Jenkintown, PA

Jenkintown has the feel of a small town that accidentally ended up inside a major metro area. With just over 4,700 residents packed into less than a square mile, you can walk from one end of the borough to the other in about 20 minutes, yet you’re only a 30-minute train ride from Center City Philadelphia. It’s the kind of place where people know the barista at the coffee shop by name, where the high school football game on a Friday night is a genuine community event, and where the biggest complaint is often that there’s no good place to park on a Saturday morning.

The Daily Rhythm: Walkable Blocks and Train Whistles

Life here revolves around the train station. The Jenkintown-Wyncote SEPTA Regional Rail station sits right in the middle of town, and the average commute of about 32 minutes reflects how many residents use it to get to jobs in Philadelphia or even New York via Amtrak. The borough’s compact size means most errands are done on foot. You’ll see people grabbing a coffee at the Jenkintown Coffee Company, picking up a bottle of wine at the Bottle Shop, or walking their kids to the public library. The median age of 40.7 and a median household income of $114,306 tell the story: this is a place of established professionals and families who chose walkability over a big yard. The cost of living index sits at 124, which is noticeably higher than the national average, and that’s felt most acutely in housing—the median home value is $344,800, which buys you a rowhome or a small single-family house, not a sprawling estate.

Sports, Schools, and Friday Night Lights

For a town this small, sports punch well above their weight. Jenkintown High School is a Class A school, meaning it’s one of the smallest in the state, but the community packs the bleachers for football and basketball games. The rivalry with nearby Abington and Cheltenham is real, and a win over either one is talked about for weeks. There’s no pro team in town, but you’re a 20-minute drive from the Wells Fargo Center for Flyers and Sixers games, and Lincoln Financial Field for the Eagles is about the same. On fall Sundays, you’ll see Eagles flags on porches and hear cheers echoing from the bars. The school system itself is a major reason families move here. With 71.8% of adults holding a college degree, education is a top priority, and the schools are a central gathering point for everything from PTA meetings to summer concerts on the lawn.

What’s There to Do: Parks, Pubs, and a Proper Festival

Weekends in Jenkintown have a predictable but pleasant rhythm. Saturday morning means the Jenkintown Farmers Market in the summer, where you can grab local produce and a breakfast sandwich. For a night out, the draft list at The Drafting Room is a local institution—it’s the kind of bar where you can have a quiet conversation or run into your neighbor. Giuseppe’s Pizza is the go-to for a no-fuss dinner, and Bread & Brew does a solid brunch. The biggest annual event is the Jenkintown Festival of the Arts in the fall, which closes down the main street for live music, craft vendors, and a general sense that everyone in town has shown up. For outdoor space, Alverthorpe Park is the main draw—it’s got tennis courts, a playground, and a walking path that loops around a pond. It’s not wilderness, but it’s enough for a morning jog or an afternoon with the kids. The biggest cultural quirk? The town has a strong sense of its own history, with a preservation commission that keeps an eye on the old Victorian homes and the historic train station. You’ll hear locals refer to “the borough” like it’s its own country, which, in a way, it is.

Pros and Cons of Living Here

• Pro: Genuine walkability. You can live here without a car for most daily needs. The train station, grocery store, pharmacy, and a handful of restaurants are all within a 10-minute walk of the town center.
• Pro: Strong community identity. The schools, the festival, and the small-town scale mean you’ll know your neighbors. It’s the kind of place where people look out for each other.
• Pro: Quick access to the city. The 31-minute train ride to Center City is reliable and frequent. You get the quiet of a small town with the job market and culture of Philadelphia.
• Con: High cost of living. The index of 124 is driven by housing and property taxes, which are among the highest in the region. Your money doesn’t go as far here as it would in, say, the Lehigh Valley.
• Con: Limited nightlife. There are maybe four or five bars and restaurants worth mentioning. If you want a late-night scene or a diverse dining scene, you’re heading to Philadelphia or Ardmore.
• Con: Crime is a real concern. The violent crime rate of 225.9 per 100,000 is higher than the national average of about 380, but it’s still a number that gives some residents pause. Most crime is property-related, but it’s something to be aware of, especially near the train station.
• Con: Traffic on the main drag. Old York Road (Route 611) cuts right through town, and during rush hour it can be a slog. The borough’s layout means there’s no way around it.

Seasonally, the town shifts. Fall is the peak season, with the festival, football games, and the leaves changing on the old trees. Winter is quiet and can feel a bit dead—there’s no major holiday event that draws a crowd. Spring and summer bring the farmers market and outdoor seating at the cafes. The weather is standard Mid-Atlantic: humid summers, cold winters with occasional snow, and a beautiful but brief spring. The kind of person who fits in here is someone who values community over space, who doesn’t mind paying a premium for a short commute and a walkable Main Street, and who wants their kids to grow up in a place where the high school principal knows their name. It’s not for everyone, but for the people who live here, it’s exactly right.