Moving to Collegeville, PA: 2026 Living Guide

Collegeville is a small college borough on Perkiomen Creek in western Montgomery County. Ursinus College, founded in 1869, sits right on Main Street, the Perkiomen Trail runs along the creek, and the 1799 Perkiomen Bridge is still one of the oldest landmarks in the region. Just outside the borough, the Collegeville address stretches into growing townships with shopping centers, newer neighborhoods and a large state park.

Collegeville suits families looking for strong schools and trails, college staff and students, and commuters who want quick access to US 422 and King of Prussia without living in the thick of it. It is not cheap, and homes in the area sell quickly, so it helps to know the difference between the borough and the wider 19426 ZIP code before you start shopping.

Planning a move to Collegeville? Call our Tri-State team at 410-499-8777 or get your price online.

Where Is Collegeville?

Collegeville borough covers about 1.6 square miles in Montgomery County, northwest of Philadelphia. It was part of William Penn’s original purchase, and the name “Collegeville” dates to 1868, when the railroad arrived. Interestingly, it was named for Pennsylvania Female College, not Ursinus, which was founded a year later.

Approximate driving distances and times from Collegeville (OpenStreetMap routing, no traffic):

Norristown: about 8.3 miles, roughly 18 minutes
King of Prussia: about 11.9 miles, roughly 21 minutes
Pottstown: about 15.1 miles, roughly 25 minutes
West Chester: about 20.6 miles, roughly 39 minutes
Center City Philadelphia: about 30.4 miles, roughly 46 minutes
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL): about 37.6 miles, roughly 58 minutes

PA Route 29 runs north-south through town, and US Route 422 connects Collegeville east to King of Prussia and Philadelphia and west to Pottstown. SEPTA’s Route 93 bus runs along Main Street between Norristown and Pottstown. Expect heavier traffic on 422 at rush hour.

Collegeville Population & Demographics

The borough itself is small. Collegeville had 5,043 residents at the 2020 Census, a slight 0.9% dip from 2010, and the Census Reporter profile estimates 5,247 in the 2020–2024 survey. Because Ursinus students make up a large share of residents, the median age in the borough is just 24.1. The wider area is bigger: the 19426 ZIP code also covers parts of the surrounding townships.

Measure	Collegeville borough	Montgomery County	Pennsylvania	United States
Population (2020 Census)	5,043	856,553	13,002,700	331,449,281
Population (latest estimate)	5,247 (ACS 2020–2024)	877,643 (July 2025)	13,059,432 (July 2025)	341,784,857 (July 2025)
Median age	24.1	—	—	—
Median household income (2020–2024)	$91,466	$113,915	$77,971	$80,734
Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+)	55.2%	53.0%	35.2%	35.7%
Poverty rate	7.1%	6.2%	11.6%	10.2%
Median home value (2020–2024)	$443,000	$436,700	$254,500	$332,700
Mean travel time to work	22.7 min	27.8 min	26.3 min	26.4 min

Sources: Census Reporter (ACS 2024 5-year, Collegeville borough); U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for county, state and U.S.; 2020 borough count from Wikipedia.

The borough’s per capita income is $47,844, and 55.2% of adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, slightly above the Montgomery County rate. The borough’s density, about 3,338 people per square mile, gives it a walkable, small-town feel along Main Street, while the townships around it spread out into larger lots.

Getting around without a car is possible for some trips. SEPTA’s Route 93 bus runs along Main Street to Norristown and Pottstown, and the Perkiomen Trail gives cyclists a car-free route south toward Oaks and the Schuylkill River Trail. For most errands and commutes, though, residents drive, and US 422 is the main artery.

Is Collegeville Safe?

We did not find a recent, reliable crime data source for Collegeville worth quoting. The borough has its own police department with a 24/7 non-emergency line, and addresses outside the borough with a Collegeville mailing address are covered by township or other agencies. The best step is to ask the department that covers your specific address about the area, and to visit the street at different times before you commit.

Cost of Living in Collegeville

Home Prices

Inside the borough, the Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 median home value is $443,000, a bit above the Montgomery County median of $436,700 and well above the Pennsylvania median of $254,500. The wider 19426 ZIP code, which includes newer single-family neighborhoods in the townships, runs higher. Redfin reports a median sale price of $581,119 for the three months ending June 2026, down 3.9% from a year earlier.

The market is still fast. Redfin gives 19426 a Compete Score of 90 out of 100 (“most competitive”), says homes receive about four offers on average, and reports a median of 21 days on market. Median price per square foot was $241, up 5.2% over the year. If you’re buying, have your financing lined up before you tour.

