Bala Cynwyd

Welcome to Bala Cynwyd

Bala Cynwyd is a community in Lower Merion Township which is located on the Main Line in southeastern Pennsylvania, bordering the western edge of Philadelphia at US Route 1 (City Avenue). It was originally two separate towns, Bala and Cynwyd, but is commonly treated as a single community. This came about when a single US Post Office served both towns (the "Bala Cynwyd" Branch) using the zip code of 19004. Bala and Cynwyd are still served by separate stations on SEPTA's Cynwyd Line of Regional Rail.

History

The oldest commercial district and the original center of Bala Cynwyd straddles the bridge over the old Pennsylvania Railroad tracks, originally belonging to the Columbia Railroad and now part of the SEPTA Cynwyd Line, along Montgomery Avenue at Bala Avenue. This district, long on the National Register of Historic Places, was settled shortly after William Penn's landing in Pennsylvania in 1682 and contains the village's oldest commercial buildings, some dating to the earliest years of the 19th century. Bala Avenue itself is an extension of this original town center and comprises a specialized commercial district of its own more than a century old; it has long been known for its children's clothing stores, women's dress and consignment shops, the Bala Theater and a number of small restaurants. The remainder of Bala Cynwyd's original commercial district extends south along Montgomery Avenue as part of the Bala Cynwyd-Merion Commercial District and is coextensive with the commercial center of Merion, with its popular delicatessens and restaurants.

In 1952, WCAU-TV, channel 10 built its headquarters at the corner of City Avenue and Monument Road. Since then, Bala Cynwyd has increasingly become identified with the home of the Philadelphia region's major media outlets. WCAU was owned by CBS from 1958 until September 1995, when it was traded to its current owner, NBC. In addition to channel 10, three successors to WCAU, rival WPVI-TV, owned by ABC is found directly across City Avenue. Bala Cynwyd's AM and FM stations include CBS Radio's WOGL-FM, WIP-AM and WPHT-AM, located on the seventh floor of Two Bala Plaza and Greater Media's WBEN-FM, WMGK-FM, WMMR-FM and WPEN, which are housed on the third and fourth floor of One Bala Plaza. Clear Channel Radio's WDAS-FM, WDAS, WUSL, WRFF, WISX, and WIOQ FM stations are located on Presidential Boulevard, as is independently owned WBEB. Beasley Broadcasting's WXTU, WRDW-FM and WWDB are on the third floor of 555 Presidential Boulevard at the foot of City Avenue. It is the corporate home of Entercom and the Susquehanna International Group.

The Bala Cynwyd Shopping Center, completed in 1957, lies a half mile to the south of the village center, bordering Philadelphia on City Avenue. Its major outlets are Lord & Taylor, Acme Markets, Olive Garden, and LA Fitness; Saks Fifth Avenue is located a block to the East.

The village is home to churches of many religions. The oldest of these is Saint John's Episcopal Church on Levering Mill Road, founded in 1863. Saint Matthias Catholic Church is also found one block south of Montgomery on Bryn Mawr Avenue. Bala Cynwyd has also drawn a number of Modern Orthodox and Conservative Jews who live within walking distance of Lower Merion Synagogue and Congregation Adath Israel on Old Lancaster Road where Bala Cynwyd meets Merion. Churches of other denominations are only blocks away in nearby Narberth, Wynnewood, Merion, and Wynnefield/Overbrook.

Schools

Bala Cynwyd is served by the Lower Merion School District with its headquarters in Ardmore. Public school children of area residents attend the Cynwyd Elementary School on Levering Mill Road, Bala Cynwyd Middle School on North Bryn Mawr Avenue, and Lower Merion High School in Ardmore. Another school in Bala is Solomon Schechter Hebrew Day School on Old Lancaster Road. The private, Catholic Merion Mercy and Waldron Mercy Academies are only a quarter mile up Montgomery Avenue in Merion. The bilingual French International School, on North Highland Avenue, teaches approximately 220 children from pre-kindergarten (K3) to eighth grade in French and English.

Library

The Bala Cynwyd Public Library, part of the six-branch Lower Merion Library System, occupies a modern facility on Old Lancaster Road. It is home to more than 221,000 items and features up-to-date computer facilities and a dedicated children's library on the second floor. The system as a whole, with its central library located at Bryn Mawr's Ludington Memorial Library on South Bryn Mawr Avenue, is home to more than 1.4 million items and stands in the 99th percentile nationwide for annual resident visits and volumes per resident capita.

