Get to Know the Philadelphia Main Line Suburbs

Have you ever heard of the Main Line suburbs in Philadelphia? This collection of charming neighborhoods is centered around the SEPTA rail line. Residents blend a taste of big city living with quiet residential areas that feel like an escape from urban Philadelphia.

But what else makes the Main Line neighborhoods so unique and desirable as places to live in the Philly metro? If you’ve been considering relocating or investing in a property along this scenic corridor, we’re here with what you need to know about one of Philadelphia’s most popular regions to buy a home.

What is the Main Line?

Wealthy residential communities form the beautiful suburbs heading west from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their development directly ties into the railroad, as the term “Main Line” referred to the Pennsylvania Railroad Main Line built here in the mid-1800s. Most of the communities’ names come from the station stops.

Today, the Main Line is divided into “East” and “West,” with the “East” being the oldest and original sections of the Main Line. Those communities are:

• Overbrook
• Merion
• Narberth
• Wynnewood
• Ardmore
• Haverford
• Bryn Mawr

It’s quite a large area, with all the Main Line suburbs covering about 200 square miles.

History of the Main Line

Two hundred years ago, Philadelphia’s bustling economic and political center led to a large concentration of wealth. But even though the city was wealthy, it lacked the infrastructure we have today. In the industrial area, this created increasingly polluted cities with air choked by smog and streets riddled with sewage.

Around the 1850s, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company decided to expand its Pennsylvania Railroad westward into what was then the countryside. They called this spur the “Main Line,” hence the name.

The railroad was the key to transforming Philadelphia from a dense urban center to a sprawling metropolis with suburbs. Philadelphia’s elite and wealthy started to build countryside retreats off the Main Line. They constructed large estates among the picturesque landscapes, attracted to the fresh country air and open spaces that were still close enough to Philly to ride into town when they pleased. Lavish country clubs like the Merion Cricket Club were formed to entertain wealthy residents. Matches drew thousands during the 1900s and were a highlight of the summer social season.

These same wealthy citizens needed people to construct their estates and serve their needs. Communities started to grow around the railroad stations. Developers saw opportunities as suburbanization thrived. Large estates split into smaller lots, creating residential neighborhoods with more modest homes.

The suburban communities along the Main Line offered a more relaxed and idyllic lifestyle than the bustling city. They provided an escape while maintaining proximity to Philadelphia for work, cultural events, and other amenities.

The establishment of prestigious educational institutions, like Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, and Villanova University, further enhanced the Main Line’s desirability and attracted residents.

Suburb and city planners had the foresight to plan for tree-lined streets, parks, and community amenities, creating an attractive family environment. The suburbs added commercial centers, shopping districts, and other amenities to serve the growing population who no longer saw Philadelphia as their home but the Main Line station communities.

The Main Line railroad did keep expanding westward, eventually connecting to Lancaster, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and all the way to Chicago.

Main Line suburbs today

The railroad still connects the Main Line suburbs. It provides convenience for those commuting into Philly, but today is part of the Keystone Corridor operated by Amtrak and the SEPTA Paoli/Thorndale Line.

These neighborhoods continue to be known for their affluence and well-preserved architecture. They were built by Philadelphia’s wealthy elite, and it’s no wonder these zip codes are still among the country’s most affluent. Main Line residents enjoy perks like some of the state’s (and nation’s) top schools, small-town vibes, lush parks, and a thriving cultural scene.

Besides the Eastern Main Line listed above, the stations of the Western Main Line include:

• Rosemont
• Villanova
• Radnor
• Wayne
• Devon
• Berwyn
• Paoli
• Malvern

The eastern Main Line suburbs also parallel US Route 30 or Lancaster Avenue. Lancaster Avenue is the commercial hub for most communities, with shopping and entertainment districts clustered here. The corridor has traditional Main Street vibes.

Buying in the Main Line Suburbs

The older neighborhoods will be further east and closer to the city on the Main Line. They’re usually among the priciest and have some of the older estates. But even further away from Center City presents opportunities for a well-rounded lifestyle.

You won’t have master-planned developments in these communities, which often were plated and constructed before automobiles. But that’s part of the charm of the Main Line suburbs. The stone facades may lack a two-car garage behind a gated community. Still, they ooze character with mature century-old trees and tile roofs.

Does that sound appealing to you? Then check out these Main Line neighborhoods.

Overbrook

Overbrook is the first stop along the Main Line. It refers to the neighborhood and the surrounding area encompassing Overbrook Farms, Morris Park, and Overbrook Park.

For the most part, Overbrook is a highly residential area with some schools and historic churches for residents. Besides the elementary and high school, the Overbrook School for the Blind is here, and St. Joseph’s University borders the neighborhood.

It is known for its leafy residential streets and a mix of architectural styles, particularly its row houses built primarily between 1900 and 1960 for the Philadelphia middle class looking to move to less crowded spaces.

However, you’ll find historic duplexes, here called twin or semi-detached houses. Overbrook Farms has most of the area’s single-family detached homes. The suburb had 113 homes for sale at a median of $223,000 in June 2023.

Merion

Merion Station is a historic and affluent community in Lower Merion Township. Locals know it for its grand estates and prestigious institutions.

The oldest building is the Merion Meeting House, constructed in 1695 by Welsh settlers long before the Main Line railroad was even a dream. It’s now a National Historic Landmark and is still in use today.