Rent

Rents are on the high side for the region. Apartments.com’s August 2026 figures show average rents of about $2,086 for a one-bedroom, $2,705 for a two-bedroom and about $3,856 or more for a three-bedroom, up 1.3% over the year.

Best Neighborhoods in Collegeville

Main Street and the Ursinus Area

The heart of the borough runs along Main Street past Ursinus College’s 170-acre campus. Homes here are generally older, and you can walk to the college’s museum and theater, the Perkiomen Trail and local restaurants like Chow Bistro. It suits faculty, staff, young professionals and anyone who likes a walkable college-town setting. On moving day, expect street parking and older staircases.

Near the Perkiomen Creek and Trail

The streets near the creek and the historic Perkiomen Bridge give you the most direct access to the Perkiomen Trail, a 19-mile rail-trail that connects south to the Schuylkill River Trail near Valley Forge. This area is ideal for runners, cyclists and families who want to walk or bike to parks. Some areas near the creek sit in the floodplain, so ask about flood history and insurance when you look at a home.

The Surrounding Townships

Much of what people call “Collegeville” is outside the borough, in townships where you’ll find newer subdivisions, townhome communities and shopping along Town Center Drive and Market Street. These areas suit families who want more space, garages and newer construction, and they put US 422 and King of Prussia within easy reach. One important note: school districts differ by township. Perkiomen Valley serves the borough, Trappe and Skippack, but other Collegeville-address townships are in different districts, so confirm before you buy.

Weather & Climate

Collegeville has four distinct seasons. Using NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the nearby Phoenixville 1 E station (as shown on Wikipedia), January averages a high of 41.0°F and a low of 22.8°F, and July averages a high of 87.7°F and a low of 66.1°F. The area gets about 45.13 inches of precipitation and 16.3 inches of snow in an average year. Summer heat waves can be serious: the Phoenixville station’s record high is 111°F, set on July 10, 1936.

May and mid-September through October are usually the easiest months to move. Summer is busiest, and the weeks when Ursinus students move in and out add extra traffic near campus. Winter moves are doable with a backup date and clear, salted walkways.

Things to Do in Collegeville

Perkiomen Trail

The Perkiomen Trail runs 19 miles from Oaks to Green Lane, passing through Collegeville along the creek. Montgomery County bought the old rail line in 1978 and finished the trail in 2003. It is mostly gravel with some paved sections, and at its southern end it meets the Schuylkill River Trail near Valley Forge National Historical Park.

Berman Museum of Art

The Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art opened on the Ursinus campus in 1989. It is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and holds more than 4,000 works of art, and it adds a real cultural draw to a small town.

Kaleidoscope Performing Arts Center

Also at Ursinus, the Kaleidoscope Performing Arts Center opened in 2005 with a 350-seat proscenium theater and an experimental black box theater. Check the college’s calendar for performances open to the public.

Evansburg State Park

Evansburg State Park covers 3,349 acres along Skippack Creek, a short drive from the borough. It has 26 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, trout fishing in the stocked creek, and the 18-hole Skippack Golf Club, which opened in 1950. Historic sites include Indenhofen Farm and Kuster Mill.

Perkiomen Bridge

Built in 1799, the Perkiomen Bridge and its neighboring hotel are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is worth a stop on a walk or bike ride along the creek.

Borough Parks and Events

The borough maintains its own parks and posts community events on its calendar, and Borough Council meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Borough Hall, 491 E. Main Street. New residents can find parks, trash schedules and a helpful FAQ on the borough’s website, which is a good first stop after you move in.

Where to Eat in Collegeville

Troubles End Brewing

Troubles End Brewing, at 50 W. Third Avenue, pairs its own beer with a menu of burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, wings and cheesesteaks. It serves brunch on Sundays and stays open late on Fridays and Saturdays.

Evansburg Vineyards & Bistro

Evansburg Vineyards & Bistro, at 3857 Germantown Pike, is a family boutique winery with a tasting room, a one-acre vineyard and a bistro menu of Mediterranean and American dishes. It is family- and pet-friendly, with indoor and outdoor seating.

Chow Bistro

Chow Bistro, at 454 E. Main Street, is a BYOB serving seasonal New American dishes like crab cakes and French onion soup, with gluten-free and dairy-free options and a dog-friendly patio. It is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday.

Jobs & Economy

Ursinus College, with about 1,502 undergraduates in fall 2024, is the borough’s anchor institution. Wikipedia’s Collegeville article also notes pharmaceutical research campuses just outside the borough, naming Pfizer, Dow Chemical and GlaxoSmithKline; check current operations if you’re counting on one of them for work. Retail and restaurants cluster along Town Center Drive and Market Street.

