Everything You Need to Know About Moving to Wynnewood

The neighborhood of Wynnewood is as historic as Pennsylvania itself, taking its name from Dr. Thomas Wynne, who was William Penn’s personal physician. In the mid-1800s, Colonel Owen Jones named his mansion house Wynne Wood and added the name to the railroad station and the local area. Wynnewood became a “Main Line" neighborhood in the 1860s when the Pennsylvania Railroad straightened its track on the main route between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Today, Wynnewood is a flourishing suburban neighborhood with tree-lined streets, protected green spaces, and single-family homes. Its location makes for convenient access to the city and shopping, dining, and entertainment in other nearby Main Line neighborhoods.

Taking up residence in a new home and neighborhood means toting all your possessions from the old place to the new one. In Pennsylvania, moving companies are regulated by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). When you’re selecting a moving company, make sure that it is licensed by the PUC.

Get estimates from several movers, and check their reviews. Be certain to obtain and review the Information for Shippers form, which provides information on rates, billing, payments, and damage coverage, prior to entering into any signed agreement. In Pennsylvania, local moves of less than 40 miles are billed hourly. Longer moves are based on weight and distance.

Moving is always a good time to eliminate items you no longer use or need. Take the time before you move to trim down your household through donations, sales, or disposal. You’ll save money on moving expenses and won’t clutter your new home with belongings you didn’t need there anyway.

Wynnewood is an unincorporated community within Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County. The county itself ranks second in the wealthiest counties of Pennsylvania, with a median household income of just under $100,000. Montgomery County also has the highest per capita investment income in the state. Part of Wynnewood is the “town” of Penn Wynne, which is technically not a town, but a community within Lower Merion Township like the rest of Wynnewood. Penn Wynne’s median household income is over $140,000 and is ranked as the number one place to retire, the third best place to live, and the third best place to raise a family in Pennsylvania. If you’re researching the area, you will find much more information available about Penn Wynne than Wynnewood.

In Penn Wynne, the houses closest to City Avenue are generally twin houses from the early- to mid-twentieth century built on small lots. As you move north, you’ll find larger single-family homes with moderate lots. The most prominent homes and lots in the neighborhood are on the branching and winding streets of Wynnewood. There are some apartment complexes clustered near the Wynnewood Shopping Center, but the majority of Wynnewood is owner-occupied single-family residences.

Wynnewood is served by the Lower Merion School District, with schools recognized by the Commonwealth and federal government for their excellence in education. Seven of the schools, including Penn Wynne Elementary School, have received the Department of Education's prestigious Blue Ribbon Award. The district provides education for more than 8,700 students, with a student-to-professional-staff ratio of 11:1 (secondary level) and an average class size of approximately 21 students district-wide.

Elementary school students attend one of three elementary schools based on location: Penn Valley, Merion, and Penn Wynne. Students then progress to one of two middle schools: Welsh Valley or Bala Cynwyd. Lower Merion High School, which is adjacent to the northern margin of Wynnewood, is rated as an “A+” school and ranked the fifth-best high school in Pennsylvania.

Moving to Wynnewood means learning where to shop for groceries, clothing, and other household and personal items. One thing to keep in mind is that the sales tax is lower in Montgomery County at 6% instead of Philadelphia’s 8%. The Wynnewood Shopping Center has a Whole Foods Market and a Starbucks.

Nearby Suburban Square in Ardmore offers more upscale shops, including an Apple store. The Ardmore Farmers Market at Suburban Square is an indoor market with produce and prepared foods from Italian and Mediterranean to Amish and Asian. East of Wynnewood, you can visit Bryn Mawr Village, with high-end shops and restaurants. The Bryn Mawr Farmers Market is an outdoor market on Saturdays featuring local farmers and other vendors.

One good resource to utilize after moving to Wynnewood is Main Line Today. This site maintains a calendar of events in the area, as well as a guide to the best restaurants, doctors, dentists, and financial advisors.

There are several beautiful parks in Wynnewood. South Ardmore Park has baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, and basketball courts. Shortridge Park offers a sledding area for winter fun, and Wynnewood Valley Park has a playground, basketball, and tennis courts (with pickleball lines). The nearby Merion Botanical Park features walking paths and a stream that flows through the length of the park.

For those who enjoy golf, there are no golf courses in Wynnewood, but there are multiple courses and clubs nearby. The closest is the McCall Golf Club. Others include Llanerch Country Club, Merion Golf Club, and Bala Golf Club.

The nearby Haverford YMCA provides swimming and fitness facilities for all ages. For the Jewish community, the Kaiserman JCC in Wynnewood offers wellness, educational, and cultural programs. Many other fitness centers and gyms are available in the surrounding neighborhoods.

The Penn Wynne Library is part of the Lower Merion Library System and is an active, civic-oriented facility with many activities, such as book clubs and story times.

The best way to find good places to eat after moving to Wynnewood is to ask your neighbors. They know the places that are great and those that are overrated. Their “great” recommendations might include Sabrina’s Cafe in the Wynnewood Shopping Center or First Watch for breakfast, brunch, and lunch.

Venturing beyond the Wynnewood limits opens up a world of nearby dining options. The Ripplewood Whiskey & Craft in Ardmore has modern American cuisine with both indoor and outdoor dining. Another Ardmore restaurant, Not Your Average Joe’s, serves salads, wraps, burgers, and pizzas with stylish dinner selections. The White Dog Cafe in Haverford creates monthly menus to maximize fresh local and seasonal ingredients. These are just a few of the many dining options within an easy drive of Wynnewood.

Most people in Wynnewood use their cars as their primary means of transportation, with easy access to City Avenue and Route 30. The average commute for residents of Wynnewood is in the half-hour range. For those who desire rail transportation, Wynnewood is a stop on SEPTA’s Paoli Thorndale Line, and there is car and bicycle parking at the Wynnewood Station.

Once again, the best way to learn more about a neighborhood is to talk to the people who live there. In this cyber age, it’s not always a simple thing to get to know your neighbors. When you move to Wynnewood, be prepared to share your contact information when you meet people, and begin to build a network of friends who can answer your questions. You can also reach out to your local civic association to find out more about your area.

Another helpful way to learn more about a new community is through a knowledgeable real estate agent. Stephanie MacDonald and The MacDonald Team have years of experience in Wynnewood and the Main Line neighborhoods. They can introduce you to all that the area has to offer.