PENNSYLVANIA — When homebuyers say “location, location, location,” they increasingly mean tree-lined paths, neighborhood squares, and the quiet rhythm of everyday life.
A new survey commissioned by Calgary Homes, a real estate platform, found that public spaces play a decisive role in where Pennsylvanians choose to put down roots. The study of 3,013 homebuyers identified three public spaces across the Commonwealth that most strongly influence neighborhood desirability.
Topping the list is Allegheny Commons Park in Pittsburgh.
As the city’s oldest park, Allegheny Commons functions as a communal front yard for the North Side, offering wide promenades, a historic pond and a sense of architectural symmetry that frames surrounding homes. Buyers are often drawn to how the park’s scale and historic character make even modest residences feel expansive and anchored to a larger civic identity.
In Philadelphia, Fitler Square ranked second.
The compact, Victorian-style square serves as what urban planners call a “third place” — a gathering spot outside of home and work. Unlike the city’s grander, more famous squares, Fitler Square is defined by its intimacy. Neighbors gather for coffee, stroll with dogs or pause with a morning newspaper. For buyers, that everyday familiarity creates the feeling of a village within the city, where belonging is measured in small, daily interactions.
Rounding out the top three is Central Park in Doylestown.
Rather than a destination park, Central Park is woven into the town’s routine. Residents use its walking paths between errands or as part of their daily exercise. Buyers say proximity to such a well-used community space signals stability and long-term livability — not just curb appeal.
The findings reflect a broader shift in homebuying priorities. Beyond square footage and finishes, prospective homeowners are imagining how they will live from day to day.
“When people talk about ‘location, location, location,’ they are rarely referring to the granite countertops — they are talking about the feeling a neighborhood gives them,” a spokesperson for Calgary Homes said. “Our research shows that the most influential public spaces aren’t flashy destinations but the everyday places that quietly support a good life. Buyers want to live near spaces they will actually use, not just admire.”
As competition for desirable neighborhoods continues, the survey suggests that parks, squares and shared civic spaces are no longer amenities on the periphery of a sale. For many buyers, they are the deciding factor.
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