Don’t miss out on living in Wissahickon! The Wissahickon neighborhood of Philadelphia is a compact, walkable, and family-friendly community. The community derives its name from the Lenni Lenape word, “wisameckham,” which means “catfish creek.”
The community is well known for its beauty and convenient location near outdoor landmarks, including Wissahickon Valley Park.Before you get started with moving companies in Philadelphia, it’s important to know what makes Wissahickon so special. Wissahickon Philadelphia is a nice place to live, especially if you’re an outdoor enthusiast looking for spacious homes for sale. However, you shouldn’t start moving to Wissahickon until you learn more about it. Here’s what to know about Wissahickon Philadelphia PA.
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Where Is Wissahickon Philadelphia?
Wissahickon is in northwest Philadelphia, bordering Manayunk, Roxborough, and East Falls. It is 7.3 miles from Wissahickon to Downtown Philadelphia (also known as Center City), creating a commute of roughly 20 minutes. Wissahickon borders or contains several major geographic features, including Wissahickon Valley Park and Schuylkill River. The Wissahickon zip code is 19128.
Henry Avenue forms Wissahickon’s northern border and provides direct access to nearby neighborhoods. Most people drive while moving to Wissahickon or living in Wissahickon, and the streets are walkable, though some of the streets are hilly. Most attractions and stores are a short walk away from single-family homes for sale in Wissahickon.
If you prefer using public transportation, you can rely on the Southeastern Philadelphia Transportation Authority (SEPTA) system. The Wissahickon SEPTA station is on the Manayunk/Norristown Line, which connects to Center City and neighborhoods in the downtown area. Wissahickon also contains several bus stops with routes throughout the city. Bus Route 9 connects Wissahickon to Center City, while Bus Route 65 connects the neighborhood to some of the best neighborhoods in Philadelphia, like Wynnefield Heights. You can use the SEPTA system map to see other routes and stops in and around Wissahickon.
Map of Wissahickon Philadelphia
You can use this map of Wissahickon to see where the best things to do, homes for sale, and amenities are in the community.
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Wissahickon History and Overview
The Lenape people lived in the area of Wissahickon for thousands of years until White settlers arrived in the 1600s. Philadelphia slowly expanded, with Wissahickon remaining largely rural and undeveloped until the end of the 18th century. The Pencoyd Iron Works opened in 1852, and the officials founded the village of Wissahickon. Moving to Wissahickon became popular amongst wealthy landowners who wanted grand estates near beautiful outdoor attractions.
Wissahickon Philadelphia has stayed largely the same over the last 150 years, being a beautiful and quaint community with a suburban feel. Wissahickon demographics include:
- Wissahickon population: 3,690
- Median household income: $59,900
- Educational attainment: 92.6% of residents older than 25 have graduated high school, 53.4% have a bachelor’s degree
- Median age: 33
- Foreign-born population: 5.2%
- Racial and ethnic composition: 83.8% White (82.6% non-Hispanic), 6.0% Black or African American, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 3.9% Asian, 2.7% two or more races
Wissahickon is one of the most popular Philadelphia neighborhoods for people in their 20s. 32.8% of the population is in their 20s, the seventh-highest amongst Philadelphia PA neighborhoods. Conversely, only 12.9% of the Wissahickon population is under the age of 18, one of the lowest rates in Philadelphia. Wissahickon is very popular amongst singles, who form nearly 40% of the households in the community.
What’s It Like Living in Wissahickon?
Wissahickon is a compact but hilly neighborhood. The streets are paved and have sidewalks, but the hilly terrain can make it hard for people with mobility impairments to walk. Some streets are narrow, while others, like Osborn St and Ridge Ave, are more spacious. There is no one main street in Wissahickon, and there are very few attractions within the community boundaries.
The community is predominantly residential, with a mixture of single-family homes and apartment buildings. A majority of the population is in their 20s and 30s, but Wissahickon is family-friendly, with many parents and children enjoying Wissahickon Creek. The Wissahickon weather is nice throughout the year, so you can visit outdoor attractions whenever you want.
The lack of attractions and nightclubs means Wissahickon is not a hip or lively neighborhood. However, this makes Wissahickon suitable for people looking for a quiet place to live. Retirees and older people can enjoy living in Wissahickon.
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Things to Do in Wissahickon – Best Restaurants, Stores, and Attractions
You can find numerous great things to do in Wissahickon, including some of the best outdoor points of interest in Philadelphia. Here are just some of the best things to do in Wissahickon.
Restaurants
Dalessandro’s Steaks is one of the most famous cheesesteak restaurants in Philadelphia. Dalessandro’s Steaks serves fresh sandwiches and hoagies in a casual and welcoming environment. Nearly all sandwiches cost $15 or less, making Dalessandro’s Steaks one of the most affordable restaurants in Wissahickon.
Manayunk Pizza is a casual pizzeria that offers pizza, calzones, and sandwiches. You can try out fresh pizzas with a variety of toppings, including smoked bacon, garlic-infused oil, and ribeye shaved steak.
If you’re looking for a classy and romantic eatery, you can visit White Yak. White Yak serves Tibetan food, including dumplings, noodle dishes, and vegetarian stir-fries. While eating, you can enjoy authentic Tibetan works of art and photographs of the Tibetan landscape.
When you want dessert, you can visit C&C Creamery. C&C Creamery is one of the oldest ice cream stores in Philadelphia, serving hard and soft-serve ice cream since 1955.
Shopping
ACME Markets is the top grocery store in Wissahickon, providing groceries and household goods at affordable prices. You can also get groceries at ShopRite of Roxborough. ShopRite Ridge Ave offers weekly deals on many different groceries, including pasta, frozen vegetables, and fresh fruit. Ivyridge is a shopping mall with a Target, a Verizon, and a Dollar Tree. There are only a small number of locally-run businesses in Wissahickon, such as World Wide Aquarium and Pets, the top pet store in the area.
