West Powelton
Urban Core Neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia County 19104, 19139
Neighborhood Reviews
Traditional rowhomes with brick exteriors
Due to its proximity to University City, West Powelton is home to off-campus student apartment complexes such as UCity Flats and University City Apartments. About 75% of residents in the neighborhood are renters. Outside these apartment complexes, homebuyers will find blocks of rowhomes dating to the early 1900s. Philadelphia-style rowhouses with covered front porches and oriel windows sit down the street from Victorian-inspired rowhomes with steeply gabled roofs. Most homes have narrow, fenced-in backyards with room for a small patio. Street parking is the norm throughout the neighborhood. Prices range from around $250,000 to $450,000, depending on the size and condition of the property. West Powelton has a CAP Index Crime Score of 7 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4. This overall Crime Score is primarily driven by higher-than-average scores for violent crimes. Local organizations like the Holly Street Neighbors Community Garden work to combat gun violence in the neighborhood.
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Indoor and outdoor recreation at the Lee Cultural Center
The neighborhood’s Lee Cultural Center is a recreational hub for the community. The facility has a computer lab and offers various youth programs ranging from summer camps to acting lessons. The center also offers opportunities for outdoor recreation, with five basketball courts, a playground and an outdoor pool. Next door is the Vidas Athletic Complex, where the Drexel University Dragons compete in soccer, tennis and more. The West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad is a point of pride for the community, winning countless local, state and national championships while performing as the official drumline for the Philadelphia 76ers. “We were founded in 1991 by Mrs. Elsie L. Wise, a local activist who started the group to give kids something to do after school,” Etson says. “The older generation comes back and helps the kids with their drumming and homework.” In addition to their high-profile performances, the group spreads holiday cheer at the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center’s annual Children’s Holiday Party. Vacant lots in West Powelton have been transformed into community spaces such as the Holly Street Neighbors Community Garden, a green oasis tucked between two rowhomes. The garden grows fresh produce and features a vibrant mural of its founder, Winnie Harris, who tragically passed away in 2017.
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Low student-teacher ratio in the Philadelphia City School District
The Philadelphia City School District earns a C-plus from Niche and has an average student-teacher ratio of 15-to-1. Students to the east of North 40th Street can attend the B-minus-rated Samuel Powel School for kindergarten through fourth grade before moving on to the C-minus-rated Science Leadership Academy Middle School. The two schools share a campus in University City. Students west of North 40th Street may attend the Alain Locke School for kindergarten through eighth grade, which earns a C-minus grade. All teens in West Powelton can then attend the C-minus-rated West Philadelphia High School and have the option to apply to UPenn’s Young Scholars High School Program, which grants students tuition-free enrollment in one college-level course per semester.
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Annual jazz festival in Saunders Park Greene
Behind the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center is Saunders Park Greene, a popular spot for passive recreation with walking paths, benches and picnic tables. The green space is a destination for events like the Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival. The festival celebrates the sound of West Philly with over seven hours of live jazz performances ranging from swing to hard bop. While swaying to the beat, residents can peruse an open-air market featuring local vendors and food trucks.The L provides service to Center City
West Powelton is just a 3-mile drive across the Schuylkill River from Center City, Philly’s lively business and entertainment district. SEPTA provides local bus service to the community, and 40th Street Station is served by SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line. Locally known as the L, the subway connects residents to Center City in about 15 minutes. Interstate 76 is just 2 miles east and leads to Philadelphia International Airport, about a 10-mile drive south.
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Local businesses line Lancaster Avenue
West Powelton is tucked between Market Street and Lancaster Avenue, two active commercial corridors lined by restaurants. Over on Market Street, Virasat Haveli is known for its fusion of Indian and Pakistani flavors, while Stacy’s Pizza and Wings is a go-to spot for takeout. On the other side of the neighborhood, Lancaster Avenue hosts local favorites like Fresh Donuts and Bart’s Bagels, a West Philly staple serving up kettle-boiled bagels for breakfast and lunch. Quality Taste Jamaican Restaurant is a counter-serve spot specializing in Caribbean dishes like jerk chicken and oxtail. With more small businesses opening along Lancaster Avenue, the corridor has also become a destination for shopping. Redcap’s Corner sells a variety of tabletop games and invites residents to practice their skills at weekly game nights. Boutiques include The Silk Tent, known for its curated collection of jewelry and home décor. For groceries, there’s an Aldi in the southwestern corner of the neighborhood.
