Many families want to live near the city due to employment opportunities and top-of-the-line medical facilities. However, most individuals avoid the inner city because of crime, bad schools, and overpopulation. Therefore, families elect to live in the Philadelphia surrounding suburbs. Montgomery County is an excellent place to reside, ranking as one of Pennsylvania’s best counties to live in. Roughly 14 miles from Center City Philadelphia is a charming little town called Glenside PA, which is packed with culture, nightlife, restaurants, and sufficient schools. Located within Cheltenham township and Abington township, with a population of around 7,737, Glenside Montgomery County is an ideal place to live with reasonable rental rates.
Cost of Living in Glenside PA
Although the cost of living in Glenside Pennsylvania, exceeds the national average. However, to live within one of the top counties in Pennsylvania can be worth every penny. Below, we detail the overall cost of living in Glenside PA, involving rental rates, homeownership, utilities, and groceries.
- Housing Rental Prices: On average, to rent a one or two-bedroom apartment in Glenside PA it’ll cost you between $1,317 and $1,650. Although the rent in Glenside has increased steadily over the years. These rental rates are very similar to the more ideal sections of Philadelphia.
- Price to Own a House: As of 2025, the median home sale value in Glenside Montgomery County has hit roughly $475,000. Therefore, with the high home values but reasonable rental rates, it’ll make more sense to rent a home in Glenside compared to buying a property.
- Utility Cost in Glenside: The cost of monthly utility bills in Glenside PA is roughly 7% higher than the national average. The electricity rate in Glenside goes for 16 cents for kilowatt-hour. Influences to keep in mind involving utility bills are the home’s size and energy usage. Some homes are energy-efficient with solar panels or other ways to reduce the utility cost.
- Grocery Cost: As expected the grocery cost in Glenside Montgomery County is higher than the national average. However, there are food pantries that help those in need. Some of the food pantry options are: Food Cupboard at 467 N Easton Road Glenside 19038. In addition to Martha’s Choice Marketplace, which has numerous options of fresh produce and meat.
Popular Neighborhoods in Glenside PA
- Keswick Village 19038: Located in the heart of Glenside is the historic residential and business district of Keswick Village.
- Jenkintown PA 19046: Bordering Keswick Village is the section of Glenside called Jenkintown. A population of 4,700 and a median age of 43.4 years, it falls within the Cheltenham School District.
- Wyncote PA: Falling within the zip code of 19095, Wyncote provides the opportunity to live in Glenside for a cheaper rate than other sections, with average home values around $409,000, with 51 days usually on-market.
Nearby Notable Neighborhoods to Glenside:
- Abington, Roslyn, Elkins Park, and North Hills PA.
Education in Glenside Montgomery County
As parents or students ourselves, we value a sufficient education. Whether it’s private, public schools, or universities, Glenside has a variety of options. Some zip codes within Glenside fall within Cheltenham Township and the Abington School District. Below is a list of the top public grade schools and high schools within Glenside zip codes.
- Highland Elementary School: A high-ranking public school within Abington PA that handles grades K-5th grade. Ranked within the top 300 public elementary schools in Pennsylvania.
- Abington High School: A top 100 high school in Pennsylvania with a student-teacher ratio of 18:1.
- Cheltenham High School: Similar to Abington High School in rankings. However, Cheltenham High has roughly 1,300 fewer students. Therefore, allows the teachers to be more hands-on with their students.
- Wyncote Elementary School: Located at 333 Rice Mill Road, Wyncote PA 19095. Wyncote Elementary is currently ranked #344 for best public schools in Pennsylvania.
- Myers Elementary School: It’s a K-4th-grade school with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13 to 1.
- Cooper Beech School: A K through 5th-grade elementary school in the Abington School District. One parent has left an online review stating, “Administrators are excellent, the teachers are attentive and responsive, and the diversity of the students is a massive plus.”
- Elkins Park School: A smaller school within the Cheltenham School District that oversees both 5th and 6th grade. Excellent student-to-teacher ratio of 11:1.
- Abington Middle School: The Last elementary school we will cover is Abington Middle School. Currently ranked #219 public middle school in Pennsylvania, a larger school with roughly 2k students.
College’s Near Glenside Pennsylvania
Arcadia University: Arcadia College, located at 450 S. Easton Road Glenside PA 19038 offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. With 75 programs and fields of study, including the opportunity to study abroad. Arcadi has a strong focus on Arts, Business, Education, Health Science, and Social Science. The average tuition for Arcadia is around $48,290 per year. In addition, Arcadia has 26 varsity-level sports and roughly 3,378 students. Therefore, Arcadia provides the ideal college atmosphere right outside Philadelphia PA.
