The Town FilesCheltenham, Pennsylvania
Township in Montgomery County · population 37,452 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $384,800
- Household income
- $109,022
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 40.6
Cheltenham is a township of 37,452 people in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $384,800, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better transit than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, better for young professionals than 97% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 94% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Cheltenham ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cheltenham is worth $384,800, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $109,022, which is more affordable than 21% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,608 a month. 62.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cheltenham | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $384,800 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,608 | $996 |
| Median household income | $109,022 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 62.6% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Cheltenham
| People | Cheltenham | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.0% | — |
| Work from home | 21.8% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 30.6 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.7% | 89.0% |
Weather in Cheltenham
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 26.6°F. About 45.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 88 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cheltenham since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on July 29, 2021 about 7.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 47 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 1, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 29, 2009.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 6, 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3367: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 505,821 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $88,412 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Cheltenham itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Cheltenham
1 public school with 421 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheltenham El Sch | K-4 | 421 | 13.2 |
Towns near Cheltenham
- Elkins Park, PA0.5 mi · 6,901 people · home $401,200
- Wyncote, PA1.0 mi · 3,081 people · home $470,100
- Jenkintown, PA1.3 mi · 4,719 people · home $398,000
- McKinley, PA1.5 mi · 3,128 people · home $346,400
- Glenside, PA1.9 mi · 7,737 people · home $390,600
- Rockledge, PA2.6 mi · 2,638 people · home $324,300
- Abington, PA2.8 mi · 58,502 people · home $391,800
- Wyndmoor, PA3.0 mi · 5,853 people · home $485,000
Cheltenham questions
Is Cheltenham, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cheltenham scores better for retirees than 19% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 8%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.6).
How much does a house cost in Cheltenham?
The median owner-occupied home in Cheltenham is valued at $384,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $109,022, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,608 a month.
What is the weather like in Cheltenham?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 26.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.0 inches of precipitation a year and 16.1 inches of snow.
Does Cheltenham get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cheltenham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on July 29, 2021. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)