Is the Main Line a good place to live for New Yorkers?

For New Yorkers who want walkable towns, highly ranked public schools, and a train to New York, it is one of the strongest choices around Philadelphia. Amtrak's Keystone trains stop at Ardmore and Paoli, and many continue to New York. The trade-offs are prices well above the rest of the suburbs, older homes, and a ride of about two hours to Manhattan.

Which Main Line towns have a train to New York?

Amtrak's Keystone Service stops at Ardmore and Paoli, the only Amtrak stations on the Main Line. Every Keystone train stops at Paoli and some stop at Ardmore, and many continue to New York Penn Station. From the other towns, such as Narberth, Bryn Mawr, and Wayne, it is a short drive or a SEPTA ride to one of those stations.

What are the best school districts on the Main Line?

In U.S. News's 2026-27 Best High Schools, Harriton High School ranked 6th in Pennsylvania, Radnor High School 7th, Lower Merion High School 8th, and Conestoga High School, in Tredyffrin-Easttown, 13th. Harriton and Lower Merion are both in the Lower Merion School District. Assignment depends on the address, so confirm the district for each home.

How much does a house cost on the Main Line?

In September 2026, Zillow's typical single-family value ranged from about $540,000 in Ardmore's ZIP code and $669,000 in Paoli's to about $1.02 million in Narberth, $1.05 million in Bryn Mawr, $1.36 million in Haverford, and $1.61 million in Villanova. Values rose about 6 to 9 percent in a year in many Main Line ZIP codes.

Moving to the Main Line from New York City

Of all the Philadelphia suburbs, the Main Line feels most familiar to many New Yorkers. Its towns grew up around railroad stations, so several have walkable downtowns a few blocks from a train. Its public high schools rank among the best in Pennsylvania. And Amtrak trains from Ardmore and Paoli run to New York Penn Station, so the days you still go in are covered.

This guide covers the towns, the schools, what homes cost, the commute, and the trade-offs. For the basics of the area, start with what the Main Line is.

The towns at a glance

Town	Typical single-family value (Zillow, Sept 2026)	Public schools	Station
Narberth	About $1.02 million	Lower Merion	SEPTA; Ardmore Amtrak about 6 min
Ardmore	About $540,000	Lower Merion or Haverford Township	SEPTA and Amtrak
Bala Cynwyd	About $799,000	Lower Merion	SEPTA Cynwyd Line
Haverford	About $1.36 million	Lower Merion or Haverford Township	SEPTA
Bryn Mawr	About $1.05 million	Lower Merion or Radnor	SEPTA; Ardmore Amtrak about 5 min
Villanova	About $1.61 million	Lower Merion or Radnor	SEPTA
Wayne	About $921,000	Radnor or Tredyffrin-Easttown	SEPTA; Paoli Amtrak about 12 min
Berwyn	About $1.02 million	Tredyffrin-Easttown	SEPTA
Devon	About $1.09 million	Tredyffrin-Easttown	SEPTA
Paoli	About $669,000	Tredyffrin-Easttown or Great Valley	SEPTA and Amtrak

Values are by ZIP code, and ZIP codes cross township and school district lines, so confirm both for every address. Drive times are estimates without traffic.

Walkable towns, not just suburbs

New Yorkers often worry about giving up walking. On the Main Line, you can keep much of it.

Narberth is a borough of about half a square mile, surrounded by Lower Merion Township, with shops, restaurants, and a SEPTA station at its center. It had about 4,500 residents in 2020.
Ardmore has Suburban Square, developed in 1928 and among the first suburban shopping centers in the country, now with about 80 shops, restaurants, and fitness studios. Its new Coulter Place apartments added 131 homes and more retail. Ardmore’s rebuilt train station, with elevators and high-level platforms, opened in March 2026.
Bryn Mawr and Wayne have downtowns along Lancaster Avenue, with SEPTA stations a short walk away.

Schools

District	Highest-ranked high school, Pennsylvania (U.S. News 2026-27)	Students (2025-26)	2026-27 school tax rate
Lower Merion	Harriton 6th, Lower Merion 8th	About 8,500	36.5017 mills
Radnor Township	Radnor 7th	About 3,600	16.0631 mills
Tredyffrin-Easttown	Conestoga 13th	About 6,800	31.1364 mills
Haverford Township	Haverford 33rd	About 6,500	20.3386 mills

Tax rates cannot be compared across counties, because each county assesses homes differently: Lower Merion is in Montgomery County, Radnor and Haverford in Delaware County, which reassessed for 2021, and Tredyffrin-Easttown in Chester County. Compare the actual tax bill on each house. The best school districts near Philadelphia and Lower Merion vs. Wissahickon guides go further.

Getting to New York

Amtrak’s Keystone trains stop at Paoli and Ardmore, and many continue through Philadelphia to New York Penn Station. On the 2026 timetable, the fastest trip takes 2 hours from Paoli and 1 hour 51 minutes from Ardmore, though only one weekday morning train stops at Ardmore, at 6:26 a.m. From 30th Street, about 26 minutes from Ardmore on SEPTA, Acela trains reach New York in as little as 1 hour 14 minutes.

That suits a schedule of one or two days in New York. The commute guide compares every route and fare.

Taxes worth knowing

No local wage tax in Lower Merion or Radnor. Most Pennsylvania municipalities levy a local earned income tax, often 1 percent. Lower Merion and Radnor Townships levy none, according to the state’s 2026 register. Pennsylvania’s own income tax is a flat 3.07 percent.
Transfer tax. The realty transfer tax is 2 percent in Lower Merion and 2.5 percent in Radnor, usually split between buyer and seller.

The trade-offs

Price. The Main Line costs more than most of the suburbs. Buyers who want more space for the money often compare it with Montgomery County towns like Blue Bell or Ambler.
Older homes. Many Main Line houses are decades old, some more than a century, with character and the upkeep that comes with it. Inspections matter.
Competition. Well-priced homes in the top school districts can draw several offers. Have your financing ready before you start touring.
The commute. About two hours to Manhattan works for a hybrid schedule. For three or more days a week, compare Bucks County and Princeton.

Working with Karen

Karen Langsfeld is a REALTOR® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She helps New York buyers compare Main Line towns with Montgomery County, Bucks County, and the Princeton area, confirms the school district and tax bill for each home, and plans offers for competitive listings. The Main Line community page has current listings, and the guide to moving from NYC to the Philadelphia suburbs covers the wider region.

Contact Karen at (215) 495-2914 or through the contact page.

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026; U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools 2026-27; Pennsylvania Department of Education, Real Estate Tax Rates 2026-27 and enrollment 2025-26; U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census; Pennsylvania DCED local tax register (June 2026); Delaware County Recorder of Deeds; Lower Merion Township; SEPTA and Amtrak (2026); Lower Merion Historical Society; The Philadelphia Inquirer (January 2026). Drive times are estimates without traffic.