Student Housing in Jenkintown, PA
About Student Housing in Jenkintown
Jenkintown is a small, walkable borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, located about 12 miles north of Center City Philadelphia. With a population of roughly 4,500 residents in just under one square mile, Jenkintown punches well above its size in terms of livability, offering a genuine downtown with independent restaurants, coffee shops, a farmers market, and a public library all within easy walking distance of its residential streets. The borough is anchored by the Jenkintown-Wyncote SEPTA Regional Rail station, one of the most-served suburban rail stops in the Philadelphia system, connecting residents to Center City in approximately 25 to 35 minutes without a car. Surrounding neighborhoods like Elkins Park, Abington, and Glenside extend the housing market outward while remaining close to Jenkintown's transit hub. The area attracts graduate students, young professionals, and families who want suburban calm with urban accessibility. Rents are moderate by Philadelphia-area standards, and the housing stock blends Victorian rowhomes, pre-war apartment buildings, and newer garden apartment complexes. Jenkintown's compact scale makes daily errands manageable on foot, and its position on multiple SEPTA rail and bus corridors gives residents genuine flexibility in how they move through the broader region.
Best Neighborhoods for Students in Jenkintown
Jenkintown Borough Core
The walkable center of Jenkintown, within a short stroll of the train station and downtown shops. Rents here are among the highest in the borough but include unmatched convenience for car-free residents.
Elkins Park
A quiet, established neighborhood immediately south and east of Jenkintown with tree-lined streets and older homes converted to multi-unit rentals. Elkins Park offers lower rents than the borough core with a short walk or bus ride to the Jenkintown train station.
Abington Township
A broader suburban area surrounding Jenkintown with a wide variety of apartment complexes and single-family rentals at accessible price points. Abington is well-suited to students or residents with cars who prioritize space and value.
Glenside
Located just north of Jenkintown along the Lansdale-Doylestown SEPTA line, Glenside has its own small commercial center and a strong community identity. Rents tend to run slightly below Jenkintown Borough, and residents benefit from direct rail access to both the northern suburbs and Center City Philadelphia.
Getting Around Jenkintown as a Student
Here's what you need to know about getting around Jenkintown.
Public Transit
Jenkintown is one of the best-connected suburban rail communities in the Philadelphia region. The Jenkintown-Wyncote SEPTA Regional Rail station sits at the center of the borough and is served by multiple lines, including the Lansdale-Doylestown, Warminster, Fox Chase, and West Trenton lines, providing frequent service to Jefferson Station and Market East in Center City. SEPTA bus routes also serve Jenkintown, connecting to Abington, Cheltenham, and surrounding neighborhoods throughout the day. The combination of multiple rail lines at a single station means service disruptions on one line rarely strand riders without alternatives.
Walking and Biking
Jenkintown Borough's compact grid makes walking to most daily destinations practical and pleasant. The downtown commercial district, the train station, the library, and a range of restaurants and shops are all within a five-to-ten-minute walk from most residential addresses in the borough. The surrounding neighborhoods of Elkins Park and Glenside are also relatively bikeable on low-traffic residential streets, though dedicated bike infrastructure is limited. Residents who combine walking for local errands with SEPTA for longer trips can manage comfortably without a car.
Parking
Jenkintown Borough offers metered street parking and a small municipal parking lot near the downtown commercial area, with free parking available on many residential streets. The train station itself has a SEPTA-managed commuter parking lot that fills early on weekday mornings. Students and residents who drive should factor in that on-street parking near the station and downtown can be competitive during business hours. Most residential rental properties in the surrounding neighborhoods include at least one off-street space, which is worth confirming before signing a lease.
Frequently Asked Questions: Student Housing in Jenkintown
Common questions from students searching for housing.
One-bedroom apartments in Jenkintown Borough typically rent for $1,200 to $1,700 per month, with two-bedroom units ranging from $1,500 to $2,200. The nearby neighborhoods of Elkins Park and Glenside offer slightly lower prices, while Abington Township has a broader range with some options below $1,200 for a one-bedroom. Utilities are often an additional cost.
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