The Parkway edge
The Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rodin Museum form the neighborhood's southern edge, which is why the area is often marketed as the Art Museum area.
Fairmount | Philadelphia, PA
A Rowhome Neighborhood Wrapped Around the Parkway and Fairmount Park
Fairmount sits just northwest of Center City between the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Girard Avenue and the edge of Fairmount Park. Fairmount Philadelphia real estate and homes for sale are dominated by two- and three-story brick rowhomes, with condo conversions and newer infill mixed in.
Tom Fior · Realtor, Coldwell Banker Realty · Verified Google reviews below
What's It Actually Like in Fairmount?
Brick rowhome blocks
Most residential streets are continuous brick rowhomes, many two or three stories, on relatively narrow lots with small or no rear yards.
Fairmount Avenue
Fairmount Avenue is the neighborhood's main commercial street, running past Eastern State Penitentiary toward the park.
Your local real estate resource
Hi, I'm Tom.
Tom Fior. I help buyers and sellers navigate Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs with a simple approach: clear guidance, honest answers, and no unnecessary pressure.
I grew up in Delaware County and live in Philadelphia, so City to Suburbs isn't just a brand — it's the market I know personally. Whether you're comparing neighborhoods, moving out of the city, relocating to the area, or trying to figure out where you fit best, I'm here to help you make sense of your options.
Helping buyers understand the tradeoffs between Fairmount, the rest of Philadelphia, and the surrounding suburbs.
Guidance First. Pressure Never.
The Fairmount Real Estate Cheat Sheet
The stuff I'd want you to know before we started looking at homes here.
- City
- Philadelphia
- County
- Philadelphia County
- ZIP code(s)
- 19130
- Common housing
- Rowhomes, Condos, Converted buildings, New construction infill
- Housing era
- Much of the stock is 19th-century rowhome construction, with 20th- and 21st-century rebuilds and infill.
- Center City relationship
- Fairmount sits immediately northwest of Center City; the Parkway connects it directly to City Hall.
Fairmount is generally within 19130, though neighborhood boundaries here are informal and described differently by different sources.
What types of homes are in Fairmount?
Fairmount is predominantly attached brick rowhomes, many originally built as modest workers' housing and since renovated or expanded. Condo conversions, small multi-unit buildings and newer infill construction appear throughout, so two homes on the same block can differ enormously in systems, layout and finish.
Does Fairmount have SEPTA access?
SEPTA's Broad Street Line has a Fairmount station at Broad and Fairmount at the eastern edge of the neighborhood, and multiple SEPTA bus routes run along Fairmount Avenue, Girard Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue. Check SEPTA for current service.
Is parking available in Fairmount?
Most of the neighborhood is street parking with residential permit parking zones administered by the Philadelphia Parking Authority. Off-street parking exists but is the exception and is priced accordingly.
What are property taxes like in Fairmount?
Philadelphia bills one citywide Real Estate Tax on the assessed value set by the Office of Property Assessment, so what you pay depends on the individual property's assessment and on any programs it qualifies for — the Homestead Exemption, LOOP, or a remaining tax abatement. There is no single “neighborhood tax rate,” so always check the actual property.
The local detail people miss
Rowhome buying means party walls
Almost every home here shares structure with its neighbors. Roof drainage, party-wall conditions, shared chimneys and the neighbor's rear addition are things I want the inspector looking at closely in this kind of housing.
How do schools work in Philadelphia?
Philadelphia schools are assigned by address through the School District of Philadelphia, and the city also has charter, magnet and citywide-admission options. Confirm the catchment and any eligibility for a specific address with the District before you rely on it.
School District of PhiladelphiaThe Fairmount Tradeoff
Why you might consider it — and what I'd want you to understand before you buy.
Why buyers consider it
Walking distance to Center City
The neighborhood borders the Parkway and is adjacent to Center City rather than a commute away from it.
Park and museum access
Fairmount Park, Kelly Drive and the Parkway museums are directly adjacent.
Consistent housing type
The rowhome-dominant stock makes it easier to compare homes against each other than in mixed-housing parts of the city.
What you should know
Street parking is the norm
If a dedicated parking space is a requirement, it narrows the search here considerably and carries a real premium.
Renovation quality varies widely
Many homes have been rehabbed more than once. What matters is when the electrical, plumbing, roof and HVAC were actually done, not how the kitchen photographs.
Outdoor space is limited
Yards are typically small; roof decks and patios are common substitutes and bring their own inspection and permit questions.
Live home search
Could You See Yourself Living in Fairmount?
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Browse current homes for sale in Fairmount through Tom's live home search.
Still Comparing Philadelphia Neighborhoods?
See how Fairmount compares with other parts of Philadelphia you may also be considering.
Brewerytown
Directly northwest along Girard Avenue, with a similar rowhome base but more new construction and rehab activity.
Explore BrewerytownCenter City
Just south across the Parkway, where condos and high-rises make up much more of the for-sale housing.
Explore Center CityNorthern Liberties & Fishtown
Also close to Center City, but on the Delaware River side with Market–Frankford Line access instead of the Broad Street Line.
Explore Northern Liberties & Fishtown
Client stories
What Clients Say About Working With Tom
Real Google reviews from buyers and sellers Tom has helped.
5 on Google · 24 reviews
1 of 18
Thinking About Fairmount?
Whether you're already looking at homes or still comparing Philadelphia neighborhoods, I'll help you understand the properties, the numbers and the tradeoffs before you make a move.
Guidance first. Pressure never.
Own a home in Fairmount?Selling with Tom →
Buyers here compare rowhomes closely on renovation history, outdoor space and any parking, so documentation of past work matters.
Sources · last verified August 2026