2019 Best Places to Raise a Family in PennsylvaniaAbout this List

Chesterbrook

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA
• 45

Current Resident: I moved here and love it here. There is a huge park where my dog and I can Jog which has a pond and an outdoor amphitheater ,easy access to 202,etc...and so many nice people and dogs. The new townhouses are elevating the values of the older townhomes, and it's overall an amazingly safe, serene enclave. My dog has vast areas to play and see his "buddies" and there's an amazing dog walking company here(dogewalk.com) that gives my boy 2 walks a day at a great price! Great schools,huge park,dog fun...what else is there!
Read 45 Reviews

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• 4,675 Population

Penn Wynne

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA
• 14

Current Resident: I love living in Penn Wynne, Pennsylvania. I have lived here for the past 15 years and spent elementary, middle, and am currently finishing up high school living in this neighborhood. Many of my friends live here, and I have met many kind people from all over Penn Wynne. Penn Wynne has a small town feeling with all of the benefits of living minutes away from Philadelphia. I love the parks and open spaces that Penn Wynne has to offer. I am not sure where I will live when I am older, but Penn Wynne will always have a special place in my heart.
Read 14 Reviews

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• 5,720 Population

Devon

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA
• 10

Current Resident: Beautiful area with friendly neighbors and close proximity to everything you would ever need. The public and private schools in the area are some of the best in the nation. You can live in a quiet neighborhood with a nice yard and drive 15 minutes to one of the biggest malls in the country.
Read 10 Reviews

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• 1,749 Population

Berwyn

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA
• 25

Current Resident: I've lived in Berwyn my whole live, as did my mother, father, and their parents. The community is amazing and unlike anything I've seen - everyone is so welcoming and warm, they all want to be inclusive! The special events throughout the year make the town especially unique - the Turkey Raffle, the Tree Lighting, the Fourth of July parade, they all bring a close-knit community even closer. No matter where life takes me, I hope to always end up back in Berwyn.
Read 25 Reviews

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• 3,405 Population

Swarthmore

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA
• 11

Current Resident: Swarthmore offers a surfeit of of opportunities for young families. You have access to some of the highest quality public education in the area, you are a 30 minute train ride into the city of Philadelphia, and are footsteps away from the breathtaking campus of Swarthmore College. There are very few restaurants and not many activities in terms of nightlife. However, a quick trip into the neighboring Media or the city, and this solves the problem. There are cute cafes and little shops to explore, along with many markets on weekends. There is definitely a lack of diversity and the houses aren't cheap, nor are the property taxes. However, the old houses are beautiful.
Read 11 Reviews

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• 6,243 Population

Ardmore

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA
• 17

Nearby Resident: Friendly people, walkable neighborhoods, and lots of opportunities for civic engagement. Of course, there’s also the popular suburban square shopping center and lots of restaurants to choose from. Looking forward to overdue renovations of the train station.
Read 17 Reviews

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• 13,193 Population

Mount Lebanon Township

• Suburb of Pittsburgh, PA
• 75

Current Resident: This is a wonderful community to live in! The streets are walk-able and everyone is so friendly. I have never felt unsafe or out of place. The town is very liberal and accepting, but there is not that much diversity. Public transportation is wonderful considering the small size of the city. Getting to downtown Pittsburgh is very very easy as there are buses frequently as well as the trolley.
Read 75 Reviews

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• 32,760 Population

Bradford Woods

• Suburb of Pittsburgh, PA

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• 1,154 Population

Marshall Township

• Suburb of Pittsburgh, PA
• 33

Current Resident: I like that we are close to great services, shopping, highways yet it is a safe and quiet community. The public service crew does a great job at keeping the area pretty and clean. The one thing I do not like it the lack of competition for better internet service. Many residents I have spoken are unhappy with the poor internet service. We should let Verizon in!
Read 33 Reviews

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• 8,232 Population

Blue Bell

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA
• 20

Current Resident: Blue Bell is a beautiful wooded historical area known for its numerous office buildings. Although there are not really any shopping centers or stores, Blue Bell has great accessibility; the Plymouth Meeting Mall is only 5 minutes away, along with 476 and I can get to KOP in 20 minutes. During rush hour, the flow westward does get backed up on main roads, but there is virtually no traffic at any other point. The only downside for me is that there is barely anywhere to walk to, but neighborhood streets are perfectly safe for running/walking. Overall, I would recommend Wentz Run Park and the library; both have a uniquely Blue Bell ambiance, being safe, welcoming, and mature.
Read 20 Reviews

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• 6,290 Population

Narberth

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA
• 7

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• 4,330 Population

Charlestown Township

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA
• 7

Niche User: The general atmosphere is wonderful in this area! The neighbors always help in times of need such as through storms, shoveling, power outages, and even help with the christmas lights. The overall landscape is also awesome because there are places of woods, hills, grassy flats, big trees, flowery trees, and flowers in general along the street and people's yards. As you go up the street, you're instantly taken back at the beautiful trees and flowers along the road. It draws your eye and automatically makes the place brighter and happier especially in the summer. The fall in my opinion is even better because of the leaves changing colors. I would definitely choose to live here again and so would my family if I asked them the same question. Between the people, landscape, and weather, this area is one of a kind and definitely one of my favorite places to be. I could see this area being somewhat better, but honestly couldn't really imagine how it could get that much better.
Read 7 Reviews

