Broomall, PA

Broomall's history centers on the Thomas Massey House, one of Pennsylvania's oldest English Quaker structures dating back to 1696. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this remarkably preserved house welcomes visitors for tours every Sunday from April through October, offering a direct connection to the area's earliest Quaker settlement period. The community itself was later renamed for John Martin Broomall, a 19th-century U.S. congressman and public figure whose name graced the local post office.

The surrounding Marple Township traces its roots to 1684, when Quaker settlers arrived via the Delaware River and established one of the region's first organized communities. That colonial heritage remains visible today in the architectural character of the area, where historic stone houses and older streetscapes coexist with more recent development. For residents interested in exploring the area's past, the proximity to Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation and other historic sites nearby provides additional opportunities to experience life as it was lived centuries ago in this part of Delaware County.

Broomall's dining scene reflects the comfortable, community-oriented character of this Delaware County suburb. The Sproul Road corridor serves as the area's main commercial spine, where residents find a solid mix of casual American dining, pizza and Italian-American staples, and a variety of cuisines from across Asia, including Chinese, Japanese, and Indian cooking. The nearby Lawrence Park and Broomall Commons shopping centers round out local options with accessible everyday dining. For a wider range of choices, Philadelphia is less than 20 minutes away, giving Broomall residents easy access to one of the region's most celebrated culinary scenes.

Broomall is a car-friendly suburb where most residents rely on personal vehicles to get around. Interstate 476 (the Blue Route) runs along the community's western edge and provides quick access to I-95, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and central Philadelphia in roughly 20 minutes. Lawrence Road and Sproul Road serve as key local corridors for everyday errands. For those who prefer not to drive, SEPTA bus routes connect Broomall to nearby transit stations, with SEPTA commuter rail stations in Ardmore, Haverford, Media, and Bryn Mawr all within 15 minutes by car, offering regional rail service into Center City. Philadelphia International Airport is approximately 12 miles away, about a 26-minute drive, making travel convenient for frequent flyers.

Broomall offers residents a pleasant mix of local parks and nearby natural escapes. Within the community, Veterans Park, Lawrence Park, and New Ardmore Avenue Park provide accessible green space for everyday outdoor enjoyment. Just eight minutes away, the Hildacy Farm Preserve offers a tranquil natural retreat, while Rose Tree Park in nearby Media features open fields and recreational facilities. Nature enthusiasts will also appreciate the Haverford College Arboretum, a beautifully maintained living collection of trees and plants located roughly 14 minutes from Broomall, perfect for peaceful afternoon strolls amid lush, curated landscapes.

Broomall is a suburban community in Delaware County where renters will find average rents ranging from around $1,270 for studios to approximately $2,142 for three-bedroom units, with one-bedroom apartments averaging near $1,424. These figures sit modestly below the Pennsylvania statewide average of $1,552 for a one-bedroom, and noticeably below nearby Haverford Township, where one-bedroom rents average around $1,597. Compared to neighboring Havertown and Drexel Hill, Broomall's rental pricing falls in a mid-range position. The housing mix in this small, densely settled community leans toward single-family homes, with a median household income of approximately $108,671.

Broomall's retail scene is centered along Sproul Road, where a stretch between Lawrence Road and Reed Road offers a variety of everyday shopping options. The area is home to several neighborhood shopping centers, including Lawrence Park Shopping Center, Midcounty Shopping Center, and Broomall Commons, making it easy for residents to handle errands close to home. The community's suburban character means big-box and national retailers are well represented, while nearby access to I-476 opens up even more shopping destinations throughout Delaware County and the greater Philadelphia region in just a short drive.