As one of the largest and wealthiest counties in Pennsylvania, Montgomery County contains some of the most prized real estate in New England. What is it that makes Montgomery County, PA real estate so special?
Montgomery County Historical Brief
The Pennsylvania county of Montgomery (known as "Montco" by the locals) is an area that was settled by Quakers from Wales. In fact, the state of Pennsylvania was founded by the Quaker William Penn. The county itself was created in 1784 and probably named after Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general who was killed while attempting to capture Quebec City in Canada.
The first county census in 1790 shows a population of about 23,000 residents. Today, Montco skirts the million-resident mark at nearly 800,000.
The Attraction of Montgomery County, PA Real Estate
Just northwest of the United States' first major industrial city of Philadelphia, Montco real estate holds intrigue due to its close proximity to the City of Brotherly Love, but without the high costs that come with living in Pennsylvania's financial center. As a suburb of Philadelphia, many of Montco's residents work in the city.
However, the county of Montgomery holds plenty of financial strength itself as a major employment center with plenty of large business parks. Motorola is among the most well-known employers in the county.
Thanks to lower-cost housing, you can expect a large amount of diversity as a good number of immigrants choose to make it their home. Much of the county's increase in population over the last 10 years has been due to population shifts rather than immigration however, as Pennsylvania residents search for an area with a lower cost of living.
Female residents slightly outnumber the males at a ratio of 10 to 9, while age-wise the county is virtually evenly split among four different age groups (under 18, 18-24, 25-44, 45-64) with those over 64 making up just 15% of the population. Median household income comes it at just over $60,000 per year.
The median home value is right around $250,000. Not surprisingly, the closer you get to Philadelphia, the higher the home prices become. There are also still plenty of areas where homes come in under $200,000.
Overall, the Montco population continues to be on the rise, making Montgomery County, PA real estate an attractive investment. If you're looking to live in or near Philadelphia, give Montco a look-see. You just might be pleasantly surprised with the culture and neighborhoods, not to mention the prices.