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• 5,705 Population

Franklin Park

• Suburb of Pittsburgh, PA
• 41

Current Resident: Franklin Park as a small suburb community that all in all loves to help each other out and give back to one another. most people are extremely friendly, always willing to give a helping hand, and love to build good and healthy relationships with one another. We all like to make the area around us safer, cleaner, healthier, and happier. We take education, and our jobs very seriously. But, with that being said, we all like to come together and have fun too; whether it be at the neighborhood pool or neighborhood park. The standard of living here is amazing.
Read 41 Reviews

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• 14,301 Population

Lemont

• Town in Pennsylvania
• 3

Current Resident: Lemont is an artsy, family-friendly little community tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the university. It is within walking distance to great hiking, a coffee shop, art gallery and a wonderful sushi place. If you're in the mood for more shopping and a nightlife, downtown State College is only a 5 minute drive. It is a quiet and safe area filled with outdoorsy and kind locals.
Read 3 Reviews

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• 2,239 Population

Boalsburg

• Town in Pennsylvania
• 11

Current Resident: It's a safe town, you can walk the streets at night and not worry about your safety. It's just beyond the cusp on the university so it has a small town feel but is merely a few miles outside the main campus.
Read 11 Reviews

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• 4,533 Population

Houserville

• Town in Pennsylvania
• 12

Current Resident: Very clean, quaint, charming neighborhood of State College, PA. Voted #3 in best places to live in the United States. Great public schools, very close to Penn State University. Cata bus allows for easy commute to downtown State College.
Read 12 Reviews

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• 2,019 Population

Birmingham Township

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA

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• 4,202 Population

Upper St. Clair

• Suburb of Pittsburgh, PA
• 28

Current Resident: We have lived in USC for 12+ yrs. The school district is top notch. Both of our children were accepted to elite colleges and were well prepared academically to meet their new challenges. There is an amazing 450 acre park w/numerous hiking trails. Food shopping includes a Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. Property taxes are high but if you have school age children it is a good trade off.
Read 28 Reviews

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• 19,524 Population

Fox Chapel

• Suburb of Pittsburgh, PA
• 13

Niche User: The High school's renovations were incredibly. Along with new shops and restaurants at the waterworks mall and a new park openning along the river, my neighborhood has really boosted in the past few years!
Read 13 Reviews

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• 5,363 Population

Park Forest Village

• Town in Pennsylvania
• 10

Current Resident: Established, "Suburban" neighborhood that is less than 4 miles to Penn State's University Park campus by multiple bicycle paths and routes. The neighborhood features multiple parks, a mature forest canopy, and a mixture of house sizes and styles to suit family needs. Easy access to the area's entertainment and shopping. The neighborhood is a frequent destination for joggers and many residents bicycle commute. The neighborhood is known for holiday night displays and is a great place to raise a family.
Read 10 Reviews

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• 9,737 Population

Edgeworth

• Suburb of Pittsburgh, PA
• 12

Current Resident: Edgeworth is a picturesque community within walking distance of it's own elementary school, shopping, high school and the local YMCA.
Read 12 Reviews

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• 1,826 Population

Montgomeryville

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA
• 30

Niche User: The atmosphere and aura of this neighborhood is outstanding. The neighbors were friendly and welcoming even before we moved in! It is mainly families in this neighborhood but the kids are never too noisy. If I could do the process over again, I would still want my parents to chose this neighborhood to live in. Although we moved in when i was 10, this home means more to me than the one we were in before. After living in a small townhouse, it is so refreshing being in this neighborhood. Big, beautiful trees cascading over children playing in the yards. In the future, I believe more and new families will continue to move here. This will always be a joyful and welcoming place to live.
Read 30 Reviews

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• 13,370 Population

Chadds Ford Township

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA
• 5

Works Here: Chadds Ford is a wonderful town, close to highways, but with many quieter roads to enjoy as well. There are many shopping opportunities, from Target and Acme to DSW and Anthropology. They have many diverse restaurant options as well. Whether you are in the mood for Mexican, Chinese, Italian, or wings they have you covered! There are several colleges not to far away and lots of historical sites to enjoy.
Read 5 Reviews

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• 3,725 Population

Radnor Township

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA
• 39

Nearby Resident: Radnor is a beautiful, affluent suburb of Philadelphia with incredible stone houses and kind people. The schools are unparalleled and overall this is probably one of the best towns on the main line.
Read 39 Reviews

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• 31,710 Population

East Marlborough Township

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA
• 9

Niche User: Very welcoming area no matter where you move into. Friendly hellos and smiles. I would definitely buy a home in the area. Only place I like better to live in is Oxford Area school district in Oxford, Pennsylvania.
Read 9 Reviews

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• 7,261 Population