Want to walk to coffee, dinner, and the train — and be in Center City in about 30 minutes — without a Main Line price tag?
Jenkintown and Glenside deliver. These two connected towns on the northern edge of Philadelphia pair genuine walkable downtowns with some of the busiest train stations in the entire SEPTA system, character homes, and a strong sense of community. They're among the smartest "car-optional" buys in Montgomery County.
They also come with a school-district quirk that makes verifying your exact address more important here than almost anywhere in the region. Here's your local guide.
📍 Where Are Jenkintown & Glenside?
Both sit in eastern Montgomery County, roughly 10 to 14 miles from Center City, along a walkable rail corridor that also includes Elkins Park, Wyncote, Abington, and Cheltenham.
✔️ Jenkintown is an independent borough of about 4,500 residents — sidewalks, a town square, character homes, and a strong community identity built around local businesses and festivals
✔️ Glenside is a census-designated community of about 7,700, spanning parts of Cheltenham and Abington Townships, centered on the charming Keswick Village downtown
Together they form one of the region's best walkable, train-served pockets — with more house for your money than the Main Line.
🚆 The Headline: Trains
If commuting matters, this corridor is hard to beat.
✔️ Jenkintown-Wyncote Station is a major SEPTA hub, serving multiple Regional Rail lines into Center City and beyond — plus nearby Noble Station
✔️ Glenside Station is one of the busiest in the entire SEPTA system, on the Lansdale/Doylestown and Warminster lines, putting Center City about 30 minutes away — with Ardsley Station close by too
✔️ Old York Road (Route 611), Route 309, and the PA Turnpike provide strong road access for drivers
That connectivity is exactly why remote workers, commuters, and city expats keep landing here: you can live a walkable suburban life and still reach the office by train whenever you need to.
🚶 Two Walkable Downtowns
Each town has a real, used-every-day downtown — not a strip mall pretending to be one.
Jenkintown offers a classic borough core: a town square, sidewalks, and the ability to walk to dining, services, and the train, with festivals and locally owned businesses giving it genuine character. Bonus: it's noticeably easier to park than many walkable towns.
Glenside centers on Keswick Village along Easton Road — anchored by the landmark Keswick Theatre, which hosts national touring acts in a striking Tudor-style building. Around it you'll find independent restaurants, coffee shops, and retailers, plus the beloved Glenside Farmers Market set up near the train station in the warmer months.
Both are the kind of place where regulars know each other and daily errands happen on foot.
🎓 Schools: The Nuance That Defines Buying Here
This is the single most important thing to understand before buying in this area — and it's unusual.
Jenkintown Borough has its own small, tight-knit Jenkintown School District.
Glenside is different — and trickier. Depending on the exact address, a "Glenside, PA" home can fall within:
✔️ Cheltenham School District (Cheltenham High earns an A-minus and ranks among the top 12% in Pennsylvania)
✔️ Abington School District (a highly sought-after district)
✔️ or Springfield Township School District
In other words, two homes with the same "Glenside 19038" mailing address can be in completely different school districts — which dramatically affects schools, taxes, and resale value.
Never assume. Always verify the exact school district for a specific address before you make an offer. This is where working with a knowledgeable local agent genuinely pays off.
🏛️ Landmarks & Culture
For a pair of small towns, there's a lot of character and history here:
✔️ The Keswick Theatre — a Tudor-style architectural landmark and a regional live-music destination
✔️ Arcadia University and its Grey Towers Castle — a dramatic stone castle that was architect Horace Trumbauer's first major commission (he later designed the Keswick Theatre and the Philadelphia Museum of Art)
✔️ Tookany Creek Parkway — trails and green space winding through the area
✔️ Alverthorpe Park and Abington's greenway network — a short hop away
It gives the area a clear sense of place: recognizable landmarks, a downtown residents actually use, and community traditions that bring people together.
🌳 Parks, Recreation & Everyday Life
Beyond the walkable cores, everyday life here is comfortable and green:
✔️ Trails and creek parkways — Tookany Creek Parkway and Abington's greenway network offer miles of walking and biking close to home
✔️ Community events year-round — farmers markets, theater performances, seasonal festivals, and holiday celebrations keep the calendar full
✔️ Easy access to more — Elkins Park, Abington, Willow Grove, and the shops and dining of nearby Chestnut Hill are all minutes away
✔️ A genuinely welcoming feel — these are established, neighborly communities where people put down roots for decades
It's the kind of place that rewards you the longer you live there — an increasingly rare quality in the suburbs.
🏘️ Homes & the Market
The housing here is refreshingly varied — and often more attainable than the pricier walkable towns nearby:
✔️ Charming bungalows and twins with real yards
✔️ Grand, character-rich homes with classic details
✔️ Tudor-accented houses, condos, and apartments near the village cores
The nearby Wyncote section has recently averaged around $409,000, offering a more affordable entry point, while Jenkintown's independent-borough status and own school district command a premium. A recurring theme: buyers priced out of Jenkintown or Wyncote often find Glenside delivers more square footage for the same commute.
Because prices vary widely by section, district, and home type, a precise home valuation (link: /home-valuation)always beats a generic online estimate. (Market data changes constantly — verify current figures for your target neighborhood.)
⚖️ A Few Honest Considerations
✔️ School district varies by address — Glenside spans three districts and Jenkintown has its own; verify before you offer
✔️ Walkability varies — it's excellent near the village cores and stations, but homes farther out need a car for errands
✔️ Older housing stock — bungalows, twins, and historic homes are charming but need inspections
✔️ Taxes differ by township and district — confirm the specific tax picture for your address
✔️ Competitive near the stations — commuter demand keeps the best-located homes moving
✔️ Test your real commute — ride the train (or drive the route) at rush hour before you commit
🌟 Who Loves Living Here?
✔️ Car-optional commuters who want SEPTA's best rail hubs
✔️ Remote workers wanting a walkable suburb with occasional city access
✔️ Buyers priced out of the Main Line who want the same commute with more house
✔️ Families targeting Cheltenham, Abington, or Jenkintown schools (by exact address)
✔️ Culture lovers drawn to the Keswick Theatre and Arcadia University
✔️ Young professionals and first-time buyers entering via Wyncote or condos
Final Thoughts
Jenkintown and Glenside prove you don't need a Main Line budget to live a walkable, train-served, community-rich life just outside Philadelphia. Real downtowns, some of the region's best rail access, character homes, and genuine charm — all at a friendlier price point.
The one rule you can't skip: verify the exact school district and taxes for any specific address, because in this corner of Montgomery County — especially in Glenside — those details vary block to block.
If Jenkintown or Glenside might be your next move, the smartest first step is a conversation with someone who knows these towns, these district lines, and this market firsthand. 🏡🚆
🏡 Your Next Move Starts Here.
Jim Arcidiacono, REALTOR®
Next Move Delaware Valley | KW Empower
Licensed in PA • DE • MD | Nationwide Referral Partner
🌐 www.delawarevalleyrealestate.com
