhouse Square
Logan Square
Town houses and condos in a walkable area full of museums, restaurants and retail
Washington Square West
Vibrant Center City neighborhood with historical row houses and luxury condos
Southwest Center City
Walkable Philadelphia suburb with trendy eats near Schuylkill River Trail
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