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Belmont

Belmont

Urban Core Neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia County 19104

Neighborhood Reviews
3.0
$152,554 Average Value
$109 Average Price per Sq Ft
11 Homes For Sale

Urban living in West Philadelphia

Belmont is a densely populated urban neighborhood in the heart of West Philadelphia. Its gridded streets sit along Lancaster Avenue, a vibrant historic district. “During the civil rights era, right at 40th and Lancaster, presently, there is a historic marker and bust of Dr. Martin Luther King, where on that site, he gave his Freedom Now speech in 1965. Two blocks down at 4218 Lancaster Avenue, the second floor of that building was the home of Muhammed’s Temple Number 12 where Malcolm X was the minister. It is an honor to have these two giants in this area,” says Abdul-Rahim Muhammad, a lifelong resident of Belmont. “My family moved up from the antebellum south over 120 years ago and migrated there in search of greater opportunities. I feel a mission to preserve that legacy, and we opened the New Africa Center primarily as the home of the African American community. We’d like to use the arts and culture and history and neighborhood identity as an economic engine to rebuild our community.” The area is rebranding as the New Freedom District, a vibrant community dedicated to preserving its rich history.

In West Philadelphia, Belmont is a densely populated neighborhood outside of center city.
In West Philadelphia, Belmont is a densely populated neighborhood outside of center city.
Welcome to Belmont located in West Philadelphia.
Welcome to Belmont located in West Philadelphia.
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Philadelphia-style rowhomes with street parking

Traditional rowhomes and twin homes line Belmont’s narrow streets. Most homes were built around the early 1900s and feature brick exteriors, covered front porches and traditional Philadelphia-style architecture. Street parking is the norm, and cars typically line both sides of the street. While some homes are over 100 years old, many have undergone renovations and feature updated kitchens, new appliances and central air conditioning. “There’s a lot of investing going on there. Investors have really turned these homes around,” says Shawn Marie Freeman, a Realtor with Realty One Group Restore with over 10 years of experience in real estate. Prices range from around $70,000 for a property needing repairs to about $325,000 for a home that has seen recent renovations. New construction built in the early 2020s is also scattered throughout the neighborhood, with modern townhomes starting at around $490,000. Belmont has a CAP Index Crime Score of 8 out of 10, which is higher than the national average of 4. This overall Crime Score is largely driven by higher-than-average scores for violent crimes.

The Urban Thinkscape gives children the opportunity to be kids in Belmont.
The Urban Thinkscape gives children the opportunity to be kids in Belmont.

Neighborhood bus stop inspires creativity

Belmont is south of U.S. Route 30, also known as Girard Avenue. Residents can hop on the thoroughfare and cross the Schuylkill River into Center City Philadelphia, about 3 miles east. Girard Avenue also connects to Interstate 76. SEPTA Bus Route 40 provides local bus service to the community, stopping in the neighborhood along North 41st Street on its way from Center City to Cynwyd. Locals can also head to Lancaster Avenue and hop on SEPTA Route 10, a trolley line that connects to University City, among other places. The bus stop at the corner of North 40th Street and Lancaster Avenue sits next to the grassy lot where Martin Luther King Jr. spoke in 1965 and has been transformed into an Urban Thinkscape. The installation includes a vibrant puzzle wall, interactive play structures and a canopy that projects shadows of fruits and vegetables onto the nearby mural of Martin Luther King Jr. For longer trips, Philadelphia International Airport is less than 10 miles south.

Kids attend the Philadelphia City School District

Students in grades K-8 attend the Rudolph Blankenburg School, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to its striking Colonial Revival architecture. The local organization Spiral Q partners with the school to offer SPARQ, a creative program in which students collaborate with local artists to produce art that is showcased at the annual Blankenburg Parade. Teens attend the nearby West Philadelphia High School, and both schools earned a C-minus from Niche. The neighborhood is also home to the Belmont Charter School, which serves grades K-12. The University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University are just southeast of Belmont in University City.

Belmont is an urban neighborhood blocks from the exciting features of West Philadelphia.
Belmont is an urban neighborhood blocks from the exciting features of West Philadelphia.

Local favorites on Lancaster Avenue

A variety of restaurants line the neighborhood’s western border along Lancaster Avenue. “It’s right by those universities, so you’ll see a lot of college students hanging out there,” Freeman says. Lavish is a casual eatery known for its soul food platters, while Dwight’s Southern Bar-B-Q serves homestyle ribs. Further south along the thoroughfare, residents can head to the counter at Quality Taste and order Jamaican staples such as oxtail and jerk chicken. Independent grocery stores such as Sunshine Food Market dot the street, and Aldi is about a mile south of the neighborhood on Market Street.

Indoor skatepark and proximity to Fairmount Park

Skate The Foundry is an indoor skatepark on North 40th Street – Belmont’s eastern border. Locals can practice their skills on rails and concrete ramps, and the skatepark offers lessons for riders of all skill levels. While the neighborhood currently lacks outdoor green spaces, the Belmont Alliance Civic Association is working to build the Belmont Commons Cultural Activities Park along North Preston Street, which will include a playground and spaces for passive recreation. West Fairmount Park is about a mile north and spans over 1,4000 acres along the Schuylkill River. Kids can explore the Parkside Evans Playground, while the Please Touch Museum features interactive exhibits ranging from a fairytale garden to a life-size supermarket. The park is also home to the Philadelphia Zoo, where locals can see over 1,7000 rare and endangered species.

Local food pantries and free health resources

The Second Antioch Baptist Church supports the community with a bi-weekly food giveaway, free nutrition classes and health screenings from the Miriam Clinic.

Access to an award-winning hospital

Residents are about a mile north of the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Locally known as Presby, the hospital is part of the University of Pennsylvania Health System and has a Level I trauma center.

Sally Stimpson
Written By
Sally Stimpson
Rich Walker
Photography Contributed By
Rich Walker
EB Fox
Video By
EB Fox

Agents Specializing in this Area

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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

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Asmaro Gist, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Philadelphia International

22 min drive

Subway

Lancaster Avenue And Wallace Street

Bus

Lancaster Av & Ogden St

Bus

41st St & Ogden St

Bus

41st St & Parrish St

Bus

Aspen St & Lancaster Av

Bus

Lancaster Av & Wallace St

Bus

40th St & Aspen St

Bus

40th St & Lancaster Av

Reviews

Niche Reviews
3.0 2 Reviews
3.0 Current Resident
3/7/2021 Niche Review
As a long-term resident of the Belmont Community in West Philadelphia we are evolving plus we are adding amenities to complement the new housing market.
Are you familiar with the Belmont neighborhood? to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Belmont US
Homicide 10 4
Sexual Assault 7 4
Assault with Weapon 9 4
Robbery 10 4
Burglary 5 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 5 4
Larceny 5 4
Crime Score 7 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$127,000
Median Townhouse Price
$149,500
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$109
Number of Homes for Sale
11
Last 12 months Home Sales
14
Months of Supply
9.40
Median List Price
$149,500
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-22%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
699
Median Year Built
1925
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,133
Above the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,225
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
300
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
1,742

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Asmaro Gist, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
3,847
Median Age
36
Population Density
31 ppl/acre
Population under 18
28.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15.2%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$35,643
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$41,273

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
73.8%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
16.5%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
3.8%
% Population in Labor Force
57.7%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
26°F
Average Summer High Temperature
87°F
Annual Snowfall
13''

Area Factors

Very Bikeable

Bike Score®

76 / 100

Very Walkable

Walk Score®

71 / 100

Good Transit

Transit Score®

68 / 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

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Belmont