This place has some history behind it; the Friends Meeting House on North Village Avenue was used as a hospital during the Revolutionary War. Much to the delight of history buffs, it still stands today as a building on the National Register of Historic Places.
Lionville is a census-designated place with about 6,189 residents. It was once called Lionville-Marchwood, but as a potential resident, you're now on a first name basis with it, right? Actually, this area has gone through a few names, with another one being Welsh Pool. The Red Lion Inn located here was apparently so impressive that the name was soon changed to reflect its presence. And actually, many addresses here use the ZIP code of neighboring Exton. Curious about this tiny town now? Then it's time to start looking for places to live in Lionville!
Moving to Lionville
If you are looking for rental properties of any kind here, you should know the basics upfront. Start with the prices and work your way down to the other details you just might need to know.
To begin with, the median rental price here is about double the average for both the state and the country. Ouch. Yet something about this area must appeal to lots of people, because the vacancy rate is extremely low. Yeah, that means you should probably start looking at dream houses, premier apartments, cool condos, or any other types of housing you need right away.
Housing Types
Looking for some good news? More than half of the vacancies in this area are rentals, so at least if you come across the home of your dreams, there's a good chance it's for rent rather than for sale. You know, in case you're not quite ready to make Lionville your long-time home.
But face it: the more you find out about this area, the longer you will want to stay. After all, there are all types of homes here. About half are single-family houses, but about one third are apartments. That means you have a decent chance of finding those ever-so-elusive apartments with paid utilities, or at least pet friendly apartments. There are also some townhomes here and there in Lionville.
Housing Ages
Another detail to consider is the age of the home you choose in this area. