If you’re weighing the two neighborhoods, here is how they compare on the things renters ask about most.

Where are Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy?

The two neighborhoods sit side by side in Northwest Philadelphia, separated by the Cresheim Valley, a wooded stretch of Fairmount Park. Mount Airy lies to the southeast, between the Cresheim Valley and Germantown, and Germantown Avenue divides it into East Mount Airy and West Mount Airy. Most of Mount Airy is in ZIP code 19119. Chestnut Hill lies to the northwest, at the edge of the city, bounded by Northwestern Avenue, Stenton Avenue, the Wissahickon Gorge and the Cresheim Valley. Chestnut Hill is ZIP code 19118.

How do rents compare in Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy?

Average rents below come from RentCafe’s neighborhood market data. Chestnut Hill Village prices are our own starting rents.

Averages: RentCafe, Chestnut Hill data as of October 31, 2026; East and West Mount Airy data as of November 2, 2026. Chestnut Hill Village starting rents as of November 4, 2026. Rents change with availability.

A few things stand out:

• Chestnut Hill Village’s lowest one-bedroom starts below the West Mount Airy average.
• Our 770 sq ft one-bedroom starts at $1,524, about the size of the average Chestnut Hill one-bedroom and $152 less a month.
• Our 1,070 sq ft two-bedroom starts at $2,014, $78 under the Chestnut Hill average, and every two-bedroom has two full baths.

See every layout and price on our affordable apartments page.

Which neighborhood has better train access to Center City?

Both are served by SEPTA’s two Regional Rail lines to Center City:

• Mount Airy: the Chestnut Hill West line stops at Upsal, Carpenter and Allen Lane in West Mount Airy, and the Chestnut Hill East line stops at Mount Airy, Sedgwick and Stenton in East Mount Airy. Bus routes 18, 23, 51, 53 and 71 also serve the area.
• Chestnut Hill: both lines serve the neighborhood, along with bus routes 23, 77, L, 94 and 97.
• Chestnut Hill Village: Wyndmoor station on the Chestnut Hill East line is a short walk from the community, with direct trains to Center City, about 10 miles away.

For trains, drive times and highway access, read Commuting from Chestnut Hill to Center City.

What are the main streets like?

Germantown Avenue runs through both neighborhoods. In Mount Airy, the stone-paved avenue is lined with independent shops, restaurants, galleries, coffee shops and two tented farmers’ markets, and Weavers Way Co-op, a long-running co-op grocery, is in West Mount Airy. In Chestnut Hill, the avenue is paved in Belgian block, with trolley tracks still running down it, and it has cafés and restaurants. From Chestnut Hill Village, Chestnut Hill Market Square, with grocery stores and everyday shopping, is within walking distance.

Which has more parks and green space?

Both neighborhoods border Wissahickon Valley Park, which has more than 50 miles of trails, and the Cresheim Valley runs between them. Chestnut Hill also has Pastorius Park, the Thomas Mill Bridge (the only traditional covered bridge in Philadelphia) and the Morris Arboretum & Gardens, about 2.4 miles from Chestnut Hill Village.

What kind of rental housing will you find?

Much of both neighborhoods was built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Mount Airy is known for large stone Victorian, Colonial Revival and Cotswold-style houses on tree-lined streets, and Chestnut Hill was listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. In older buildings, features like in-unit laundry, central air and parking vary from home to home, so ask about each one before you sign. Our guide to newly renovated apartments has a checklist.

At Chestnut Hill Village, every apartment and townhome is newly renovated and includes:

• An in-home washer and dryer
• Hardwood floors, stainless-steel appliances and air conditioning
• A fireplace or private patio or balcony in select homes
• Two-bedroom apartments with two full baths, and townhomes of 1,650 and 2,000 sq ft

Residents share a pool, a fitness center, a yoga room, a bark park and indoor and outdoor Wi-Fi lounges. See all amenities.

So where should you rent?

• Mount Airy may suit you if your budget is your first priority, or if you want stations on both train lines close to home.
• Chestnut Hill may suit you if you want to be at the city’s edge, near the Wissahickon and the Morris Arboretum, with Germantown Avenue’s cafés close by.
• Chestnut Hill Village may suit you if you want Chestnut Hill without paying the neighborhood’s average rent, plus newly renovated homes with in-home laundry and a train station a short walk away.

Chestnut Hill vs. Mount Airy FAQs

Is Chestnut Hill more expensive than Mount Airy?

On average, yes. RentCafe lists the average Chestnut Hill rent at $1,897, compared with $1,582 in West Mount Airy and $1,412 in East Mount Airy (fall 2026). Starting rents at Chestnut Hill Village begin at $1,379 for a one-bedroom.

Are Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy next to each other?

Yes. They share a border along the Cresheim Valley, part of Fairmount Park, in Northwest Philadelphia.

Which neighborhood has better train service?

Both are served by SEPTA’s Chestnut Hill East and Chestnut Hill West Regional Rail lines. Mount Airy has six stations between the two lines. Chestnut Hill Village is a short walk from Wyndmoor station on the Chestnut Hill East line.

Do apartments in Chestnut Hill have in-unit laundry?

It depends on the building. At Chestnut Hill Village Apartments, every apartment and townhome has an in-home washer and dryer.

What costs are not included in rent at Chestnut Hill Village?

Residents pay their own gas, electric, water, sewer and trash. Parking is $50 a month unreserved or $100 a month reserved. See parking and utilities.

Helpful links

• Floor plans and prices
• Amenities
• Map and directions
• Living in Chestnut Hill: a renter’s guide
• Chestnut Hill average rents (RentCafe), West Mount Airy, East Mount Airy
• Mount Airy neighborhood (Wikipedia)

Want to see Chestnut Hill for yourself? Schedule a tour, in person or by live video, or call (215) 242-3500.

The post Chestnut Hill vs. Mount Airy: Where to Rent appeared first on Chestnut Hill Village Apartments Blog.