Pennsauken is a blue-collar suburb of Philadelphia
Across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsauken Township is an early 20th-century snapshot of industrial South Jersey. Today, around 37,000 people call Pennsauken home, many working for local manufacturers like PepsiCo or in one of the township’s many industrial parks. Most homes in the blue-collar suburb were built from the 1900s to the 1950s, and the vintage properties continue to sell for prices below those in neighboring communities. “It’s a very reasonably priced area that’s centrally located to Philadelphia and a lot of other metro areas,” says Janeen Albertson, a Realtor with Weichert Premier who grew up in Pennsauken. “Some areas of Pennsauken are quiet, but a lot of up-and-coming businesses are coming to local shopping centers.” Though new development is introducing higher property values, Pennsauken still keeps a competitive housing market and a small-town atmosphere about 20 minutes from downtown Philadelphia.
Pennsauken is a densely populated town across the Delaware River from Philadelphia.
Pennsaukens town slogan reminds residents that "home is the best place to be."
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Victorian homes and midcentury builds sit along Pennsauken's streets
Pennsauken’s residential lanes tell the story of a township founded in the Gilded Age. Houses built around the time the township was incorporated in 1892 share streetscapes with ranch-style and bungalow homes built to accommodate a growing population of industrial workers in the early 20th century up to the 1960s. Neighborhoods like Iron Rock and Bon Air are full of split-level homes built in the 1970s and ’80s, while the most recently built homes, constructed since 2000, dot the outskirts. “It’s right on the edge of Merchantville, so there’s a mix of Victorian homes and newer-built homes,” Albertson says. Pennsauken’s streets are often defined by abundant foliage, sidewalks and small front yards. Yard sizes tend to be larger on the outskirts, farther from downtown retail and industry. The township’s median sale price of $329,000 is well below that of other South Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia, with communities like West Moorestown having median prices up to $715,000.
Colonial Revival homes are common throughout Pennsauken.
Gorgeous Victorian homes are the cornerstone of Collins Tract.
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Diverse dining and retail options along Pennsauken's main avenues
Westfield Avenue and Crescent Boulevard serve as Pennsauken’s major retail thoroughfares, along which shops like Save A Lot and diverse eateries are located. Westfield Avenue is home to several Latin American bakeries and restaurants. Nearby, Montegrillo Cucina Italiana serves Italian classics like pizza and gnocchi as well as Philly-style cheesesteaks. The Jug Handle Inn is a hidden-away local mainstay, named for its location between State Routes 90 and 73 and Haddonfield Road. Established in 1980 and housed within a building dating to 1912, “the Jug” offers a sports bar feel with its 25 flatscreen TVs and frequent live music nights, and local newspapers have ranked it the “Best Buffalo Wings” in the Philadelphia area.
Check off your grocery list at the local Save-A-Lot in Pennsauken.
Montegrillo Cucina Italiana is a popular pizzeria in Pennsauken serving your favorite pies and classic Italian fare.
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Neighborhood parks and the occasional sports area offer green spaces within an urbanized community
Though much of Pennsauken consists of dense suburbia or downtown retail, small neighborhood green spaces like Yost Park, Delaware Gardens Park and Jackson Park put both playgrounds and open fields just around the corner from home. “Most of the neighborhoods do have their own parks, so you just have to drive through the area and see what feels best for you,” Albertson says. Pennsauken’s low-traffic residential streets also present opportunities for outdoor exploration; “Growing up, we used to ride our bikes between the different communities in Pennsauken, and it felt fun,” Albertson says.
The Delaware River waterfront offers its own array of outdoor activities, both on land and on the water. The Pennsauken Municipal Boat Ramp is free to the public during the summer months. The nearby Heritage Park Boardwalk runs along the local railroad and offers views of the Philadelphia skyline across the river; hikers often encounter wild turkeys, eagles and deer. Along River Road, the Pennsauken Pool helps locals cool off from noon to sunset during the warm summer months. A nearby ice-skating rink is open to the public by permit, while a pickleball complex features six courts. Golfers can book tee times at the Pennsauken Country Club, voted the best public golf course in South Jersey by the “Courier Times” 14 times during the 2000s and 2010s.
The colorful Heritage Park Boardwalk features a view of the Philadelphia skyline in the distance.
Tire out the tykes at Yost Park on the large playground.
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Rail and road access to Philadelphia
Crescent Boulevard carries U.S. Route 130 through Pennsauken, across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and into Philadelphia, the downtown area of which lays just 7 miles away. Commuters aren’t limited to driving, however. The Pennsauken Transit Center operates the Atlantic City Rail Line, which carries travelers into Philadelphia within a half-hour and Atlantic City in an hour and 15 minutes. The nearest hospital is the Cooper University Hospital in Camden, a 4-mile drive down Routes 130 and 30.
If you need a ride, catch the light rail from Pennsauken Transit Center.
Marlton is a short drive from the Ben Franklin Bridge and Philadelphia.
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Career and college prep at Pennsauken High
Students can start their education at one of Pennsauken's five elementary schools, including G.H. Carson Elementary School, which receives a B-minus rating from Niche. Howard M. Phifer Middle School receives a C. The B-minus-rated Pennsauken High School offers a career-technical education program, job workshops and AP courses to help students work towards their career and college goals.
G.H. Carson Elementary School boasts a student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1.
Pennsauken High School educates students from grades 9-12.
On average, homes in Pennsauken, NJ sell after 31 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Pennsauken, NJ over the last 12 months is $325,000, up 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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