Living in Collingdale, PA

Collingdale is generally considered a moderately safe suburban community. Crime rates in Collingdale have declined significantly over the past decade. According to data from MacroTrends, the violent crime rate was 727.85 per 100,000 in 2018, representing a substantial decrease from prior years. Collingdale's property crime rates are comparable to other inner-ring Delaware County boroughs of similar density and population. The borough maintains its own police department and residents on Nextdoor and neighborhood forums describe Collingdale as a community where neighbors watch out for one another. As with any suburban borough near a major city, standard precautions apply, but Collingdale continues to trend safer year over year.

Collingdale is served by the Southeast Delco School District, which covers Collingdale, Darby Township, and Sharon Hill. The district serves approximately 2,750 students. The elementary and middle school for Collingdale families is Harris School, located right in the borough at 501 Sharon Avenue, serving grades K-8. Harris School holds a 5/10 GreatSchools rating and serves the community with a dedicated staff and active PTA. For high school, students attend Academy Park High School in nearby Sharon Hill (200 Calcon Hook Road), which serves grades 9-12 and offers a range of Advanced Placement courses, career and technical education pathways through the Delaware County Technical Schools program, and a variety of athletic programs including the Knights' football and basketball programs. The district's colors are blue and gold. For families considering private options, several nearby alternatives include St. Joseph's School in Downingtown, St. Cyril of Alexandria School in East Lansdowne, and The Christian Academy in Brookhaven.

Collingdale is one of the closest suburbs to Philadelphia in Delaware County. Center City Philadelphia is roughly 9 miles northeast — about 18 to 22 minutes by car in normal traffic, or 28 to 35 minutes during peak rush hour. The drive takes you via MacDade Boulevard or Route 13, with easy connections to I-95 and I-76. Wilmington, Delaware is about 18 miles southwest, roughly 20 to 22 minutes on I-95. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is just 5 miles north, about 10 minutes by car — making Collingdale one of the most convenient airport-area residential communities in the region. The average Collingdale resident has a commute of approximately 31 minutes (Livability), slightly above the national average of 27 minutes, reflecting the borough's popularity with Philadelphia workers who value its affordability.

Collingdale offers one of the most affordable housing markets in Delaware County. The cost of living index is approximately 97 to 101.4, at or slightly below the national average — rare for a Philadelphia suburb. Median home values range from approximately $166,000 to $206,000 depending on the source. The mean housing unit price is roughly $184,500, with detached single-family homes averaging around $236,800. Average monthly rent is between $967 and $1,124, making it one of the most budget-friendly places to live near Philadelphia. Another major financial advantage: Collingdale residents do not pay Philadelphia's 3.75 percent city wage tax, saving a household earning $75,000 roughly $2,800 per year. Property taxes in Delaware County average 1.7 to 2.8 percent, with Collingdale at the moderate end of that range.

Collingdale's housing stock is a mix of early-to-mid 20th century single-family homes, twins, and row homes. The typical Collingdale home is a single-family detached house or semi-detached twin, built between 1900 and 1960, with 2 to 4 bedrooms, 1 to 2 bathrooms, and lot sizes that include small front and back yards. Common architectural styles include American Foursquare, colonial revival, and simple mid-century vernacular houses. You will also find rows of brick twin homes along streets like MacDade Boulevard, Woodlawn Avenue, and Springfield Road that give the borough its classic Delaware County character. About 55 to 60 percent of residents own their homes, with the remainder renting. For first-time homebuyers, downsizers, and anyone looking for affordable entry into the Philadelphia-area market, Collingdale offers some of the lowest price points in Delco — a move-in-ready home can often be found for under $200,000.

