Living in Crum Lynne, PA

Crum Lynne's safety profile is mixed. CrimeGrade.org gives Crum Lynne a C grade overall, with a crime rate of approximately 27.6 incidents per 1,000 residents — placing it in the 40th percentile nationally for safety. Violent crime rates are lower than property crime rates, which is typical for communities near major transit corridors. Residents on Nextdoor consistently rate the northeast part of Crum Lynne as the safest area. Many locals have expressed a desire for more visible policing and security cameras. That said, Crum Lynne was voted the #1 friendliest neighborhood on Nextdoor — residents describe it as a close-knit community where neighbors look out for one another. The community sits in Ridley Township, which operates its own police department, and the township has been investing in community safety initiatives. As with any community near a major city, standard suburban precautions apply — locking doors, securing vehicles, and getting to know your neighbors.

Crum Lynne is served by the Ridley School District, which operates schools throughout Ridley Township and nearby areas. The elementary school serving the area is Eddystone Elementary School, located right in the Crum Lynne community. Students then attend Ridley Middle School (grades 6-8) and Ridley High School (grades 9-12). Ridley High School is rated B on Niche and serves approximately 1,200 students. The district offers a range of extracurricular programs including a strong athletics program — Ridley High School's football and wrestling teams are well-known in Delaware County. For families seeking private education, nearby options include St. James Regional Catholic School (Pre-K through 8th grade) in Ridley Park and Faith Temple Christian School in Chester. The district has a student-teacher ratio of approximately 14:1.

Crum Lynne's location is one of its strongest assets for commuters. Center City Philadelphia is roughly 12.5 miles north — about 19 minutes by car in normal traffic, or 25-30 minutes during peak hours. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is just 4.7 miles away, about 7-10 minutes by car — one of the closest residential communities to the airport in Delaware County. Wilmington, Delaware is about 16 miles south, roughly 22-26 minutes by car. For transit riders, the Crum Lynne SEPTA Regional Rail station on the Wilmington/Newark Line is right in the community, with trains reaching Center City Philadelphia in about 30 minutes and Wilmington in about 24 minutes. SEPTA Bus Route 37 connects Crum Lynne to the airport in about 51 minutes. The combination of I-95 access just minutes away, the regional rail station, and proximity to the airport makes Crum Lynne exceptionally well-connected.

Crum Lynne's housing stock is primarily early-to-mid 20th century construction. The most common home style is the 'twin' (duplex) — typically one-to-two story brick homes built in the early 1900s with two to three bedrooms and about 1,200 square feet. You will also find single-family colonials, bungalows, and a number of apartment complexes and garden-style apartments. The average home value in Crum Lynne is approximately $253,000, with a median home price around $208,700 and an average price per square foot of about $183. Renovated twins typically sell in the low $200,000s. Average rental prices are around $2,147 per month. Residential turnover is notably low at 0% — about 46% of residents have lived in the community for 5 years or more, which speaks to the stability and desirability of the neighborhood. Compared to other Delaware County communities, Crum Lynne offers more affordable entry points into homeownership, especially given its proximity to the airport and Center City.

Crum Lynne is considered one of the more walkable communities in Delaware County, especially compared to car-dependent suburbs further from the city. The neighborhood has a Walk Score that reflects its compact layout and proximity to local amenities. The historic Crum Lynne SEPTA station is walkable from many homes, and several local businesses, restaurants, and community gathering spots are within walking distance. Notable local spots include Portobello Cafe in nearby Eddystone for casual dining, Stargate Diner and The BrickHaus in Ridley Park for breakfast and coffee, and Stinger's Waterfront in Secane for a bar and restaurant with Delaware River views. The Eddystone Lighthouse Hall hosts indoor basketball and outdoor holiday events for the community. Subaru Park (home of the Philadelphia Union MLS team) in Chester is just a few minutes away — catching a soccer match is a popular weekend activity. For entertainment beyond the neighborhood, Ridley Park Borough's commercial corridor on Chester Pike offers additional dining and shopping.