Collegeville’s biggest economic advantage is location. King of Prussia is about 21 minutes away, Norristown about 18 minutes, and Center City Philadelphia is about 46 minutes by car without traffic. Borough residents average a 22.7-minute commute, shorter than the county’s 27.8 minutes.

For people who like having options, Collegeville is also close to Pottstown to the west (about 25 minutes) and Norristown, the Montgomery County seat, to the east (about 18 minutes), both reachable by the SEPTA Route 93 bus as well as by car.

Schools in Collegeville

The borough is served by the Perkiomen Valley School District, which also covers Trappe and Schwenksville boroughs and Lower Frederick, Perkiomen and Skippack townships. The district had 4,993 students in 2021–2022. Perkiomen Valley High School, at 509 Gravel Pike in Perkiomen Township, opened in 1976, and U.S. News & World Report ranked it ninth best in Pennsylvania in 2018. The district also runs two middle schools (East and West) and elementary schools including Evergreen, Skippack, South and Schwenksville.

Holy Cross Regional Catholic School offers K–8, Montgomery County Community College serves the area, and Ursinus College is right in town. Because many Collegeville-address homes sit outside the Perkiomen Valley district, always check the district for a specific address.

Collegeville Quick Facts

Type	Borough
County	Montgomery
ZIP codes	19426, 19473
Area code	610
Population (2020 Census)	5,043
Area	1.61 square miles (1.57 land)
Main roads	US 422, PA 29, Main Street
Transit	SEPTA Route 93 bus (Norristown–Pottstown)
Nearest major airport	Philadelphia International (PHL), about 37.6 miles
Public school district	Perkiomen Valley School District (borough)
College	Ursinus College (founded 1869)
Borough Hall	491 E. Main Street

Moving to Collegeville: Tips From Our Crew

Know your trash day. In the borough, trash and recyclables are picked up Tuesdays, set out Monday evening. For bulky items you don’t want to move, the borough directs residents to Whitetail Disposal for a paid bulk pickup, or our junk removal crew can haul them the same day we move you.
Avoid Ursinus move weeks. Main Street gets crowded when students move in and out. If you can, pick a date outside those weeks, especially if you’re moving near campus.
Plan around US 422 traffic. 422 backs up in the morning and late afternoon toward King of Prussia. We schedule the drive to miss the worst of it when we can.
Check the floodplain. Homes near Perkiomen Creek may be in the floodplain. The borough requires permits for any construction there, and it’s smart to store boxes off basement floors.
Townhome and apartment rules. Many newer townhome and apartment communities have HOA or management rules on move times, truck parking and elevator use. Ask for them in writing, and ask about a certificate of insurance; we provide COIs free.
Measure for older borough homes. Many Main Street houses have narrow, turning staircases. Measure big pieces ahead of time, and tell us about third floors and basements when you get your quote.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Collegeville

Is Collegeville a good place to live?

For many people, yes. The borough has a walkable Main Street, a college with a museum and theater, the Perkiomen Trail, and Evansburg State Park next door. It also has a short average commute and quick access to US 422 and King of Prussia. The trade-offs are high home prices and a very competitive market.

What school district is Collegeville in?

Collegeville borough is in the Perkiomen Valley School District, along with Trappe, Schwenksville, Skippack, Perkiomen and Lower Frederick. Many homes with a Collegeville mailing address are in other townships and other districts, so always confirm the district for the exact address before buying or renting.

How much do homes cost in Collegeville?

The Census Bureau’s median home value inside the borough is $443,000 (2020–2024). Across the wider 19426 ZIP code, Redfin reports a median sale price of about $581,000 for the three months ending June 2026. Homes there sold in a median of 21 days, often with multiple offers.

How much do movers cost in Collegeville?

It depends on the size of your home, distance, stairs, parking and any packing or storage you need. A borough apartment and a four-bedroom house in a township subdivision are very different jobs. For an accurate number, call our Tri-State team at 410-499-8777 for a free quote; an owner calls back within 15 minutes between 8am and 8pm.

How far is Collegeville from Philadelphia?

Center City Philadelphia is about 30 miles from Collegeville, roughly 46 minutes by car without traffic via US 422. King of Prussia is about 12 miles away, and Philadelphia International Airport is about 38 miles.

Move to Collegeville With A & M Friendly Movers

A & M Friendly Movers has been family-owned since 2015, and every crew member is a background-checked, drug-tested W-2 employee, never a subcontractor. Our Owner’s Promise means you talk to an owner, not a call center. If anything is damaged, an owner calls you the same day, and claims are resolved in 60–90 days. Our Collegeville movers handle local moves, packing, piano and safe moving and long-distance moves with a binding estimate. Call our Tri-State team at 410-499-8777 or visit our Collegeville moving page.

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Moving to Collegeville, PA: Living in Collegeville Guide