Living in Lansdowne, PA

Lansdowne is a tight-knit borough where neighbors look out for one another. Like any Philadelphia suburb, safety varies street by street. The borough has its own police department and active community patrol programs. Many residents describe it as a place where you know your neighbors, kids play in the yards, and community events bring everyone together. Areas near Lansdowne Avenue and the residential side streets off Baltimore Avenue tend to feel especially walkable and family-friendly.

Lansdowne is served by the William Penn School District, which operates 10 schools serving roughly 5,400 students across grades K-12, including Ardmore Avenue Elementary, Colwyn Elementary, Evans Elementary, Park Lane Elementary, Penn Wood Elementary, Walnut Street Elementary, and Benjamin West Elementary, plus Penn Wood Middle School and Penn Wood High School (on two campuses). The district has been at the center of Pennsylvania's school funding reform conversation and has shown meaningful gains in math and reading in recent years. Many families supplement with nearby private and charter options.

Lansdowne sits roughly 6 miles southwest of Center City Philadelphia. By SEPTA Regional Rail (Media/Wawa Line), the trip from Lansdowne Station to Suburban Station takes about 15-20 minutes, making it one of the faster commutes in Delaware County. By car via I-95 or Baltimore Pike, you can reach Center City in about 20 minutes sans traffic. SEPTA bus routes 109 and 113, plus trolley routes 101 and 102, provide additional transit access.

Lansdowne is one of the most affordable suburbs in Delaware County with genuine architectural character. Home prices typically range from $150,000 to $375,000, with a median sale price around $333,000. Single-family homes average around $355,000, while multi-family and twin homes start closer to $250,000. Compared to adjacent suburbs like Media, Ardmore, or Swarthmore, Lansdowne offers significantly more square footage and historic charm per dollar.

Lansdowne's housing stock is one of its biggest draws. The borough is filled with American Foursquare, Colonial Revival, and Victorian single-family homes built between 1890 and 1940, many with wraparound porches, original hardwood floors, stained glass windows, and deep lots. You will also find twin homes, brick row houses, and a handful of mid-century ranches. The Lansdowne Park Historic District and Henry Albertson Subdivision Historic District feature some of the most stunning preserved architecture in Delaware County.

Yes. Lansdowne has a Walk Score that puts it among the more walkable suburbs in Delaware County. The central commercial corridor along Lansdowne Avenue between Baltimore Avenue andWycombe Avenue has coffee shops, a hardware store, a pharmacy, a Wawa, the Lansdowne Theatre, and the Lansdowne Farmers Market at 30 N Lansdowne Ave. Many errands and social outings are walkable from the surrounding residential streets, something rare outside city limits.

Plenty. The restored Lansdowne Theatre (built 1927) hosts concerts, comedy shows, and film screenings year-round. The Lansdowne Farmers Market, named Pennsylvania's No. 1 farmers market in 2025 by the American Farmland Trust, runs Saturdays May through October at 30 N Lansdowne Ave. The annual Lansdowne Arts on the Avenue Festival draws 50+ juried artists and thousands of visitors every May. The Lansdowne Folk Club hosts live music. Seven public parks — including Hoffman Park, Marlyn Park, Belmont Park, and Hays Park — provide green space. And the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum is a 10-minute drive for hiking and birdwatching.

Lansdowne is often compared to Media and Ardmore for its historic downtown and walkability, but it stands apart on price. You can buy a Victorian home with original character for $300,000 in Lansdowne that would cost $500,000+ in Media or Swarthmore. The trade-off is that the William Penn School District faces more challenges than the Wallingford-Swarthmore or Radnor districts, which matters to buyers with school-age children. Where Lansdowne wins is community engagement, walkability, and authentic small-town character without the premium price tag.

Yes. I-95 is about 10 minutes east, giving you quick access to Philadelphia, Wilmington, and the Philadelphia International Airport (roughly 15 minutes). Baltimore Pike and MacDade Boulevard are the main commercial arteries nearby, with big-box retail, grocery stores, and restaurants. The Granite Run area and Springfield Mall are both within a 10-15 minute drive. For groceries and daily needs, the Lansdowne Avenue corridor has a Acme, Wawa, and independent shops.

Lansdowne has a distinct, neighborly character that is hard to replicate. The borough is known for its engaged residents, active civic groups, and regularly scheduled community events — block parties, holiday celebrations, the farmers market, and the Arts on the Avenue festival. Historic street names like Owen Avenue, Greenwood Avenue, LaCrosse Avenue, and Stewart Avenue are lined with sycamores and sidewalks. The iconic sycamore tree that has been standing since the 1760s sits at the triangle at Lansdowne and Owen Avenues. It is the kind of place where people decorate their porches for Halloween, wave from rocking chairs, and know the names of the kids on their block. If you want a Philadelphia suburb with soul, Lansdowne is it.