Graduate Hospital is a Philadelphia neighborhood that has transformed from a former, in-decline middle-class area to one of the wealthiest and affluent places for millennials to live in Philadelphia. Though the hospital it got its namesake from has been closed for over a decade, you’ll still find people referring to this area as Graduate Hospital. Some of the other neighborhood nicknames include G-Ho, South of South, SoSo, Naval Square, Southwest City Center, Schuylkill-Southwest, or even Devil’s Pocket.Â
This Philadelphia suburb is popular for the many row houses and close proximity to downtown. Though it may look like a city, you have the warmth and friendliness of knowing your neighbors. You’ll find many strollers on the sidewalks, and the majority of people living in Graduate Hospital are families.
History of Graduate Hospital
Graduate Hospital wasn’t always one of the top-rated Philadelphia neighborhoods. After the Civil War, it was an Irish-American neighborhood full of culture. But 50 years later, the neighborhood was predominantly African American. It stayed that way until the 1960s, when a new development threatened the Graduate Hospital neighborhood and was going to cut it off from the rest of the south areas due to a crossway. It was never built, but by the time they announced that, the buildings had been abandoned and residents had lost their jobs.
Living in Graduate Hospital became rough for a while, but in the 1990s, Philadelphia started revitalizing the condos and homes, creating newly desired properties. Then, Grammy Award Winner Kenneth Gamble opened up Universal Companies in Graduate Hospital, which helped to build low-income housing, a charter school, and successful small businesses. Now, those living in Graduate Hospital enjoy an affluent and safe suburb of Philadelphia. For the past 45 years, the Graduate Hospital community has hosted the Odunde Festival, which is focused on African American culture and history full of music and art.
Location & Transportation in Graduate Hospital
Graduate Hospital is located in South Philadelphia. It borders the City Center of Philadelphia, and has Bainbridge Street on the north and Washington Avenue on the south. To the west of Graduate Hospital is Schuylkill River, and to the east is popular Broad Street. Graduate Hospital is adjacent to Fitler Square and Rittenhouse Square. This is still considered to be downtown Philadelphia, but it’s one of the suburbs that has a family-friendly feel. To get to and from the big city, those living in Philadelphia usually take South Street West, which is the city’s main corridor.
Public Transit is very popular in Graduate Hospital. Many will take the Lombard-South stop, which is in east Graduate Hospital. Another popular transit is SEPTA’s Route 40 bus. It travels along South Street, allowing you to get all the way to the city center and to many Philadelphia neighborhoods. Many people also drive themselves throughout the town, but parking can be a challenge in Graduate Hospital if you don’t have a garage or designated parking. General Hospital’s zip code is 19146.
Who Lives in Graduate Hospital?
Graduate hospital is a kid friendly Philadelphia neighborhood, and about half of the people here have children. Though the neighborhood once had rich diversity, this affluent area has driven up the cost of homes, and it’s no longer very diverse. The majority of the population in Graduate Hospital is white. The racial demographics in Graduate Hospital are 60% white, 25% Black, 6% Asian, 5% Hispanic, 3% Mixed, and 2% other. Nearly 12,000 people live in Graduate Hospital, and 40% of the adults have master’s degrees. The median household income in Graduate Hospital is $83,100. The people living in Graduate Hospital are well educated and like to go out to a bar or restaurant nearby. Many of them are also worshippers, and they attend one of the 22 churches located in the neighborhood. You can expect to see many dogs being walked, strollers being pushed, and joggers getting in an exercise. People enjoy living in Graduate Hospital because the crime levels are below the national average, so this is a very safe Philadelphia suburb.
Though the majority of people moving to Graduate Hospital have children, there’s also a thriving single community. About 45% of people residing in Graduate Hospital are single,and they reside in the area of South Street West, which has plenty of bars and restaurants to go to. Those singles residing in Philadelphia are in their late twenties and early thirties who are educated and looking for the city lifestyle. The nightlife isn’t going to be like downtown Philadelphia, but Graduate Hospital entertainment is still plenty for those who are ready to settle down.
