David Teitelman
Hampton Preferred Real Estate Inc
(267) 727-2850
74 Total Sales
2 in Upper Kensington
$31K - $127K Price Range
Upper Kensington
Urban Core Neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia County 19133, 19134, 19140
Neighborhood Reviews
Named after the area of England that houses the royal family, Upper Kensington is a buzzing urban neighborhood in the northern part of Philadelphia. Highly walkable, close to public transportation and boasting a lower price point than many surrounding areas, Upper Kensington offers residents a great deal of accessibility. “Folks like how easy it is to get in and out of the city from this area,” says Marco Troche, realtor with RE/MAX Affiliates. “The train is close by, and so is 95, where there are a lot of shopping centers. It’s a convenient area.”
Upper Kensington’s grid-style streets are lined with sidewalks and parked cars, as street parking is the norm in this neighborhood. Narrow, attached rowhomes, built in the 1920s and featuring a blend of Victorian and colonial influences, are packed tightly along the streets, and sit in varying condition. In this part of town, a three-bedroom rowhome ranges in cost from around $80,000 to $100,000. “Inventory is low around the city at the moment,” says Troche. “Based on the sales price and condition of the home, properties can sell anywhere from around 15 to 60 days.”
Upper Kensington is served by the School District of Philadelphia, which receives an overall grade of C-plus from Niche. Students in this area attend schools that include Lewis Elkin Elementary School, Conwell Middle School and Thomas Alva Edison High School and John C. Fareira Skills Center. Lewis Elkin Elementary, which receives an overall grade of C-minus from Niche, is located in the heart of the neighborhood, within walking distance from many residences. This elementary school boasts an optional, comprehensive dual language program — English and Spanish — that is available for students in kindergarten through 4th grade.
Kids can enjoy the modern slides and climbing structures at McKinley Playground, located in McPherson Square on Indiana Avenue. McPherson Square features a concentric design of paved walking paths, benches, mature trees and native plants that lead to the historic McPherson Square Library at its center. Built in 1890, this large public library has a traditional architectural style that includes ornate stonework, decorative moldings and tall columns. It belongs to the Free Library of Philadelphia system, which is one of the largest public library systems in the world.
When hungry, head to Olympia on Allegheny Avenue for casual diner-style fare. Hunker down in a booth or grab a swiveling stool at the counter and fill up on large platters of omelets and pancakes. For something sweet, head to Caribeña Bakery on 2nd Street for a range of freshly baked pastries and a steaming cup of coffee. There are plenty of small shops and convenience stores scattered throughout Upper Kensington, so grabbing snacks and essentials is quick and easy. For groceries, there is a Save A Lot on Allegheny Avenue. When you want to shop at big box stores, head 2 miles east to Butler Street, where you’ll find familiar retailers like Walmart, Target and Home Depot.
Philadelphia’s extensive public transportation system, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority — or SEPTA, as it’s called by locals — has two subway stations in the neighborhood, Somerset Station and Allegheny Station. There are also over a dozen bus stops along Kensington Avenue for more options and convenience. The area’s proximity to Interstate 95, which is 2 miles south of Upper Kensington, makes it easy to get downtown and beyond in no time.
Written By
Sarah Grace Vedomske
Photography Contributed By
Mitchell Birnbaum
Video By
Britt Lyle
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Agents Specializing in this Area
-
David Teitelman
-
Ronald Ridolfo
Ronald Ridolfo
Keller Williams Real Estate-Doylestown
(833) 427-2140
43 Total Sales
1 in Upper Kensington
$60,000 Price
-
Tim Brogan
Tim Brogan
Coldwell Banker Realty
(215) 608-0466
103 Total Sales
2 in Upper Kensington
$75K - $85K Price Range
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Dawn Hogan
Dawn Hogan
Coldwell Banker Realty
(856) 733-5656
58 Total Sales
1 in Upper Kensington
$72,000 Price
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Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan Real Estate, LLC
(866) 430-3715
53 Total Sales
1 in Upper Kensington
$82,500 Price
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David Adebiyi
David Adebiyi
Springer Realty Group
(866) 828-0292
51 Total Sales
1 in Upper Kensington
$66,000 Price
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
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- Pre-K to 8th
- Public
- K to 8th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Lighthouse Field
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Playground
Hissey Playground
Arcadia Commons
Frankford Avenue Garden
Mascher Park
Jose Manuel Collazo Park
Transit
Airport
Philadelphia International
26 min drive
Subway
Allegheny (Mfl)
Subway
Somerset
Bus
Front St & Clearfield St
Bus
Allegheny Av & C St
Bus
Front St & Allegheny Av
Bus
Kensington Av & Lehigh Av
Bus
Allegheny Av & Front St
Reviews
Niche Reviews
1/2/2016
Niche Review
It has bad parts and good parts. Nothing actually special about it unless you have lived here for a long time
7/21/2014
Niche Review
Exactly where I live its really bad but if you go out to the city you will be glad of what you will expirience.
6/20/2017
Niche Review
I like that there are plenty of corner stores to go to get things. The schools are pretty good. The neighborhood is very diverse. It could be better if they eliminated the prostitution around the way and people shooting up on the streets.
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Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Upper Kensington | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 10 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 6 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 9 | 4 |
| Robbery | 10 | 4 |
| Burglary | 5 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 7 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Upper Kensington, Philadelphia sell after 76 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Upper Kensington, Philadelphia over the last 12 months is $89,269, up 13% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Home Trends
Median Price (12 Mo)
$78,500
Median Single Family Price
$130,000
Median Townhouse Price
$85,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$91
Number of Homes for Sale
73
Last 12 months Home Sales
180
Months of Supply
4.90
Median List Price
$87,500
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
6%
Home Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
7,128
Median Year Built
1930
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,268
Above the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,064
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
3,049
Open Houses
-
Sunday, Apr 2711am - 2pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
21,781
Median Age
34
Population Density
42 ppl/acre
Population under 18
30.8%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
11.1%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$23,544
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$36,025
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
59.3%
Significantly below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
5%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
1.5%
% Population in Labor Force
41.9%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
46''
Average Winter Low Temperature
27°F
Average Summer High Temperature
88°F
Annual Snowfall
15''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
72
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
81
/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
67
/ 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
McGuire
Diverse neighborhood in the heart of Northern Philadelphia
Fairhill
Urban North Philly district with cultural pride and community programs
East Kensington
A hip and changing urban neighborhood near Fishtown
Juniata Park
Accessibly priced rowhomes surrounded by essentials in the north Philly suburbs
Feltonville
A vibrant, diverse North Philadelphia neighborhood near big city parks
Harrowgate
North Philly rowhomes close to Tioga Station and a five-acre park
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