The Barnes Foundation was based in Merion before it moved to Center City. The grounds of the granite mansion remain open for visitors to walk the gardens and its arboretum. For more beautiful outdoor spaces, Merion also has a botanical park.

While the public schools in Merion are among the nation’s best, the community also has a collection of private secular academies for K-12 and Saint Joseph’s University, a private Jesuit-based liberal arts college with undergraduate and graduate programs.

Around the neighborhood are gothic and stone buildings, often hand-cut and hewn over a century ago. The tree-lined streets and elegant homes include some notable Georgian and Victorian architecture examples. Merion only had 20 homes for sale in June 2023 at a median of $750,000.

Narberth

Lower Merion Township surrounds this independent community, prized for its walkability and close-knit community.

Even though Lancaster Avenue doesn’t run through town, Narberth developed a charming downtown area spanning Haverford and Narberth Avenues packed with independent shops, restaurants, and a historic movie theater. The community hosts many events in the downtown area, like its annual Spring Sale, the Dickens Festival, and the Fourth of July celebration. Locals from surrounding Penn Valley and Wynnewood often come to do their shopping here.

These shops and the two community parks are often walkable from the local homes. Narbeth feels like a small village where neighbors get to know each other’s names.

It had 17 homes for sale in June 2023 at a median price of $737,000.

Wynnewood

Wynnewood is unincorporated but is an area between Lower Merion Township and Haverford Township. Even though it doesn’t have city status, Wynnewood has many perks.

Its renowned Lankenau Medical Center, a teaching hospital affiliated with Drexel and Jefferson, is often ranked among the nation’s best community hospitals. Besides access to experts in many medical specialties, it has a robust rehabilitation facility.

Locals also have Wynnewood Shopping Center, a sprawling suburban shopping center with name-brand retailers like Old Navy and DSW.

Otherwise, Wynnewood is highly residential. Compared to other Main Line suburbs, it offers the most mix of housing styles, with single-family homes on large lots in private neighborhoods, townhouses, and apartments. The styles range from historic colonials to homes built in the 1980s. Some communities inside Wynnewood include Indian Creek, Ardmore Park, and Penn Wynne.

Wynnewood had 37 homes on the market at a median list price of $700,000 in June 2023.

Ardmore

Ardmore is one of the larger Main Line communities. Even though it’s a primarily residential city, its size and commercial features give it more of an urban vibe thanks to its bustling downtown area and busy event calendar.

Local shops and restaurants are clustered in the downtown area along Lancaster Avenue and the Suburban Square Mall, one of the nation’s first shopping centers. The Mall is a pedestrian-friendly shopping complex with charming historic buildings.

And, since it is a larger neighborhood, Ardmore supports entertainment venues like the popular Ardmore Music Hall. Twice a year, Ardmore hosts the Clover Market, a vintage and artisan shopping market held over the weekends in the spring and fall. Restaurant Week spotlights the delicious dishes whipped up by Ardmore’s talented chef pool, while Oktoberfest is a fall highlight.

Ardmore isn’t all shopping; it has several recreational facilities and parks. Residents can work their triple axles at Ardmore Skating Club or picnic on beautiful spring days at Linwood Park. Golfers can play a round at the Merion Golf Club East Course.

The neighborhood had 28 homes for sale at a median list price of $500,000 in June 2023.

Haverford

Ten miles from Philadelphia, Haverford is best known on the Main Line as the home of Haverford College and the Haverford School, two prestigious educational institutions. Two more colleges are on the borders, making this a highly educated community brimming with energy.

Even with the high number of campuses and undergraduates, residents describe life in Haverford as quiet and peaceful. The park-like campus features a 216-acre arboretum with a 2.2-mile walking trail open to the public. And the town has other parks and playgrounds, too.

You’ll find coffee shops and cafes along College Avenue, which runs into Haverford College. And Merion Golf Club falls inside Haverford’s borders, a highly ranked golf club course considered among the nation’s best. The prestigious Merion Cricket Club is on the east side of Montgomery Avenue.

Haverford straddles Haverford Township and Lower Merion Township, both of which have highly regarded school districts. The residential side has single-family homes, predominantly in a colonial style, with more condos and apartments closer to the campuses. Haverford had 141 homes for sale at a median list price of $522,000 in June 2023.

Bryn Mawr

Bryn Mawr is another of the Main Line’s college communities, as it is known for its prestigious women’s college, Bryn Mawr College.

The suburb straddles three townships: Haverford, Lower Merion, and Radnor. All three provide access to top-rated school districts, so residents with young families won’t miss out. But within the town of Bryn Mawr are the historic and well-regarded private Baldwin School and the Shipley School.

However, like next door Haverford, life in Bryn Mawr isn’t all about education. The Main Street section on Lancaster Avenue has a growing restaurant scene and a collection of boutique shops with designer fashions. It’s home to the local film institute, which hosts independent film showings and events during the year. The summer comes to life with weekly live concerts at the Bryn Mawr Gazebo, and the farmer’s market brings fresh produce into the city.

With over 21 buildings well over a century old, Bryn Mawr’s real estate features stately stone buildings and colonial architecture. But you will also find newer homes dating to the 1960s, so housing has some variety here. The closer to the colleges, the more housing, including student housing and apartments.

June 2023 had 65 homes for sale at a median list price of $965,000.

Life in the Main Line

Hopefully, this overview gives you an idea of the high quality of life available in the suburban Main Line communities outside the Philly metro. Let a local real estate agent guide you in finding the right suburb for you to call home.