Crum Lynne is well-served by local and regional parks. Within the immediate area, Ridley Township maintains several neighborhood parks including Nancy Scott Cowan Memorial Park in Crum Lynne itself. Nearby Ridley Park Borough operates Catania Brothers Park, Hetzel Park, Nevin Street Park, Bonnes Park, Spirit of America Park, Veterans Park, and East Lake Park — all within a few minutes' drive. For a major outdoor escape, Ridley Creek State Park in Media is about 15 minutes north with 2,600 acres of hiking trails, fishing streams, picnic areas, and the Colonial Plantation living-history site. The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum — the largest freshwater tidal wetland in Pennsylvania — is about 10 minutes away with over 10 miles of hiking trails and outstanding birdwatching. Governor Printz Park in Essington offers Delaware River waterfront access. Glen Providence Park and Rose Tree County Park in Media are also within a 15-minute drive for additional hiking and recreation.

Crum Lynne is a smaller, more compact community compared to its Delaware County neighbors, and it has a distinctly working-class character compared to the more suburban feel of Ridley Park or Boothwyn. Ridley Park offers more single-family detached homes on larger lots, a defined downtown area around Chester Pike, and access to the same Ridley School District — but home prices are higher. Folsom, just north, offers more mid-century ranch homes and also serves the Ridley School District. Boothwyn, further south in Upper Chichester, has newer subdivisions and townhomes (like Stoney Creek at Naamans) that Crum Lynne lacks — but Crum Lynne offers better walkability and a closer-in location to Philadelphia and the airport. Where Crum Lynne stands out is its combination of historic character (early 1900s brick twins, the Colonial Hotel, the SEPTA station), genuine neighborly atmosphere (voted #1 friendliest neighborhood on Nextdoor), and the lowest home prices of any community within 15 minutes of the airport.

Yes. Crum Lynne is minutes from I-95, which provides direct access north to Philadelphia (about 19 minutes) and south to Wilmington (about 24 minutes). Route 13 (Chester Pike) runs through the area and connects to Chester, Essington, and points north. Route 420 runs nearby for connections to I-476 (the Blue Route) and the Main Line. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is just 4.7 miles north, about 7-10 minutes by car — making Crum Lynne one of the closest residential communities to the airport in the Philadelphia region. The Crum Lynne SEPTA Regional Rail station on the Wilmington/Newark Line provides direct rail service to Center City (30 minutes) and Wilmington (24 minutes). SEPTA Bus Route 37 connects to the airport, and additional bus service is available along Chester Pike. For shopping, the MacDade Boulevard corridor in Folsom (Walmart, Target, restaurants) is about 10 minutes away, and the Granite Run area in Media offers larger retail options within 15 minutes.

Crum Lynne has a friendly, close-knit, working-class community feel that residents consistently describe as welcoming and neighborly. It was voted the #1 friendliest neighborhood on Nextdoor — a distinction that reflects the genuine connections residents build with each other. The population is approximately 1,800-3,800 residents (depending on boundaries), with a median age of about 38.7 years. About 63% of residents are homeowners, and 32% of households have children — making it more family-centric than the Delaware County average. The median household income is approximately $45,000, reflecting the working-class character. Top resident interests include gardening, home improvement, dogs, walking, cooking, the Philadelphia Eagles, and live music. The community is welcoming and neighborly, with a mix of families who have been here for generations and newcomers putting down roots. Tree-lined streets with brick twins, the historic train station, and nearby parks give Crum Lynne a settled, authentic character that bigger developments cannot replicate.

Crum Lynne was named for Crumlin, Wales — the hometown of the mother of a vice-president of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The community grew in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a railroad suburb along the Pennsylvania Railroad's main line between Philadelphia and Wilmington. The most notable landmark is the Crum Lynne SEPTA station, a historic station on the Wilmington/Newark Line that still serves the community today. Another landmark is the Colonial Hotel, opened in 1906, which once served as a boxing training venue and is a well-known local building on Chester Pike. The Leiperville area (within Crum Lynne's boundaries) contains early 19th-century schoolhouses, reflecting the area's deep history. The community's industrial heritage includes connections to the Eddystone munitions plants and Baldwin Locomotive Works. Today, nearby Subaru Park (the Philadelphia Union soccer stadium) in Chester is a major modern landmark, visible from parts of Crum Lynne and hosting MLS matches and concerts year-round. The nearby John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum preserves natural history alongside the community's industrial past.