Take a look at the top five locations below:

Audubon, NJ

Audubon, New Jersey, is included for its affordability just over the state border. Shopping options include Audubon Crossings, Cherry Hill Mall, and Gloucester Premium Outlets, along with affordable local dining along Merchant Street.

Chester, PA

Chester is highlighted as Philadelphia’s most affordable suburb, posting costs well below the national average — approximately 6% below the national cost of living and 45% below the national housing cost — while offering historic sites and budget-friendly dining.

Collingdale, PA

Collingdale is presented as an affordable, family-friendly option with ample green space, a budget-conscious real estate market, and nearby parks, as well as local eateries like The Fainting Goat and El Limón.

Glenolden, PA

Glenolden is described as a tranquil, affordable urban refuge with access to green spaces such as John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge and Bartram’s Garden, as well as inexpensive local dining options.

Upland, PA

Upland is noted for its historic sites, including the Caleb Pusey House, and for its generous green spaces, such as Upland Park and the Chester Creek Trail. The median home value in Upland is about $180,000, which is less than half the national average. 

To determine its listings, the editors of Islands considered locations well served by public transportation and those that offer affordable housing, making them attractive to visitors and residents.

To determine affordability, the editors assigned each suburb a score based on three figures. First, Islands looked at the overall cost of living as listed on BestPlaces and PayScale. Second, the team assessed median home value as reported on Prop:Metrics. Finally, the Islands staff looked at the affordability ratio, the median home value divided by the median household income, based on figures from Movoto and the U.S. Census Bureau. The suburbs were ranked according to their combined scores across all three areas to create their top-five list.