Quick verdict
- Your dollar goes further in Ardmore: homes around $539K against $633K.
- Ardmore has the better main-street walk.
- Ardmore wins the browse. The shops are the afternoon.
- Exton gets you onto a trail faster.
The read, side by side
Food scene
Nights out
Shops & browsing
Arts & festivals
Trails & outdoors
Family Saturdays
Train to the city
Main-street walk
Peace & quiet
Scored 0–5 by us, the way we’d brief a friend. Not by a formula.
The numbers
| Ardmore | Exton | |
|---|---|---|
| County | Montgomery | Chester |
| Typical home | $539K | $633K |
| Train | Ardmore, about 30 min | Exton, about 50 min |
| Drive to Center City | ~25 min | ~45 min |
| Schools | Lower Merion | West Chester Area |
| Population | 13,566 | 5,622 |
| In our guide | 112 places | 60 places |
Home values: typical figures checked against Zillow and Redfin, mid-2026. Train times: typical scheduled rides to Jefferson Station, rounded. Verify before you commit to anything with a mortgage on it.
