Living in Sharon Hill, PA

Sharon Hill is a close-knit borough where neighbors look out for one another, and the community has a strong sense of local watchfulness. Crime statistics reflect a community where property crime is the more common concern — typical for a suburban borough near a major city. Residents on neighborhood forums like Reddit's r/Delco consistently describe Sharon Hill as a family-oriented place where kids play outside and community events draw large crowds. The borough's police department is active in community outreach, and the annual Independence Day parade and fireworks celebration is one of the best-attended events in Delaware County, reflecting the community's tight social fabric. Many longtime residents and newcomers alike point to the borough's small size, active neighborhood groups, and the simple fact that neighbors know each other by name as the strongest safety factors. Like any close-in suburb, being aware of your surroundings is smart practice, but the overwhelming feedback from people who actually live here is that Sharon Hill is a welcoming, family-friendly community.

Sharon Hill is served by the Southeast Delco School District, which also covers Collingdale, Colwyn, Darby Township, and parts of Folcroft and Darby. Children in Sharon Hill attend Sharon Hill School (grades K-8) at 701 Coates Street — right in the borough and walkable from many homes. For high school, students attend Academy Park High School (grades 9-12) at 300 Calcon Hook Road, which serves approximately 1,100 students. Notably, the Southeast Delco School District is separate from the Interboro School District, which serves nearby communities like Glenolden, Norwood, and Prospect Park. The district offers several programs including the STEM Academy and early childhood education initiatives. For families considering private options, St. Joseph's Catholic School in nearby Collingdale and several parochial schools in the greater Darby area provide alternatives.

Sharon Hill is the terminus of the SEPTA Route 102 (D-Line) trolley, one of the last surviving interurban light-rail lines in the region — a historical transit connection that has shaped the borough since the streetcar era. The Sharon Hill station at 414 Sharon Avenue provides direct trolley service to the 69th Street Transportation Center, with a travel time of approximately 27 to 30 minutes. At 69th Street, riders transfer to the Market-Frankford Line (Blue Line) to reach Center City Philadelphia, making the full commute roughly 45 to 50 minutes one way. Route 102 runs service from about 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM on weekdays, with departures every 30 minutes or less. Note that as of February 2026, a new trolley safety system has added 10 to 15 minutes of travel time to the line. The SEPTA Route 113 bus also serves the Chester Pike corridor in Sharon Hill, providing additional connections.

Sharon Hill offers some of the most affordable home prices in Delaware County while still being just 7 miles from Center City Philadelphia. The median home value is approximately $267,400, with single-family homes averaging around $249,000 and multi-family properties averaging about $351,000. Twin homes — the borough's signature housing type — typically range from $100,000 to $320,000 depending on condition, size, and location. About 57 to 63 percent of residents own their homes, and the median household income is approximately $63,000 to $75,000, depending on the source. Homeowners in Sharon Hill also avoid Philadelphia's 3.75 percent city wage tax, a significant savings for those who commute into the city for work. Property taxes in Delaware County average roughly 1.7 to 2.8 percent of assessed value.

Sharon Hill's housing stock is defined by its Victorian-era character and twin-home architecture. The borough's most iconic housing type is the twin home — side-by-side two-story residences sharing a common wall, many built in the late 1800s through the 1920s during Sharon Hill's early development as a streetcar suburb. These homes feature front porches, steep roofs, bay windows, and decorative millwork. You will also find brick rowhomes along the Chester Pike corridor and a mix of single-family detached homes on the quieter residential streets. Some mid-century ranches and Cape Cods fill in the gaps from the 1950s and 1960s. The tree-lined streets of central Sharon Hill are the most sought-after, with walkable access to the trolley station and Sharon Hill School. The median year built in Sharon Hill is 1956, and the average home size is roughly 1,400 to 1,600 square feet — smaller than newer suburbs but with more character per square foot.