Collingdale Park is the borough's primary recreational space at 28.5 acres — a substantial park for a borough of under one square mile. The park features basketball courts, a playground, open green space, and walking paths. It serves as a community gathering place for informal sports and neighborhood events. Westmont Park offers a blacktop area, jungle gym, and rock wall for children's play. In addition to these, Collingdale residents are close to several nearby parks: Veterans Field in adjacent Sharon Hill, Pusey Playground in Darby, and Glenolden Park just across the border. For larger outdoor escapes, Cobbs Creek Park (a 851-acre Fairmount Park property) is about 10 minutes north with hiking trails, golf courses, and historic sites. Ridley Creek State Park (2,600 acres) is approximately 12 minutes north with extensive hiking trails, fishing streams, and picnic groves. John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (about 10 minutes away) offers over 1,000 acres of wetlands with birdwatching, canoeing, and nature trails.

Collingdale has excellent public transit connections. The SEPTA Route 102 Trolley (the D2 line) runs through the borough along Woodlawn Avenue and Springfield Road, providing direct service to the 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby. From 69th Street, riders can transfer to the Market-Frankford subway line (the El) for quick access to Center City Philadelphia in about 20 additional minutes, or connect to dozens of bus routes and the Norristown High Speed Line. SEPTA Bus Route 113 also serves the MacDade Boulevard corridor in Collingdale, connecting riders to the Darby Transit Center and the 69th Street Transportation Center. For regional rail access, the Darby Station on SEPTA's Wilmington/Newark Line is about 5 minutes from Collingdale by car, offering train service to Center City (25-30 minutes) and Wilmington (about 20 minutes). The combination of trolley, bus, and nearby regional rail makes Collingdale one of the most transit-connected boroughs in Delaware County for its price point.

Collingdale was incorporated as a borough on December 23, 1891, with its first council meeting in January 1892. The borough was named after the estate of John Colling, an early landowner whose property was subdivided as the area grew. Collingdale experienced rapid growth in the early 20th century, rising from just 603 residents in the 1900 census to over 8,000 by 1940 as Philadelphia's industrial workforce expanded into the suburbs. Today, Collingdale has a population of roughly 8,900 residents. The community has a friendly, working-class character with a median age of about 38 to 40 years. The community feel is quintessential inner-ring Delco: narrow streets lined with twins and rowhomes, front porches where neighbors gather, kids walking to Harris School, and a pace of life that feels connected to Philadelphia without the city's intensity. Local Facebook groups and the Collingdale Borough website keep residents informed about trash schedules, zoning meetings, and community events.

Collingdale is home to Eden Cemetery, one of the most historically significant cemeteries in the United States. Established in 1902 on the site of the former Collingdale farm estate, Eden Cemetery is an active, well-maintained burial ground listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the final resting place of several extraordinary figures in American history: world-renowned opera singer Marian Anderson, who sang at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939; civil rights activist Octavius V. Catto, a 19th-century educator and voting rights leader; abolitionist William Still, a key figure in the Underground Railroad who helped hundreds of enslaved people escape to freedom; and Dr. Rebecca J. Cole, a pioneering 19th-century physician. Additionally, the Morton Morton House (built 1750) is a historic residence listed on the National Register, located nearby. Additionally, the Morton Morton House (built 1750) is a historic residence listed on the National Register, located nearby. Just north in Darby, the Darby Friends Meetinghouse (1684) is one of the oldest Quaker meetinghouses in Pennsylvania.

Collingdale offers the most affordable entry point among Delaware County's inner-ring boroughs. Median home prices of roughly $166K to $206K are significantly lower than Lansdowne ($250K-$300K), Glenolden ($220K-$280K), or Media ($450K+). The tradeoffs: Collingdale's housing stock is older and smaller on average than newer developments further out, and the Southeast Delco School District scores lower on state assessments than Wallingford-Swarthmore or Ridley. However, Collingdale has the best SEPTA transit access of the three — the Route 102 trolley runs right through the borough, a level of transit connectivity that Sharon Hill and Glenolden partially share but that Lansdowne and Media residents can only access by bus. Collingdale is also closer to the airport (10 minutes) than the other boroughs. In short: Collingdale is the budget-friendly, transit-rich choice — ideal for first-time buyers, city workers who rely on SEPTA, and anyone who values proximity over square footage.