Frequently referred to as simply West Philly, West Philadelphia is characterized by row houses. Typically defined as the area stretching from the western shore of the Schuylkill River, the SEPTA Media/Elwyn Line to the south, City Avenue to the northwest and Cobbs Creek to the southwest, the region was once primarily home to a large number of European immigrants and their descendants. Today, the region is racially diverse with a mixture of different cultures, races and ethnicities.
While most of the houses in West Philadelphia are row houses, the region also boasts semi-attached and detached houses. Some of the homes date back to 1850 when the earliest developments began, while most homes were built prior to 1930. Most of the development of the area was fueled by the development of the horsecar and, later, by the electrified streetcar.
In its early development years, the region was particularly attractive to upper and middle class residents who were interested in moving away from the crowded city center. As such, early developers of the area sought to increase their profits by reducing lot sizes and building more compact, less ornate homes in the region. As early as 1852, sections of the land were divided into block lots and sold under the condition that “substantial stone or brick buildings” be constructed. This led to the construction of mostly three-story Italianate buildings. Other developments focused primarily on the construction of Queen Anne row houses. Garages were not added to most houses in the region until after World War I. Tudor and Spanish Revival houses also became more common during this time.
West Philadelphia is served by West Philadelphia High School, which is one of the largest and most diverse schools in the state. Other schools serving the area include University City High School, William L. Sayre High School, Robert E. Lamberton High School, Overbrook High School and William Shoemaker Middle School. Several private schools and universities, such as University of Pennsylvanian and Drexel University, are also located in the region.
Read More ▾Percentage change from latest quarter vs same time period previous year
Data compiled using 3rd quarter 2019 data vs. same period from 2018
Population by Age Level. Median Age 31.66. Households: 81,432.
In Thousand of Dollars. (Median Income: $31,583)
Population by Education Level
Fair Market Rents
Public & Private Institutions Of Learning
The School District of Philadelphia is the eighth largest school district in the nation, by enrollment. Located in a historic and culturally rich setting, Philadelphia is a racially and ethnically diverse community committed to education. The School District of Philadelphia operates 214 of the city's 300 public schools, including 149 elementary schools, 16 middle schools, and 49 high schools. The remaining 86 public schools are independently operated charter schools. Charter schools are authorized by the School District of Philadelphia, and are accountable to it.
