Living in Clifton Heights, PA

Clifton Heights is generally considered a safe, family-friendly community with crime rates below both the Pennsylvania state and national averages. On Reddit's r/Delco, residents describe Clifton Heights as a 'decent, quiet' borough where neighbors look out for each other. CrimeGrade.org gives Clifton Heights a B- overall safety grade, with violent crime rates roughly 24 percent lower than the national average and property crime about 11 percent below the national average. The borough's police department is active and responsive, and Nextdoor conversations reflect a community where residents feel safe walking their neighborhoods at night. As with any suburban community, standard precautions apply, but Clifton Heights is considered one of the more affordable and safe options in Delaware County for first-time buyers and families.

Clifton Heights is served by the Upper Darby School District (UDSD), which covers approximately 12,000 students across 13 schools in Delaware County. UDSD is one of the largest school districts in Pennsylvania. Most Clifton Heights students are zoned to Westbrook Park Elementary School (K-5), with some areas zoned to Primos Elementary School. All residents attend the new Clifton Heights Middle School (grades 6-8, opening 2026-2027 at 217 North Springfield Road, capacity 800 students) and Upper Darby High School (grades 9-12). Upper Darby High School is one of the largest high schools in Pennsylvania and offers a wide range of Advanced Placement courses, athletics, and performing arts programs. The district has a strong 14:1 student-teacher ratio and is known for its commitment to equity and inclusion.

Clifton Heights offers one of the best commuter locations in Delaware County. Center City Philadelphia is just 5 miles northeast — roughly 10 to 12 minutes by car in normal traffic, or 18 to 22 minutes during peak hours via Baltimore Pike or MacDade Boulevard. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is about 8 miles away (roughly 12 to 15 minutes by car). Wilmington, DE is 15 miles southwest, about 20 minutes on I-95. For transit users, the Clifton-Aldan SEPTA Regional Rail station at 4 West Maryland Avenue sits on the Media/Wawa Line, with trains reaching Center City in about 20 to 25 minutes. The D2 Metro trolley (SEPTA Route 102) runs through the heart of Clifton Heights on Baltimore Avenue, connecting directly to the 69th Street Transportation Center. SEPTA bus Route 109 also serves Baltimore Pike, and Route 107 along Springfield Road provides additional coverage.

Clifton Heights is one of the more affordable close-in suburbs of Philadelphia in Delaware County. The median property value is approximately $228,000 to $249,000, with recent market sales ranging from the low $200,000s up to $350,000 depending on home size and condition. The median household income is roughly $60,000 per year. One of the biggest financial advantages of living in Clifton Heights is avoiding Philadelphia's 3.75 percent city wage tax — a household earning $80,000 annually saves about $3,000 per year by living in Clifton Heights instead of the city. Property taxes are set by Delaware County and the Upper Darby School District, and while rates are moderate, they reflect access to a large, well-established school system. Everyday costs like groceries, utilities, and healthcare are in line with the national average.

Clifton Heights features a diverse mix of housing styles reflecting its development as a late-19th-century industrial and railroad suburb. You will find classic Pennsylvania twin homes with brick fronts and front porches, row houses from the early 1900s, single-family detached homes (including ranches, Cape Cods, and colonial revivals), and some multi-family apartments in the commercial corridor along Baltimore Pike. Historic millworker houses from the Kent Mills era (circa 1839) still stand in parts of the borough, along with the original Kent Mills factory building itself — a rare surviving piece of early industrial architecture. The average home is roughly 1,200 to 1,800 square feet, and approximately 62 percent of residents own their homes. For buyers seeking affordability within 10 minutes of Center City Philadelphia and the airport, Clifton Heights offers one of the best value propositions in Delaware County.