Notable Residents

Hobey Baker, namesake of NCAA men's hockey award.
Paul Cava, photographer, lives in Bala Cynwyd.
Stan Fine, magazine gag cartoonist.
Bob Garfield, co-host of On the Media on National Public Radio[6].
Alexander Haig, United States Army general and later United States Secretary of State.
Skip James, blues musician, is buried in Bala Cynwyd.
John Ernst Worrell Keely, inventor, is buried in Bala Cynwyd.
Mirah, singer-songwriter.
Samuel Proof, starred in Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! on the Adult Swim network.
Jack Rose, guitarist.
Elizabeth Marrow, actress.

Courtesy of Wikipedia

Overview for Bala Cynwyd, PA

10,439 people live in Bala Cynwyd, where the median age is 42.3 and the average individual income is $88,586. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

10,439

Total Population

42.3 years

Median Age

High

Population Density Population Density
This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.

$88,586

Average individual Income

Around Bala Cynwyd, PA

There's plenty to do around Bala Cynwyd, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.

33

Car-Dependent

Walking Score

60

Bikeable

Bike Score

Points of Interest

Explore popular things to do in the area, including The Lunch Box, LCKC Designs, and Hamilton Club.

Name	Category	Distance	Reviews	Ratings by Yelp
Visit the The Lunch Box page on Yelp Search 150 Monument Rd on Google Maps	Dining	0.65 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars
Visit the LCKC Designs page on Yelp	Shopping	0.02 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars
Visit the Hamilton Club page on Yelp Search Saint Asaphs Rd on Google Maps	Nightlife	0.69 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars
Visit the Thee Brat House page on Yelp Search 133 Heather Rd on Google Maps	Beauty	0.63 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars
Visit the Mary E Griffin, DO FAAD page on Yelp Search 1 Bala Plz on Google Maps	Beauty	0.67 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars
Visit the Beau Skin Care & Spa page on Yelp Search 306 Levering Mill Rd on Google Maps	Beauty	0.87 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars

Demographics and Employment Data for Bala Cynwyd, PA

Population Households Employment

Bala Cynwyd has 4,216 households, with an average household size of 2.47. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Bala Cynwyd do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 10,439 people call Bala Cynwyd home. The population density is 3,884 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

10,439

Total Population

High

Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.

42.3 years

Median Age

47 / 53%

Men vs Women

Population by Age Group

0-9:

0-9 Years

10-17:

10-17 Years

18-24:

18-24 Years

25-64:

25-64 Years

65-74:

65-74 Years

75+:

75+ Years

Education Level

Less Than 9th Grade
High School Degree
Associate Degree
Bachelor Degree
Graduate Degree

4,216

Total Households

2.47

Average Household Size

$88,586

Average individual Income

Households with Children

With Children:

Without Children:

Marital Status

Married

Single

Divorced

Separated

Blue vs White Collar Workers

Blue Collar:

White Collar:

Commute Time

0 to 14 Minutes

15 to 29 Minutes

30 to 59 Minutes

60+ Minutes

Schools in Bala Cynwyd, PA

All ()

Primary Schools ()

Middle Schools ()

High Schools ()

Mixed Schools ()

The following schools are within or nearby Bala Cynwyd. The rating and statistics can serve as a starting point to make baseline comparisons on the right schools for your family. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Type

Name

Featured Properties

For Sale
$2,200,000

1443 LANES END, VILLANOVA, PA 19085

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 6 Beds
- 6 Baths
- 6,895 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$1,300,000

5 E CHESTNUT HILL AVENUE, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19118

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 3 Beds
- 5 Baths
- 3,780 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$1,000,000

323 HIDDEN RIVER ROAD, PENN VALLEY, PA 19072

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 5 Beds
- 4 Baths
- 4,107 Sq.Ft.
Coming Soon
$879,900

412 MERION HILL LANE, WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA 19428

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 4 Beds
- 4 Baths
- 3,867 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$809,000

1109 Riverview Ln, Conshohocken, PA 19428
- 3 Beds
- 4 Baths
- 3,645 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$799,000

1109 RIVERVIEW LANE, WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA 19428

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 3 Beds
- 4 Baths
- 3,645 Sq.Ft.
For Sale

