If you're looking to buy or sell a home in Chestnut Hill, I know this market well and I'm glad to help. Chestnut Hill sits at the top of Northwest Philadelphia, where Germantown Avenue reaches its highest point before crossing into Montgomery County. The architecture is a near-complete catalog of Victorian-era ambition (stone Victorians, Queen Annes, shingle-style houses on generous lots), and the commercial district along Germantown Ave operates more like a small-town main street than a city neighborhood strip.
The Wissahickon Valley runs along its western edge with access via numerous trailheads. Regional rail puts Center City about 25 minutes away. It’s one of those places where people arrive and decide to stay.
Talk to Henry| Median list price (May 2026) | $1,140,000 |
|---|---|
| Active listing range | $325,000–$3,750,000 |
| Sold median (May 2026) | $2,065,000 |
| Homes listed (May 2026) | 23 |
| Homes sold (May 2026) | 6 |
| Pended (May 2026) | 10 |
| Listed volume (May 2026) | $31.2M |
| Sold volume (May 2026) | $10.9M |
| Listed median (May 2026) | $995,000 |
| Median days on market | 6 days |
| Average days on market | 10 days |
| Zip code | 19118 |
| Region | Northwest Philadelphia |
Lines are scaled to each metric’s own range to compare trend shape. Hover any month for actual values.
All Data From Bright MLS. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
| Month | Units listed | Listed volume | Listed median | Pended | Units sold | Sold volume | Sold median | Days on market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun '25 | 4 | $2.7M | $522k | 14 | 18 | $22.8M | $908k | 43 days |
| Jul '25 | 7 | $6.9M | $925k | 6 | 9 | $9.0M | $950k | 17 days |
| Aug '25 | 7 | $7.7M | $825k | 6 | 8 | $12.6M | $975k | 124 days |
| Sep '25 | 13 | $22.3M | $1.20M | 2 | 8 | $7.5M | $722k | 14 days |
| Oct '25 | 8 | $10.9M | $1.12M | 10 | 5 | $6.5M | $850k | 29 days |
| Nov '25 | 4 | $5.7M | $1.24M | 6 | 14 | $19.1M | $1.18M | 42 days |
| Dec '25 | 8 | $10.7M | $775k | 4 | 11 | $11.9M | $925k | 36 days |
| Jan '26 | 9 | $10.3M | $765k | 4 | 6 | $7.5M | $988k | 5 days |
| Feb '26 | 7 | $6.3M | $835k | 5 | 2 | $4.1M | $2.05M | 14 days |
| Mar '26 | 11 | $15.3M | $925k | 6 | 7 | $10.9M | $1.02M | 36 days |
| Apr '26 | 18 | $27.8M | $1.14M | 7 | 10 | $12.6M | $962k | 32 days |
| May '26 | 23 | $31.2M | $995k | 10 | 6 | $10.9M | $2.06M | 10 days |
Germantown Avenue through Chestnut Hill is a must-visit commercial corridor. Independent boutiques, restaurants worth the drive from anywhere in the city, a year-round farmers market, and holiday decorations that brings out half the neighborhood.
Chestnut Hill has some of the most architecturally significant residential stock in Philadelphia. Stone singles and twins from the late 1800s through the early 1900s, some designed by architects whose names still carry weight. The lots are generous, the construction is heavy, and the details, slate roofs, original hardware, patterned tile, still show up in houses that have been standing for 120 years.
The neighborhood has direct access to Wissahickon Valley Park trails along its western edge. Community events throughout the year, and two regional rail lines, Chestnut Hill East and Chestnut Hill West, connect to Center City. The Wissahickon trail system runs along the western border of the neighborhood.
Chestnut Hill closed six sales in May, with prices running from $765,000 to $3,000,000. Four of those six sales landed at $2 million or above, pulling the median to $2,065,000. That figure is best read as a snapshot of which homes happened to close in a single luxury-heavy month rather than a new market baseline. The active listing picture is a better gauge of the broader market: 29 homes were on the market at the end of May, ranging from roughly $325,000 to $3,750,000 with a median list of $1,140,000.
