Malvern

Malvern is a rustic suburban borough just over 25 miles West of Philadelphia with beautiful old homes, a walkable downtown and a small village vibe with remarkable schools.

The town is full of diverse homes, with some dating back to the late 1800s. “Malvern has a very unique blend of historic and modern homes,” says Gregory Martire, Realtor with Springer Realty Group. Many residents live in 19th-century colonial and Victorian-style single-family homes. Or find an old twin with just as much character for $350,000. Throughout the rest of Malvern, you’ll find various houses from the mid-1900s through today. A 20th-century Craftsman or Cape Cod typically costs around $450,000 to $550,000. A contemporary house with a big two-car garage can fetch up to $800,000. Most homes are located on leafy grid-like streets about a block or two from Malvern’s walkable downtown on King Street, while others are just a couple miles away. “It’s very drivable to get somewhere walkable,” Martire explains.

While there are lots of homes steps away from downtown, the walkability factor is particularly prevalent for those living in Eastside Flats on King Street. The large mixed-use apartment complex features several local businesses on the bottom floor, like Terra Culture Gifts, a cute shop with unique hand-crafted items and AR Workshop, a studio where you can create home décor. Locals head to Uptown Worthington Shopping Center for shopping. The shopping center boasts big box stores like Target and Wegmans.

You’ll discover lots of restaurants as well as explore the half-mile stretch of businesses down King Street. Enjoy ice cream or water ice on the patio at Scoops ‘N’ Smiles. Meanwhile, Flying Pig Saloon will have you squealing for its pork belly skewers and rotating craft beer selections. You can also grab a slice from Malvern Pizza, a popular restaurant serving the community since 1982. The staple restaurant honors the town’s history with a mural of Malvern as it was when it was established in 1889.

Malvern’s historical significance predates that time to the Revolutionary War and is home to the site of The Battle of Paoli. What’s now a park has been a gathering place for years to honor American Veterans, which led to the town’s annual Memorial Day Parade, which started in 1868 and is the oldest Memorial Day Parade in the country. Today, the park is a popular spot to play on the playground, stroll on the paved trails or watch a Chester Valley Little League game. You can also surround yourself with nature at Randolph Woods Park and hike along Duffryn Trail or visit the playground at Burke Park, a small square in town also used for the Malvern Farmers Market. For more outdoor fun, many locals head to Greentree Park for a walk in the park or to let the kids play on the playground.

Students in Malvern attend several schools, but a common pipeline falls under the Great Valley School District. Niche gave the school district an overall A and ranked it number 32 out of the 496 school districts in Pennsylvania. Children start their education at General Wayne Elementary School, which touts an overall A from Niche. Students progress to Great Valley Middle School, which Niche gave an overall A. High schoolers head to Great Valley High School to earn their diplomas. Niche ranked GVHS as number 16 of the 683 high schools in Pennsylvania and gave them an overall A-plus.

Living outside of Philadelphia has its perks, and when residents want to trek to the city center, they head to the Paoli station and hop on the SEPTA train. Route 30 runs through the heart of Malvern and runs parallel to the train line, affording a quickly accessible route for local drivers. Malvern features stellar schools with a charming atmosphere and access to natural beauty.

Written By

Nicolas Stuart

Photography Contributed By

Rich Walker

Video By

Jonathan Bradley