Things to Do in Graduate Hospital, Places to Eat, and Where to Shop
There are so many great attractions to check out in Graduate Hospital. The Marian Anderson Recreation Center holds classes for exercise and crafts, has a sports facility, and a pool. If you want the best activity for couples, check out South Street at night, which is home to the best Graduate Hospital nightlife. If you want local art, go to the Graduate Hospital special event, Odunde Festival, which is held every year to celebrate African American heritage. Or, check out Blocktoberfest, which happens throughout October and have delicious food trucks, local vendors selling crafts, and more.
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For both an experience and one of the best restaurants in Graduate Hospital, check out Bob & Barbara’s Lounge. They serve American favorites, like cheeseburgers, and have fun events, like a Drag Show on Thursdays, live jazz music on Fridays and Saturdays, and karaoke on Sundays. Grace Tavern is the Graduate Hospital bar to visit for great beer and has become a local favorite amongst craft lovers. For family friendly Graduate Hospital restaurants, check out Bistro La Baia for Italian food or The Igloo for delicious gelato, frozen yogurt, and custard.
Need groceries or other goods? South Square Supermarket is the local Graduate Hospital shop for groceries. It has everything you need from food to toilet paper. If you’re looking for local art in Graduate Hospital, you have to visit Workshop Underground, which is run by the former head of product design at Metropolitan Museum of Art. There are affordable gifts starting at $10 and massive modern art for thousands of dollars. The Indie Shelf is another popular Graduate Hospital shop that’s full of beauty products not offered at big markets. Handmade, organic, and natural products are sold here for your face, body, and wellbeing.
- Marian Anderson Recreation Center, 740 S 17th St, Philadelphia, PA 19146, (215) 685-6594
- South Street, 33rd Street / Spruce Street in University City
- Odunde Festival, Near 23rd and South street
- Blocktoberfest, Washington Ave between Broad and 17th St, Philadelphia, PA
- Bob & Barbara’s Lounge, 1509 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19146, (215) 545-4511
- Grace Tavern, 2229 Grays Ferry Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19146, (215) 893-9580
- Bistro La Baia, 1700 Lombard St, Philadelphia, PA 19146, (267) 687-1561
- The Igloo, 2223 Grays Ferry Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19146, (267) 858-4290
- South Square Supermarket, 2221 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19146, (215) 545-4349
- Workshop Underground, 1544 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19146, (215) 987-3534
- The Indie Shelf, 2247 Grays Ferry Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19146
Graduate Hospital Amenities Map
Graduate Hospital Real Estate
Currently, the real estate market in Graduate Hospital is somewhat competitive. Those residing in Graduate Hospital will find stunning row houses and condos that are equipped with original brick interior walls, three to four stories tall, and the charm of vintage homes. The neighbors’ home will be attached to yours, but thanks to the brick construction, the walls are thick. Many of these houses have been redone on the inside, and occasionally, there are new construction homes as well. The average home price in Graduate Hospital is $599,000 or $331 per square foot. Homes in Graduate hospital go to pending in around 70 days.
Those renting will find that the average rents in Graduate Hospital are about $1,774. The Graduate Hospital rental market is trending down at 2%, so it’s a fairly stable area where you can expect to live without too many price increases. Many of the rentals are row houses and condos that people purchase, so you’ll deal mostly with private landlords rather than large apartment complexes. Schools in Graduate Hospital are rated well, and some of the top schools are Chester A. Arthur School, Universal Institute Charter School, and Edwin M. Stanton School.
Moving to Philadelphia? If so, you can’t go wrong with relocating to Graduate Hospital. With its unique family friendly neighborhood feel, it’s the best Philly suburb to reside in. When it’s time to change your address, give Suburban Solutions a call. We’re the best Philadelphia moving company, and we’ll take all the stress out of changing homes!