Sharon Hill may be a small borough, but it has several community parks and is minutes from some of the region's largest green spaces. Sharon Hill Park at 116 Clifton Avenue is the local anchor with a gazebo, playground, and open lawn space for community gatherings. Sharon Hill Memorial Park provides a quiet greenspace for reflection. Knight Park & Stadium is located just over the borough line in Collingdale, offering sports fields and a stadium that hosts local youth leagues. Just minutes from Sharon Hill is the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum — over 1,000 acres of protected wetlands with hiking trails, boardwalks, birdwatching, and canoeing. It is one of the last remaining freshwater tidal marshes in Pennsylvania and a phenomenal urban wildlife refuge. For more extensive recreation, Ridley Creek State Park (2,600 acres) is about 15 minutes north, and the Chester Creek Trail in nearby Media offers paved multi-use paths for walking and biking.

Sharon Hill has a distinct small-town character that is increasingly rare just 7 miles from a major city. The borough's population of roughly 6,000 residents creates a walkable, neighborly atmosphere where people know each other by name. The median age is about 33 years, giving the community a young, family-oriented energy. The Sharon Hill Art and Culture Commission (SHACC) organizes monthly flea markets and craft fairs that bring the community together. The annual Independence Day parade and fireworks celebration is a major tradition. The borough's official website (sharonhillboro.com) keeps residents informed about council meetings, recycling schedules, and community events. Academy Park High School serves as a neighborhood hub beyond school hours, hosting community programs and athletic events.

Sharon Hill is just 7 miles southwest of Center City Philadelphia — closer to the city than many Delaware County suburbs that are better known. By car, you can reach Center City in roughly 12 to 18 minutes via I-95 or Route 13 (Chester Pike). Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is about 5 miles east, approximately 10 minutes by car — one of the closest residential communities to the airport in the region. By SEPTA trolley, the full trip from Sharon Hill Station to Center City via the Route 102 trolley and Market-Frankford Line transfer takes about 45 to 50 minutes. Driving to the Sports Complex (home of the Eagles, Phillies, and Flyers) takes about 12 minutes. The borough's proximity to the city — combined with its quiet residential streets, affordable housing, and transit options — makes it a compelling choice for Philly workers who want city access without city prices.

Sharon Hill was named for the Sharon estate owned by Quaker Halliday Jackson, whose family emigrated to the American colonies in the early 1700s. The estate originally spanned nearly 75 acres, and the borough was officially incorporated in 1890. Its development was shaped entirely by the Chester Pike streetcar line, making it one of Delaware County's original streetcar suburbs, built around transit accessibility long before the automobile era. The historic Sharon Hill railroad station, a landmark of the borough's transit heritage, is preserved by the Sharon Hill Historical Society (founded in 1991) and the Sharon Hill Historical Commission, which works actively to protect local historic sites. Many of the Victorian twin homes and rowhouses that define Sharon Hill's character today were built during the borough's early growth period from 1890 through the 1920s. What began as a country estate for a Quaker family became one of the Philadelphia region's first commuter suburbs, proof that great location never goes out of style.

Sharon Hill stands out among Delaware County suburbs for its combination of affordability, transit access, and proximity to Philadelphia. Compared to Lansdowne, Sharon Hill is smaller (6,000 vs 11,000 residents), more affordable, and has a stronger Victorian-era twin-home character. Lansdowne has a more developed downtown commercial district and SEPTA Regional Rail access, while Sharon Hill relies on the trolley. Compared to Yeadon, both are close-in suburbs with affordable housing and strong transit access, but Sharon Hill has the trolley line and closer access to the Heinz Wildlife Refuge. Compared to Boothwyn, Sharon Hill is significantly closer to Philadelphia (7 miles vs 20 miles) with more urban-adjacent energy and older, more character-rich housing — though Boothwyn offers larger lot sizes and newer construction. For buyers who want to be close to the city, have transit options, and value historic architecture over square footage, Sharon Hill is arguably the best value in Delaware County.