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 (Sep 2026) | $1,295,000 |
|---|---|
| Sold median (Sep 2026) | $799,500 |
| Homes listed (Sep 2026) | 18 |
| Homes sold (Sep 2026) | 6 |
| Pended (Sep 2026) | 12 |
| Listed volume (Sep 2026) | $21.1M |
| Sold volume (Sep 2026) | $6.0M |
| Listed median (Sep 2026) | $897,500 |
| Average days on market | 31 days |
| Zip code | 19118 |
| Region | Northwest Philadelphia |
Based on information from Bright MLS for 9/1/2026 through 9/30/2026; data is reliable but not guaranteed.
Boundary and reference data from OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the ODbL.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 8 | 6 | $10.9M | $2.06M | 10 days |
| Jun '26 | 21 | $23.1M | $875k | 9 | 8 | $8.4M | $775k | 15 days |
| Jul '26 | 7 | $5.7M | $570k | 3 | 12 | $16.5M | $1.19M | 12 days |
| Aug '26 | 4 | $4.5M | $1.01M | 4 | 9 | $8.3M | $700k | 23 days |
| Sep '26 | 18 | $21.1M | $898k | 12 | 6 | $6.0M | $800k | 31 days |
Based on information from Bright MLS for 10/1/2025 through 9/30/2026; data is reliable but not guaranteed.
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 September at a median of $799,500, up from August’s $700,000, which was the lowest monthly figure of the past year. Six closings is a thin month, and the monthly median has ranged from $700,000 to $2,065,000 over 12 months. The active market is the steadier gauge: 30 homes were listed at the end of September at a median asking price of $1,295,000.
September closings averaged 31 days on market, up from 23 in August. Cumulative days on market also read 31, which means none of the six had been listed, pulled and brought back to try again.
September reversed August’s thin flow of new listings. Eighteen homes came to market, up from four, and inventory rose to 30 from 25, about 3.3 months of supply at August’s sales pace. Twelve homes went under agreement, the most of any month in the past year, and those contracts should show up as closings in October and November.
Based on information from Bright MLS for 9/1/2026 through 9/30/2026; data is reliable but not guaranteed.
The T3 Home Demand Index (HDI) measures buyer urgency relative to available supply, scored against each market’s 2019 activity. Bright MLS reads below 70 as limited demand; 70–89 slow; 90–109 steady; 110–129 moderate; 130 and above high. Updated monthly.
The Philadelphia metro HDI fell to 77 in September 2026, down five points from August and still in the Slow tier. It sits two points below its September 2025 reading of 79. All six segments lost ground on the month. Luxury single-family homes dropped 12 points to 60, into the Limited tier, but they remain the only segment above their September 2025 level. Entry-level condos fell 10 points to 97 and stayed Steady. Entry-level single-family demand slipped one point to 76, nine points under where it sat a year ago. T3 attributed the drop to “rate-and-affordability fatigue.” Freddie Mac’s 30-year average passed 7 percent on September 24, and I wrote about why rates rose after the Fed’s September increase.
Source: Bright MLS T3 Home Demand Index · homedemandindex.com · All 33 data points sourced from monthly report pages.
Chestnut Hill closed six sales in September 2026 at a median of $799,500, up from $700,000 in August. Low monthly volume and a handful of high-end sales swing that number hard, so the active listing picture is the better gauge: 30 homes were on the market at the end of September, at a median list price of $1,295,000.
In September 2026, Chestnut Hill closings averaged 31 days on market, up from 23 in August, on six sales. Twelve homes went under agreement during the month, the most of any month in the past year.
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 September 2026 median list price was $1,295,000. Well-priced homes sell quickly, often within a week or two. Whether it fits depends on 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.
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.
