Situated along Route 30 in southeastern Pennsylvania, Downington is a town of around 8,000, with a city center comprised of local restaurants, several main streets, the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek and multiple parks. The centrality of Downingtown is a primary draw to the city, which sits within driving distance of Philadelphia yet offers both a bustling atmosphere and residential life. “The thing about these areas of Pennsylvania is that you have main shopping areas, but they’re surrounded by rural areas where you have space,” says Melanie Hughes, a Realtor with Crescent Real Estate. “You can live on the outskirts of town and it can feel very remote and secluded, but you’re five minutes away from a Walmart if you need it. It’s really close to everything.”
Streets of single-family homes fan out from the city center, the landscape evolving into an array of neighborhoods. “The outskirts of the towns are really lovely and have subdivisions,” Hughes says. “There’s also a walkable downtown that has restaurants.” Historical sites dot the town as well, which was originally named Milltown for an array of mills that defined the area. Transportation through the area evolved from stagecoach to railroad, further transforming into Route 30 in the present day. Downingtown’s status as a bedroom community of the Philadelphia area continues to draw residents to its quiet streets and walkable downtown.
Downingtown's rich history is readily apparent to the resident and visitor alike.
Founded 300 years ago, historic Downingtown still shows its roots as a milltown.
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Large single-family homes around downtown Downingtown
Downingtown’s residential sectors branch off from its central downtown, with small subdivisions flanking the city. The median home price in Downingtown is about $500,000. “The predominant housing style is larger, single-family homes,” Hughes says. “They’re pretty high-ticket homes. They do have some nice townhouse developments. The single-family homes are usually in larger areas on the outskirts of the main line, which can get into $1 million-plus homes.” Single-family homes can often be priced between $500,000 and $800,000, and architecture often includes colonial-style homes, Cape Cods and ranch-style homes. Townhouses can range from around $300,000 to above $800,000 and are concentrated around downtown.
Residents here can expect over half a foot of snow on average in February, and wintry weather often lasts into early Apri.
Older duplexes sit alongside a small colonial in the historic section of Downingtown.
New construction can be found in a few places throughout Downingtown.
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Shopping and dining along East Lancaster Avenue
Much of Downingtown’s shopping options are concentrated around East Lancaster Avenue. Residents can take to the wide sidewalks and shop in store windows or hop between restaurants. The Brandywine Square Shopping Center serves as a hub for the area, and is also home to a Wegmans. “It has big-box chain stores and restaurants,” Hughes says. “If you go further down Route 322, the Main Street area has lovely Mexican restaurants and fewer chains. You can go for a date night to some of the nice restaurants on Main Street.” Across the street, Ashbridge Square has multiple national chain stores alongside several restaurants.
A young family takes a stroll along Lancaster Ave in the heart of Downingtown.
Estrella Tacos Y Mas is another popular dining option along Lancaster Ave in Downingtown.
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Annual events and a packed Fourth of July celebration
At Kerr Park, which sits alongside the East Branch of Brandywine Creek, an annual carnival and fireworks show celebrates the Fourth of July. The city dubs their celebration Good Neighbor Day, which features walks and runs to support local organizations, canoe and kayak races, a carnival, and fireworks to cap off the celebration. Area fall festivals ring in the autumn air, while the Barley Sheaf Players Community Theater puts on plays and a One-Act Festival to spotlight local actors.
Kerr Park is a popular Downingtown destination for all sorts of outdoor activities.
Face painting is always a popular activity at the Downingtown Fall Fest.
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Green spaces situated on and around the water
Multiple parks sit around the East Branch of Brandywine Creek, which runs through the center of the city. Green spaces offer trails winding through them, and the Downingtown area also has multiple sports facilities, including several Little League Baseball fields. “There’s hiking, biking, parks and little areas where they have the carnival and fireworks in the center of town,” Hughes says. “There are quite a few really nice parks you can go to.” Residents can also expend energy at the Downingtown Rock Gym, The Campus ice-skating rink and the Urban Air trampoline park.
Pedestrian and bike-friendly Downingtown bustles on a Sunday morning.
Disc golf is a popular activity for young and old at Kerr Park in Downingtown.
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An A-rated school district for city students
The Downingtown Area School District gets an A from Niche and encompasses 10 elementary schools, one sixth-grade center, two middle schools and two high schools. The district also features the Downingtown STEM Academy, which serves as a magnet school for the area. The private St. Joseph School gets a B from Niche and sits on the west side of the city. The Downingtown and Brandywine Centers of Delaware County Community College are both situated close to the city, as well.
Downingtown High School West Campus
Downingtown Middle School receives an overall A- grade from niche.com
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Driving into the city from the Philadelphia outskirts
Route 30 runs through the northern part of Downingtown. “Downingtown is very conveniently located,” Hughes says. “You can hop right on Route 30 to get to Interstate 76 and go right into Philadelphia.” Philadelphia lies about 40 miles east of Downingtown. Manor, Brandywine and Lancaster Avenues create a network of connected main roads that meet near the East Branch of Brandywine Creek in the center of the city. Bus lines run along Lancaster Avenue. Nearby train services include Amtrak and SEPTA. River Station is an ongoing project to revamp former sites of industry into a bustling town center.
Upticks in crime rates for Downingtown
According to the FBI crime database, Downingtown recorded a slight increase of violent crimes from 2022 to 2023. Property crimes doubled from 2022 to 2023.
Written By
Adam Cheek
Photography Contributed By
Joe Pulcinella
Video By
Matthew Bloch
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GreatSchools:
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