$749,500

41 FAIRVIEW ROAD, PENN VALLEY, PA 19072

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
For Sale

$700,000

3 E CHESTNUT HILL AVENUE, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19118

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
For Sale
$625,000

1416 STEEL ROAD, HAVERTOWN, PA 19083

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 3 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1,792 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$524,000

156 PENCOYD AVENUE, BALA CYNWYD, PA 19004

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 2 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 1,540 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$500,000

2940 DEVEREAUX AVENUE, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19149

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 2,800 Sq.Ft.
For Sale

$499,000

317 MARYWATERSFORD ROAD, BALA CYNWYD, PA 19004

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
For Sale
$485,000

191 PRESIDENTIAL BOULEVARD Unit: R-505, BALA CYNWYD, PA 19004

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 2 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1,764 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$475,000

1645 ELLSWORTH STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19146

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 1,851 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$425,000

1919 CHESTNUT STREET Unit: 1821, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 1 Bed
- 1 Bath
- 837 Sq.Ft.
For Sale

$400,000

40 ROCK HILL ROAD, BALA CYNWYD, PA 19004

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
For Sale
$365,000

1102 PRITCHARD PLACE, NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA 19073

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 2 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1,135 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$359,000

1919 CHESTNUT STREET Unit: 2703, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 1 Bed
- 1 Bath
- 837 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$350,000

1600 ARCH STREET Unit: 1108, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 2 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 766 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$335,000

1919 CHESTNUT STREET Unit: 904, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 2 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 1,134 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$310,000

1900 JOHN F KENNEDY BOULEVARD Unit: 402, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 2 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 1,130 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$300,000

1919 CHESTNUT STREET Unit: 2522, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 1 Bed
- 1 Bath
- 867 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$295,000

1919 CHESTNUT STREET Unit: 1224, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 2 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 1,086 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$255,000

1919 CHESTNUT STREET Unit: 1016, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 1 Bed
- 1 Bath
- 837 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$199,000

1600 HAGYS FORD ROAD Unit: 7-O, PENN VALLEY, PA 19072

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 1 Bath
- 560 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$199,000

1900 JOHN F KENNEDY BOULEVARD Unit: 1915, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 2 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 1,060 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$185,000

1001 CITY AVENUE Unit: E-405, WYNNEWOOD, PA 19096

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 2 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1,222 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$179,000

1900 JOHN F KENNEDY BOULEVARD Unit: 1808, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 1 Bed
- 1 Bath
- 750 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$169,000

1001 CITY AVENUE Unit: W-1003, WYNNEWOOD, PA 19096

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 1 Bed
- 1 Bath
- 910 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$159,000

1901 JOHN F KENNEDY BOULEVARD Unit: 1512, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 1 Bath
- 475 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$99,052

118 S 21ST STREET Unit: 1007, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 1 Bed
- 1 Bath
- 663 Sq.Ft.
For Sale
$80,495

118 S 21ST STREET Unit: 911, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 1 Bed
- 1 Bath
- 663 Sq.Ft.
For Lease

$6,900/mo

1937 CHESTNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
For Lease

$4,300/mo

524 S 3RD STREET Unit: 1, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19147

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
For Lease
$3,995/mo

234 LOOKOUT PLACE, WAYNE, PA 19087

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 3 Beds
- 4 Baths
- 2,525 Sq.Ft.
For Lease
$3,350/mo

1637 OAKWOOD DRIVE Unit: S-122, PENN VALLEY, PA 19072

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 3 Beds
- 3 Baths
- 1,512 Sq.Ft.
For Lease
$2,900/mo

124 HAMLET DRIVE, KING OF PRUSSIA, PA 19406

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 3 Beds
- 3 Baths
- 1,440 Sq.Ft.
For Lease
$2,600/mo

1813 RANSTEAD STREET Unit: 301, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 1 Bed
- 1 Bath
- 600 Sq.Ft.
For Lease
$2,300/mo

3350 CONRAD STREET Unit: B, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19129

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 3 Beds
- 2 Baths
For Lease
$1,900/mo

2904 POPLAR STREET Unit: 3, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19130

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 2 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1,000 Sq.Ft.
For Lease
$1,895/mo

1600 HAGYS FORD ROAD Unit: 6-E, PENN VALLEY, PA 19072

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 1 Bed
- 2 Baths
- 965 Sq.Ft.
For Lease
$1,400/mo

1526 MOUNT VERNON STREET Unit: 2, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19130

Courtesy of KW Main Line - Narberth
- 2 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 900 Sq.Ft.