Location comparison

Rittenhouse Square vs Old City

Compare which commercial district is a better fit before narrowing to specific spaces.

Quick read

Which district fits better?

Rittenhouse Square

Choose this district if:

  • Professional-service, medical, wealth, consulting, wellness, and client-facing users
  • Teams comparing Rittenhouse Square with Old City or Market Street West
  • Businesses that value client signal and walkable mixed commercial context

Old City

Choose this district if:

  • Boutique office, creative, design, small professional-service, hospitality, and local office users
  • Teams comparing Old City with Rittenhouse Square or Market East
  • Businesses wanting historic character near Center City
Commercial environment

How the districts differ

  • Rittenhouse is more polished and client-facing.
  • Old City is more historic, boutique, and creative.
  • This comparison helps distinguish two walkable Center City-adjacent office settings.
Business fit

Best fit by district

Rittenhouse Square

Client-facing services core

Rittenhouse Square is a polished client-facing professional office, medical, hospitality, retail, and mixed commercial district in Center City.

  • Professional-service, medical, wealth, consulting, wellness, and client-facing users
  • Teams comparing Rittenhouse Square with Old City or Market Street West
  • Businesses that value client signal and walkable mixed commercial context

Old City

Historic boutique office district

Old City is a historic boutique office, creative-service, hospitality, retail, and professional-services district east of the core.

  • Boutique office, creative, design, small professional-service, hospitality, and local office users
  • Teams comparing Old City with Rittenhouse Square or Market East
  • Businesses wanting historic character near Center City
Office context

How to think about office fit

Rittenhouse Square tends to work better for

  • Professional-service, medical, wealth, consulting, wellness, and client-facing users
  • Teams comparing Rittenhouse Square with Old City or Market Street West
  • Businesses that value client signal and walkable mixed commercial context

Old City tends to work better for

  • Boutique office, creative, design, small professional-service, hospitality, and local office users
  • Teams comparing Old City with Rittenhouse Square or Market East
  • Businesses wanting historic character near Center City
Decision guidance

Less ideal for

Rittenhouse Square

  • Industrial/logistics users
  • Large lab users
  • Suburban campus users

Old City

  • Large corporate users
  • Industrial/logistics users
  • Lab users
Continue comparing

Review each district guide

Related location decisions

Businesses comparing these districts also evaluate