SEPTA Route 102 (the D2 Media-Sharon Hill Trolley), not Route 101, is the primary trolley line serving Clifton Heights. Route 102 runs along Baltimore Avenue through the heart of Clifton Heights, connecting the borough to the 69th Street Transportation Center (about 10 minutes east) and to the communities of Sharon Hill, Darby, and beyond. At 69th Street, riders can transfer to the Market-Frankford El (L Line) for Center City, the Norristown High Speed Line, and numerous bus routes. The Media/Wawa Line (formerly R3) serves the Clifton-Aldan station with Regional Rail service to Center City in about 20 to 25 minutes. Route 101 actually serves Media and Springfield — but both trolley routes share the 69th Street Terminal, and many Clifton Heights residents use the 69th Street stop as their primary transit hub. In short: Clifton Heights has both trolley and Regional Rail access, giving residents two solid transit options for commuting to Philadelphia.

Clifton Heights is moderately walkable for a Delaware County borough — Walk Score estimates are in the 50 to 60 range, meaning some errands can be accomplished on foot, especially for those living near Baltimore Pike or the commercial corridors. The borough's compact size (1.5 square miles) makes walking between destinations feasible. For dining and entertainment, popular local spots include Broadway Bar & Grille (329 E Broadway Ave, 4.6-star gastropub), Romarco's Italian Restaurant on Baltimore Pike, Rosati Water Ice (201 E Madison Ave — the nation's first Italian ice company, founded by Sam Rosati in 1912), and Clam Tavern on Burmont Road. For shopping, the nearby MacDade Boulevard corridor in Holmes and Folsom offers supermarkets, big-box retailers, and restaurants. The Lansdowne Farmers Market and the Lansdowne Theater (a restored 1920s movie palace) are both just minutes away.

Clifton Heights maintains several community parks and green spaces. Naylors Run Park is a well-used community park with playground equipment, open fields, and walking paths along the Naylors Run creek. Veterans Memorial Park provides a quiet green space for reflection near the center of the borough. McFadden Park features the largest playground in the borough and is a popular destination for families with young children. For bigger outdoor destinations, Ridley Creek State Park (2,600 acres) in Media is about 12 minutes north with extensive hiking trails, fishing, and picnic areas. The Crum Woods at Swarthmore College is a beautiful 350-acre natural preserve with maintained trails along Crum Creek. Darby Creek, which runs along the borough's western edge, provides a natural corridor for walking and wildlife observation.

Clifton Heights has several notable claims to fame. It is the birthplace of the Slinky — the iconic spring toy was invented by Richard T. James in Clifton Heights in 1943, and a historical marker in the borough commemorates this. Clifton Heights is also home to Rosati Water Ice (Rosati Ice), founded by Sam Rosati in 1912 and widely recognized as the nation's first Italian ice company — still operating at 201 E Madison Avenue today. The glam rock band Cinderella, known for hits like 'Don't Know What You've Got (Till It's Gone)' and 'Nobody's Fool,' formed in Clifton Heights in the 1980s and got their start playing local clubs in the Philadelphia area. The borough's name comes from 'Tin Kettle Hill,' a high point on Oak Avenue where early settlers placed a tin kettle to warn of hostile movements during the colonial era, and where Revolutionary War warnings were also signaled. The historic Kent Mills factory building (1839), one of the earliest carpet yarn mills in the region, still stands in the borough.

Clifton Heights occupies a distinctive spot in Delaware County's community landscape. Compared to Aldan, Clifton Heights is larger (6,863 vs 4,244), more commercial along Baltimore Pike, and has more multi-family housing — but both offer SEPTA trolley and Regional Rail access and similar price points. Compared to Lansdowne, Clifton Heights is more affordable (median home values roughly $235K vs $260K) and has a quieter, less urban feel, though Lansdowne has a more walkable downtown with the Lansdowne Theater and more concentrated dining. Compared to Drexel Hill, Clifton Heights is significantly more affordable (Drexel Hill homes average $350,000+) and has older, closer-in housing stock. Clifton Heights' defining advantage is its combination of affordability, transit access, and proximity to Philadelphia — you can own a home for under $250,000 and be in Center City in 12 minutes. It's ideal for first-time buyers, young professionals, and anyone who values location over square footage.