Things to Do
Wissahickon Valley Park is the most famous attraction in Wissahickon. It’s one of the top parks in Philadelphia, covering over 1,800 acres and containing numerous natural wonders. You can hike on over 50 miles of dog-friendly and horse-family nature trails, go fishing in Wissahickon Creek, and watch over 200 species of birds in their natural habitats.
Kids at Play at Ridge Avenue is the top kid-friendly thing to do in Wissahickon. Kids at Play is an indoor playground with ball pits, slides, swings, and buoy swings. It’s one of the best destinations for birthday parties, and you can rent the space for private events.
Walnut Lane Golf Club has an 18-hole executive length golf course well known for its unique holes. Several holes are par-3, and others are tucked inside of hills and valleys, making them challenging even for experienced golfers. The course is lined with trees, creating tranquility for your games.
Here’s where you can find these things to do in Wissahickon:
- Dalessandro’s Steaks, 600 Wendover Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19128, 215-482-5407
- Manayunk Pizza, 4222 Manayunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19128, 215-482-5858
- White Yak, 6118 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19128, 215-483-0764
- C&C Creamery, 5461 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19128, 215-487-1920
- ACME Markets, 5927-59 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19128, 215-487-7180
- ShopRite Ridge Ave, 6901 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19128, 215-482-9570
- Ivyridge, 7146 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19128, 610-215-7939
- World Wide Aquarium and Pets, 7043 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19128, 215-490-9766
- Wissahickon Valley Park, off Valley Green Road, Philadelphia, PA, 19128, 215-247-0417
- Kids at Play, 7201 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19128, 610-628-0005
- Walnut Lane Golf Club, 800 Walnut Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19128, 215-482-3370
The Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department manages parks, green spaces, and public spaces in Wissahickon. The department also plans special events regularly, including summer camps and live musical performances. You can see when these Philadelphia events will occur using the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation events calendar.
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Schools in Wissahickon
The School District of Philadelphia is the official Wissahickon school district. Cook Wissahickon School is a K-8 school that all young students living in Wissahickon can attend. Cook Wissahickon School has a student-to-teacher ratio of 12:1, one of the lowest amongst Philadelphia K-8 schools.
Students who attend Cook Wissahickon School then attend Roxborough High School. Roxborough High School has a unique curriculum, with students starting in a Freshman Academy that trains them in the skills they need for high school. Roxborough High School students then select one of three academies to continue their high school education: the Academy of Visual Arts Production, the Academy of Health Sciences and Research, and the Academy of Business Technology and Entrepreneurship.
Wissahickon does not contain any private schools or colleges, though the East Falls Campus of Thomas Jefferson University is just down the street. US News ranks Thomas Jefferson University in the top 50 best-value schools in the country. The nearest library is the Roxborough Library, part of the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Is Wissahickon Safe?
Here are Wissahickon’s latest crime rates:
- Overall crime rate: 3,406 offenses per 100,000 people (37.7% lower than the Philadelphia crime rate, 93.3% higher than the Pennsylvania crime rate, 46.6% higher than the national rate)
- Violent crime rate: 474 crimes per 100,000 residents (54.5% lower than the Philadelphia rate, 69.3% higher than the Pennsylvania rate, 28.1% higher than the national rate)
- Property crime rate: 2,932 offenses per 100,000 residents (32.1% lower than the Philadelphia rate, 97.7% higher than the state rate, 50.3% higher than the national rate)
Despite its high crime rates, many residents of Wissahickon say that the neighborhood is very safe to live in. Very few residents report experiencing crimes while living in Wissahickon. The Philadelphia crime map shows that only a few crimes occur in Wissahickon every week. Most crimes that occur are minor, non-violent property crimes like shoplifting. You should follow some basic measures, like locking your doors at night and storing valuables out of sight. The Philadelphia Police Department has over 6,300 sworn police officers on the force.
Wissahickon Real Estate
Wissahickon has a fairly large real estate market, though options are limited. 220 homes for sale were sold in 2023, all of which were townhouses. Prices for Wissahickon homes for sale vary. According to Redfin, the median home sale price for Wissahickon homes for sale is $359,000, up by 3.6% since 2023. The median price per square foot is $279, up by 26.8% since 2023.
There are very few single-family Wissahickon homes for sale, though they occasionally come on the market. Townhouses vary in terms of their features. Some are large, with four bedrooms and over 3,000 square feet, making them good for families with young children. Others are small, with two bedrooms and 1,000-2,000 square feet, making them good for singles and couples. Some townhouses are older properties built in the early 1900s, while others are newer with modern architectural features like open-floor plans.
You can find townhome developments throughout the community. Wissahickon Place contains six townhomes, each with 3,925 square feet of space and lavish features like personal elevators and walnut cabinets. Prices start at $1.25 million.
Wissahickon has a small market for rentals. According to RentCafe, the average price of Wissahickon apartments is $1,668 a month, slightly lower than the national average. There are no notable apartment complexes in Wissahickon. Individual landlords own nearly all the apartments in the community, and you need to contact some of them to get rates and more information about features. In general, Wissahickon apartments have one or two bedrooms and less than 1,000 square feet. Most Wissahickon apartments are modern and have contemporary features like eco-friendly appliances and spacious closets.
Living in Wissahickon is a wise choice! You can enjoy some of the best things to do in Philadelphia, delicious restaurants, and an easy commute to downtown Philadelphia and other locations.
Moving to Wissahickon isn’t difficult, especially if you hire top Wissahickon movers. Suburban Solutions is the best Wissahickon moving company, with 10 years of experience in the moving industry. Call 610-314-6868 for a free estimate now.
