Living in Ardmore, PA: Real Estate Guide
Ardmore is a Main Line community built around the Lancaster Avenue corridor west of Philadelphia, split between Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County and Haverford Township in Delaware County. Housing ranges from apartments over storefronts in the commercial district to twins, rowhomes, condos and single family homes on the residential streets around it. Max Karasick, a Compass agent licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, helps buyers, sellers and renters in Ardmore work out which township a property sits in and what that means for taxes, schools and rules.
Ardmore’s draw is a real commercial center with a train station in town. A weekday can start with a walk to the rebuilt station for a Paoli/Thorndale Line or Amtrak train, and a Saturday can be errands along Lancaster Avenue and at Suburban Square. The catch is that Ardmore has no government of its own, so two homes with an Ardmore address can come with different tax bills, school districts and zoning rules.
Who It Fits
Buyers or renters who want an apartment or condo within walking distance of a station with both SEPTA Regional Rail and Amtrak service
Buyers who want a twin or single family home on a residential street near a commercial district with shops and restaurants
Commuters who want a choice between the Paoli/Thorndale Line and the M line
Investors looking at mixed use buildings with retail on the ground floor and apartments above, subject to township review
Housing Stock
Ardmore is an unincorporated community. Lower Merion Township lists Ardmore among its villages, and Haverford Township also has Ardmore addresses, including in its Third Ward.
The center of town is the Ardmore Commercial Historic District along Lancaster Avenue. Lower Merion describes it as established in 1993 and made up of densely packed buildings of one to five stories with retail on the ground floor and residential or office use above. Suburban Square, which the township describes as one of America’s oldest shopping centers, sits next to the district. Exterior changes visible from a public way, new construction, demolition and signs in the district go through the township’s Historical Architectural Review Board before permits issue.
Beyond the commercial core, the residential streets on both sides of the township line hold a mix of twins, rowhomes, small apartment buildings and single family homes. Condo buyers should budget for monthly association fees and read the association’s budget, reserves and rules.
Prices and Rents
Price in Ardmore comes down to township side, distance to the train station and Lancaster Avenue, property type and condition. A condo in a newer building, an older twin and a detached house on a larger lot are different markets even a few blocks apart.
Max shares current Bright MLS figures for Ardmore on request, including median sale price and days on market, pulled for the specific property type a client is weighing.
The Lower Merion and Haverford tax bills on similar homes are not the same, so a lower list price on one side of the line is not automatically the better deal. Compare the monthly cost with taxes included, then decide whether the walk to the station is a need or a nice extra.
Getting Around
Ardmore station, at 39 Station Avenue, is on SEPTA’s Paoli/Thorndale Line, with service to William H. Gray III 30th Street Station, Suburban Station and Jefferson Station in Center City according to the timetable effective October 18, 2026. Amtrak’s Keystone Service stops there too, and in April 2026 Amtrak and SEPTA marked the completion of the rebuilt station, which added elevators, ramps and high level platforms. SEPTA’s timetable lists bus routes 44, 103 and 105 connecting at the station.
SEPTA Metro’s M line, formerly the Norristown High Speed Line, has Ardmore Junction and Ardmore Avenue stops on its route between 69th Street Transit Center and Norristown Transit Center. SEPTA has posted shuttle buses in place of trains north of Bridgeport through December 19, 2026, while trains continue between Bridgeport and 69th Street.
Lancaster Avenue is the main road through the commercial district. Lower Merion notes that most parking there is supplied by retail property owners, with some curb meters on Lancaster Avenue.
Taxes and Costs
Pennsylvania real estate tax is three bills, not one: county, township and school district, each with its own millage rate. Haverford Township’s finance page explains the math: assessed value multiplied by the millage rate in effect, divided by 1,000. Assessments are set by the county, so totals can differ sharply across a township or county line.
On the Lower Merion side, the township’s Tax Collection Office bills the school district tax on a July to June fiscal year, a homestead exclusion can reduce the school bill on a primary residence and assessments come from Montgomery County’s Board of Assessment Appeals. On the Haverford side, Delaware County, the Haverford Township School District and Haverford Township each set their own rates, with the county handling assessment. Check each body’s current millage before comparing two Ardmore homes.
Pennsylvania also charges a realty transfer tax on a sale. The Department of Revenue lists the state portion at 1 percent of the value of the real estate (as of October 2026), and local jurisdictions add their own share, which varies by municipality and school district. Buyers and sellers usually agree in the contract on how to split it. For a comparison with the city, see the Philadelphia transfer tax guide.
Schools
Ardmore addresses fall in either the Lower Merion School District or the Haverford Township School District depending on the township; buyers should confirm the district for a specific address and review school information directly with that district.
Working With Max in Ardmore
For sellers, pricing starts with recent closed sales in the same township and school district, adjusted for lot, condition and distance to the station, then moves into a listing campaign with professional photography, Compass marketing and a showing plan. Owners can start with a home valuation request or learn more on the selling page.
For buyers, Max builds the search around the township and school district, the distance to a Paoli/Thorndale Line or M line stop, the full tax picture and any local historic district. Start on the buying page, find rental help on the renting page or reach Max through the contact page.
For the wider picture, read the Main Line guide or compare nearby Bryn Mawr.
Official Sources
FAQ
Is Ardmore in Lower Merion or Haverford Township?
Both. Ardmore is an unincorporated community, and Lower Merion Township lists it as a village while Haverford Township uses Ardmore addresses for neighborhoods in its Third Ward. The township decides the tax bill, school district and zoning for a specific property.
Is Ardmore walkable?
Its center is. Lower Merion describes the Ardmore Commercial Historic District along Lancaster Avenue as densely packed buildings of one to five stories with retail on the ground floor, and Suburban Square sits next to it. How walkable a specific home is depends on its distance to Lancaster Avenue and the train station.
Does Amtrak stop in Ardmore?
Yes. Amtrak’s Keystone Service stops at Ardmore station along with SEPTA’s Paoli/Thorndale Line, and Amtrak and SEPTA marked the completion of the rebuilt station, with elevators, ramps and high level platforms, in April 2026.
What is the Ardmore Commercial Historic District?
It is a Lower Merion local historic district along Lancaster Avenue, established in 1993. Exterior changes visible from a public way, new construction, demolition and signs inside it need review by the township’s Historical Architectural Review Board before permits issue.
