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Oxford Circle

Oxford Circle

Urban Core Neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia County 19111, 19149

$198,176 Average Value
$174 Average Price per Sq Ft
23 Homes For Sale

A diverse community in Northeast Philadelphia

This urban neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia is named for its bustling traffic circle that connects locals to the rest of the city. The roundabout symbolizes the connections made across Oxford Circle, which Niche ranks as the most diverse neighborhood in Philadelphia. “I think of us as a mini United Nations up here,” says Katie Gard, Programs Director of the local Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association. “Something that I love and value is the diversity on my block." Many residents plant gardens outside their rowhomes. "Even though we don’t speak the same language, we share vegetables across the fence," Gard says. The neighborhood has a vibrant business corridor along Castor Avenue and sits just east of Route 13, about a 10-mile drive from Philadelphia’s central business district in Center City.

Classic rowhomes with brick exteriors

Traditional, Philadelphia-style rowhomes line Oxford Circle’s gridded streets. The rowhomes sit atop small, elevated yards, with staircases leading up from the sidewalks to their front stoops. Each rowhome is two stories and offers two to four bedrooms, with three bedrooms being the norm. Residents also have rear garages that are accessible through a back alleyway. Although most homes were built in the 1920s and are almost a century old, many have undergone recent renovations and feature updated kitchens with new appliances. Prices range from around $150,000 to $265,000.

Vibrant commercial corridor along Castor Avenue

An eclectic collection of eateries lines Castor Avenue, which bisects the neighborhood. “You can eat around the world,” Gard says. Castor Pizza is a neighborhood pizzeria where locals can order by the slice or the pie. Further north is Picanha Brazilian Steakhouse. “They come around with the meat on the skewer and they shave off a little onto your plate,” Gard says. “Further up the street, you’ve got Buccann. They have a nice Latino flair. I went at night, and they had green and purple and blue lights on and some dance music playing. It almost feels like you’re going out.” Residents are also less than 2 miles south of Steve’s Prince of Steaks, a local institution known for its cheesesteaks made from fresh rolls, thinly sliced rib-eye and melted cheese. Don Pedro Meats & Market is a neighborhood grocer selling fresh produce, meats and Brazilian specialties. ShopRite of Oxford & Levick is about a mile northeast along Oxford Avenue. Residents can also head to the OCCCDA and pick up free groceries. “We serve over 200 families per week with groceries that get donated to us or that we buy from the local ethnic grocery stores. People come to our parking lot, and if they’re willing to wait an hour in line, they’ll walk away with groceries and fresh produce and things like that,” Gard says.

Neighbors gather for festivals and holidays

The OCCCDA and the Oxford Circle Mennonite Church host various events. “We offer education and economic development for our community. We’ve also had a history of doing some community festivals where we’ll have a bounce house for the kids and a chance for the families to get to know each other,” Gard says. Neighbors also gather on their streets to celebrate special events. “When a holiday comes around, you can expect people to be out in their yards celebrating. For the Fourth of July, we set off fireworks. It's very celebratory,” Gard says

Children attend the Philadelphia City School District

Students on the west side of Oxford Circle attend Laurel H. Carnell Elementary School, Warren G. Harding Middle School and Samuel Fels High School. “The local elementary school represents over 20 different languages. We have support for young families with kids ages 0 to 5 and staff in 5 different languages that help parents get an early start on reading and early childhood literacy,” Gard says. All three schools earned a C-minus from Niche. Students in the eastern half of the neighborhood attend the C-minus-rated Gilbert Spruance School for grades K-8 before moving on to Northeast High School. The high school earned a B from Niche and students may apply to the highly selective Northeast Medical, Engineering and Aerospace Magnet. The magnet emphasizes college preparatory learning and boasts the Space Research Center, which is the only high school program in the country that includes a simulated NASA flight.

Recreation centers with indoor and outdoor amenities

In the northwestern corner of the neighborhood is the Tarken Ice Rink and Recreation Center. The indoor skating rink is open year-round and offers private lessons, youth ice hockey leagues and weekly public skating hours. The recreation center offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation, with ballfields, basketball courts and a playground for kids to explore. Next to Gilbert Spruance Elementary School is the Max Myers Recreation Center, which has a variety of sports courts, a playground with a whimsical metal giraffe statue and an outdoor pool. The rec center’s Max Myers Summer Day Camp includes local field trips and provides children with breakfast and lunch. For a night of old-fashioned fun, Thunderbird Lanes Castor Ave is a neighborhood bowling alley with leagues for all ages.

SEPTA provides bus service to Center City

Oxford Circle is in Northeast Philadelphia and is about 10 miles from Center City, the city’s central business district. U.S. Route 13 runs along the neighborhood's eastern border and connects to major thoroughfares such as Interstate 76. SEPTA Route 59 provides local bus service to the community, making several stops along Castor Avenue before heading south to the Arrott Transit Center. The transit center serves the Market-Frankford Line, which makes several stops in Center City and is locally known as the El. Philadelphia International Airport is about a 20-mile drive south.

Sally Stimpson
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Sally Stimpson
Emily McNamara
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Emily McNamara

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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 Carlos Cesar, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Philadelphia International

33 min drive

Bus

Oxford Av & Langdon St

Bus

Roosevelt Blvd & Van Kirk St

Bus

Roosevelt Blvd & Oxford Cir

Bus

Roosevelt Blvd & Large St

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Oxford Circle US
Homicide 6 4
Sexual Assault 3 4
Assault with Weapon 5 4
Robbery 6 4
Burglary 3 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 4 4
Larceny 3 4
Crime Score 4 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$192,000
Median Townhouse Price
$212,500
Median 2 Bedroom Price
$165,000
Median 1 Bedroom Price
$125,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$174
Number of Homes for Sale
23
Last 12 months Home Sales
48
Months of Supply
5.80
Median List Price
$195,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
5%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,662
Median Year Built
1925
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,552
Below the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,248
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
960
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
709
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
2,178

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 Carlos Cesar, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
5,172
Median Age
34
Population Density
36 ppl/acre
Population under 18
31%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
10.6%
Below the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$56,091
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$70,888

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
77.2%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
11.2%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
5.2%
% Population in Labor Force
71.8%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
46''
Average Winter Low Temperature
27°F
Average Summer High Temperature
88°F
Annual Snowfall
15''

Area Factors

Bikeable

Bike Score®

60 / 100

Very Walkable

Walk Score®

85 / 100

Good Transit

Transit Score®

65 / 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.

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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
Oxford Circle