Things to do in Glenside PA
Whether you’re into live shows, fancy dining, museums, and art centers, there’s plenty to find in Glenside Montgomery County. Below are some of our favorite places to visit within Glenside PA:
- Keswick Theatre: Located at 291 N Keswick Ave, Glenside, 19038. It’s a historic theatre and venue that opened in 1928. On the date it opened its doors, the Keswick Theatre had 1,366 available seats. This venue holds a wide variety of events, from concerts to comedy shows. Therefore, if you ever visit the Glenside area, make sure you add the “Keswick Theatre” to your to-do list!
- Abington Art Center: A vibrant art center that provides art exhibitions, art classes, and an excellent cultural experience. Furthermore, you don’t need to be a big art fan to enjoy your morning or afternoon at the Abington Art Center.
- Glencairn Museum: A beautiful castle-like mansion built between 1928 and 1939 provides a perfect blend of history, art, and architecture. A massive museum filled with gorgeous stained glass windows, containing a collection of about 8,000 artworks from cultures around the world. Overall, it’s a 90-minute guided tour that costs $15 per adult.
- Roberts Block Restaurant: With over 570 online reviews, Roberts Block Restaurant is one to call home. Opening in 2016, it has been a staple within the Glenside Community. Offering flavorful American cuisine and an extensive cocktail menu, it’ll make for a great place for dinner after a show at the Keswick Theatre or an art exhibition at the Abington Art Center.
Glenside provides a family-friendly atmosphere rich in history and culture. Whether you’re looking for a place with community events to spend some valuable family time or a night out in the charming town, Glenside is ideal for you!
Transportation and Commuting
- Glenside SEPTA trains and Buses: SEPTA has two buses that run through Glenside PA. Bus route 22 that travels from Warminster/Willow Grove to Olney Transportation Center. In addition, bus route 77 runs from Roosevelt-Cottman Ave to Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, and runs roughly every 30 minutes. Additionally, SEPTA riders can utilize two trains: the Lansdale/Doylestown line and the Warminster line. Both of which depart from Glenside Station.
- Outside of public transportation, Glenside is a short distance from two major highways. The PA Turnpike is roughly 4.5-5 miles from the Keswick Theatre. While Route 309 runs directly through Glenside PA, it connects to Easton Road.
Pros and Cons of Living in Glenside
Pros of life in Glenside PA:
- Walkable center hub: On Keswick Avenue is where most small shops, restaurants, and entertainment are located. Everything you need for a day and night out is right there within walking distance. Most sections of Glenside are within a short car ride from the main entertainment hub.
- Strong Sense of Community: Most little charming towns in Pennsylvania have a strong community. Towns like Glenside Montgomery County, has festivials and holiday events. In addition, neighbors look out for each other and help each other out.
- Good Schools: As we mentioned above, education in this section of Montco. The two school districts had numerous top 200 schools within the state of Pennsylvania. In addition to Arcadia University, which offers 75 total programs.
- Easy Commute: With multiple SEPTA routes and highway systems, it’s easy to commute to work, whether you are traveling to Center City Philly for work or heading further outside the city.
Cons of Living in Glenside Pennsylvania
- Higher Property Tax: Glenside is within Cheltenham township, which has one of the highest property tax rates in Montgomery County PA.
- Competitive housing market: Since Glenside’s a desirable place to live. It’s more competitive when submitting offers on a home. Therefore, you run a high chance of getting outbid on properties, making it a challenging housing market.
- Crime due to a Close Distance to Philly: At times, since Glenside PA is right outside of Philadelphia. They experience carry-over crime. At times, some criminals don’t realize they exited the city limits. In addition to the ones that prefer doing their crimes in a county in which they don’t reside.
Is it Worth Living in Glenside PA?
Glenside Montgomery County PA, is ideal for anyone. Whether you’re a family looking for a stable environment to raise children, or a young professional looking for a unique and exciting area. Furthermore, a mix of entertainment, restaurants, museums, and events allows people of all ages to embrace life in Glenside. Therefore, short distance from the city with excellent schools, many people from Philly elect to move to Glenside for a slower pace of life. If you’re considering moving to Glenside PA, utilize an experienced real estate agent such as Ryan Bullock who’s familiar with the area. Therefore, you can find your dream home in a competitive market. Lastly, feel free to give me a call at 215-509-9510 or submit your info on the form below!
