Living in Fairmount, Philadelphia: Real Estate Guide
Fairmount sits just north of Center City, where the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Fairmount Park and the Schuylkill River meet blocks of 19th century brick rowhomes. Most of the housing is rowhomes, many split into apartments or condos, with newer condos and new construction filling in. Max Karasick, a Compass agent licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, helps buyers, sellers and renters in Fairmount price homes from recent sales, plan a search and market a listing.
The appeal is easy to picture. A weekday can start with a run or a ride along Kelly Drive and end with a walk home past Eastern State Penitentiary on Fairmount Avenue. Saturdays tend to drift toward the park and the river trail. Center City is close enough to reach on foot or by bike, and the Broad Street Line runs along the eastern edge for rainy days and longer trips. What most buyers trade for that location is space. Many homes are modest in size and outdoor space usually means a patio or a roof deck. Parking is something to plan for rather than assume.
Who It Fits
Buyers who want a brick rowhome with a rear patio or roof deck and Fairmount Park within walking distance
Buyers who prefer a condo in a converted building or a newer mid rise near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Renters who want an apartment near the B Broad Street Line with Center City an easy walk or bike ride away
Runners and cyclists who want Kelly Drive and the Schuylkill River Trail close to the front door
Housing Stock
Most of Fairmount is two and three story brick rowhomes built in the 1800s. Modest homes line the narrow streets, while the wider avenues hold larger houses, many of them divided into apartments or condos. Newer construction rowhomes and mid rise buildings fill former commercial and industrial sites.
Eastern State Penitentiary, now a historic site, anchors Fairmount Avenue, and the western side of the neighborhood runs toward the Schuylkill River and Fairmount Park. The building type shapes the budget. A rowhome owner covers the roof and facade alone, while a condo owner pays a monthly fee for shared costs, so the association’s budget, reserves and rules deserve a careful read before an offer goes in.
The Philadelphia Historical Commission’s list of historic districts includes the Spring Garden Historic District (2000), next to Fairmount, but no district named Fairmount. According to the City, any work on a historic property that requires a building permit or changes the exterior appearance of the building or site must first be approved by the Philadelphia Historical Commission, and interiors are generally not covered. Buyers planning new windows, doors, a roof deck, an addition or facade work should check whether the address is in a district or individually listed, then budget time for review if it is.
Prices and Rents
Prices in Fairmount follow size, condition and location. A single family rowhome with outdoor space and a unit in a converted building are different purchases, even on the same block. Blocks closer to the Parkway and the park often draw different interest than blocks nearer Girard Avenue or Broad Street. Parking, a roof deck and any remaining tax abatement also move the number.
Max shares current Bright MLS figures for Fairmount on request, including median sale price and days on market, pulled for the specific property type a client is weighing.
The strategy question is usually needs versus wants. A roof deck or a parking spot is a nice extra for one buyer and the reason to move for another, so it pays to decide which before the first showing. Anyone looking at an abated home should also price in the tax bill after the abatement ends.
Rents depend on unit type and building.
Getting Around
SEPTA’s B Broad Street Line runs along the eastern edge of Fairmount. SEPTA’s map shows Fairmount station as a stop for both B1 local and B2 express trains, and Broad-Spring Garden as a stop for B1 local trains. Farther north, Broad-Girard connects to the G1 Route 15 Trolley on Girard Avenue. The B3 Broad-Ridge Spur runs from this stretch of Broad Street toward Chinatown and 8th-Market.
Plenty of trips skip transit entirely. The Benjamin Franklin Parkway leads southeast to City Hall, Center City is reachable on foot or by bike and Kelly Drive and the Schuylkill River Trail follow the river through Fairmount Park. For drivers, I-676 runs a short distance to the south.
Taxes and Costs
Philadelphia’s Real Estate Tax is charged on a property’s assessed value. For the 2025 tax year the City lists a total rate of 1.3998%: 0.6159% for the City and 0.7839% for the School District. Confirm the rate for the current tax year on phila.gov before running numbers. An owner who lives in the home as a primary residence may qualify for the Homestead Exemption, which reduces assessed value by $100,000 as of October 2026.
A property with an active 10-year residential tax abatement is not eligible for the Homestead Exemption while the abatement is in place, so compare tax bills over several years when weighing an abated new build against an older rowhome.
At closing, Philadelphia’s Realty Transfer Tax totals 4.578% as of October 2026: 3.578% to the City plus 1% to the Commonwealth. The City states that the tax is usually split evenly between buyer and seller and that it can collect the full amount from either party. For more detail see the Philadelphia transfer tax guide, the guide to the Philadelphia 10-year tax abatement and the comparison of owning costs in Philadelphia and New Jersey.
Schools
Fairmount is within The School District of Philadelphia; buyers should review school information directly with the district.
Working With Max in Fairmount
For sellers, Max starts with a price built from recent comparable sales of similar properties nearby. The listing campaign is then built around what sets the home apart, whether that is the layout, the condition, the outdoor space or the building’s amenities. Owners can request a starting number on the home valuation page or read about the process on the selling page.
For buyers, Max sets up a search around the real choices in Fairmount: single family or condo, outdoor space, parking and distance to the park. Max reviews recent sales before any offer is written. Buyers can start on the buying page and renters on the rentals page. Anyone can reach Max through the contact page.
Official Sources
FAQ
What are homes like in Fairmount?
Fairmount is mostly two and three story brick rowhomes from the 19th century, and many of the larger ones are divided into apartments or condos. Newer construction rowhomes and mid rise buildings fill former commercial and industrial sites. Some homes have rear patios or roof decks.
Can you walk from Fairmount to Center City?
Yes. The Benjamin Franklin Parkway leads southeast to City Hall, and Center City is reachable on foot or by bike. SEPTA’s B Broad Street Line also stops at Fairmount and Broad-Spring Garden on the neighborhood’s eastern edge.
Is Fairmount a historic district?
The Philadelphia Historical Commission does not list a district named Fairmount, but the nearby Spring Garden Historic District is on its list. Buyers should check whether a specific address is in a district or individually listed before planning exterior work.
Can Fairmount homeowners get the Homestead Exemption?
Yes, owner occupants anywhere in Philadelphia may qualify for the Homestead Exemption, which reduces assessed value by $100,000 as of October 2026. Homes with an active 10-year abatement are not eligible until the abatement ends.
Nearby Areas: Center City · Rittenhouse