May’s median DOM was 6 days, with the longest closing at 22. That’s slightly slower than April’s 4-day median but still fast by any standard. The pattern across the spring is clear. When Chestnut Hill listings are priced and presented well, they move within the first week or two.
Inventory is rebuilding. Homes on the market grew to 29 at the end of May, up from 21 at the end of April, and reached 31 in early June — about 2.9 months of supply at the current sales pace. That gives buyers more options entering the summer, though Chestnut Hill’s particular mix of architecturally significant homes keeps competition real for the better-presented properties.
The T3 Home Demand Index (HDI) measures buyer urgency relative to available supply. Values below 50 signal limited demand; 50–74 moderate; 75–89 slow; 90+ steady. Updated monthly from Bright MLS data.
The Philadelphia metro HDI in May 2026 was 87, in the Slow tier — up from 82 in April 2026 and down from 92 a year prior. Buyer demand has continued to accelerate through the spring but remains below 2025’s peak. The condominium segment continues to run hottest, with both entry-level and luxury condos running well above the Steady threshold, while single-family demand has firmed across price tiers.
Source: Bright MLS T3 Home Demand Index · homedemandindex.com · All 29 data points sourced from monthly report pages.
Chestnut Hill closed only six sales in May 2026, four of them at $2 million or above, which pulled the closed median to $2,065,000. Because that reflects a single luxury-heavy month rather than a market baseline, the active listing picture is a better gauge: 29 homes were on the market at the end of May, ranging from roughly $325,000 to $3,750,000, with a median list price of $1,140,000.
Chestnut Hill homes continue to move fast. In May 2026, the median time on market was 6 days, with the longest closing at 22 days. That is slightly slower than April’s 4-day median but still quick by any standard. When listings are priced and presented well, they go under agreement within the first week or two.
Chestnut Hill is served by two SEPTA Regional Rail lines, Chestnut Hill East and Chestnut Hill West, which connect to Center City in approximately 25 minutes. The neighborhood also has direct trail access to Wissahickon Valley Park along its western edge.
Chestnut Hill falls within the 19118 zip code in Northwest Philadelphia. It borders Mt Airy (19119) to the south and Springfield Township, Montgomery County to the north and west, with Germantown Avenue serving as its main commercial corridor.
Chestnut Hill is one of Philadelphia's most sought-after neighborhoods, with significant architecture, a true main-street commercial corridor, and direct access to the Wissahickon. It is also one of the city's higher-priced markets: the May 2026 median list price was around $1,140,000, with active listings ranging from roughly $325,000 to $3,750,000. Well-priced homes sell quickly, often within a week or two. Whether it fits depends on your budget and what you're after, and I'm glad to talk it through honestly.
The two neighborhoods are next-door neighbors along Germantown Avenue but sit at different price points. Chestnut Hill skews higher, with grander stone singles, generous lots, and a more polished commercial stretch. Mt Airy is generally more accessible on price, with greater housing variety and a more eclectic feel. Buyers often weigh the two, and since I cover both, I can help you compare them directly.
Chestnut Hill has some of the most architecturally significant housing in Philadelphia. Stone Victorians, Queen Annes, shingle-style homes, and large detached singles dominate, many built between the 1880s and the early 1900s and set on generous lots. Slate roofs, original hardware, and patterned tile still show up in homes that have stood for over a century. There are also condos and smaller homes at the lower end of the range, which is where active listings start around $325,000.
My brokerage office sits at 8400 Germantown Avenue, in the heart of Chestnut Hill — I’m on the Avenue nearly every day.
Chestnut Hill is a market I know in detail. If you’re considering buying or selling here, I’d be glad to talk through what you’re looking for.
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