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Level I trauma center at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
West Powelton is home to the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, an award-winning hospital in the University of Pennsylvania Health System. The hospital includes Penn Medicine’s Level I trauma center and boasts one of the first coronary care units in the country. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center are just 2 miles south in University City.
Written By
Sally Stimpson
Photography Contributed By
Joe Pulcinella
Video By
Matthew Bloch
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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David Brown
David Brown
HomeSmart Nexus Realty Group - Blue Bell
(267) 273-2115
47 Total Sales
1 in West Powelton
$274,000 Price
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Zakiya Eleby
Zakiya Eleby
Opulent Realty Group LLC
(856) 666-2202
82 Total Sales
1 in West Powelton
$90,000 Price
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Amber Noble
Amber Noble
Keller Williams - Main Street
(848) 279-8837
99 Total Sales
1 in West Powelton
$300,000 Price
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Matt Scannapieco
Matt Scannapieco
Franklin Investment Realty
(215) 608-2504
103 Total Sales
2 in West Powelton
$740,000 Price Range
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Charles Davies
Charles Davies
EXP Realty, LLC
(984) 733-1171
81 Total Sales
1 in West Powelton
$341,000 Price
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MICHAEL JAMES
MICHAEL JAMES
OCF Realty LLC - Philadelphia
(267) 668-0189
58 Total Sales
1 in West Powelton
$250,000 Price
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
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Parks in this Area
Saunders Park
- Bike Trails
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Vidas Athletic Complex
- Baseball/Softball
- Picnic Area
- Soccer
Lee Cultural Center Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Bike Trails
Urban Thinkscape
- Trails
Max Paul Park
Walnut Hill Community Playground
Transit
Airport
Philadelphia International
21 min drive
Subway
Lancaster Avenue And Spring Garden Street
Subway
Lancaster Avenue And 38Th Street
Subway
40Th Street
Bus
41st St & Haverford Av
Bus
Market St & 41st St
Bus
40th St & Spring Garden St
Bus
40th St & Baring St
Reviews
Niche Reviews
1/29/2016
Niche Review
The area seems to be in a weird pocket that avoids a majority of the crime ether happens in the area. Student alerts let students like myself know that a lot of the issues happen between 34th and 37th. We are also down the street from the local police precinct.
12/30/2015
Niche Review
If you walk much further to girrard Avenue, you'll see what abandoned properties means There are quite a few.Its cheap and very close to Upenn and Drexel campuses.
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Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | West Powelton | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 8 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 7 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 6 | 4 |
| Robbery | 9 | 4 |
| Burglary | 6 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
| Larceny | 6 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 6 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
West Powelton Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in West Powelton, Philadelphia sell after 64 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in West Powelton, Philadelphia over the last 12 months is $284,000, down 11% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$315,000
Median Sale Price
$284,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$510,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$295,500
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
16
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-11%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$226
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
562
Number of Homes for Sale
11
Median Year Built
1925
Months of Supply
8.30
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
3,147
Significantly above the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,272
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
800
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
825
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
2,178
Open Houses
-
Sunday, Jun 1511:30 - 11:30am
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
4,950
Median Age
32
Population Density
28 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.7%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
12.7%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$33,833
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$54,388
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
84.7%
College Graduates
43.7%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
20%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
65.7%
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®
99
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
85
/ 100
Excellent Transit
Transit Score®
89
/ 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
Belmont
Urban community with plans for revitalization along the Lancaster Avenue corridor
Haverford North
Urban living in West Philadelphia with access to University City and Center City
Mantua
An urban West Philadelphia neighborhood beautified by murals
Powelton Village
Mix of historic building with trendy restaurants close to Drexel and Center City
University City
A vibrant, walkable community anchored by two prestigious universities
Dunlap
Small city neighborhood anchored by a historic school
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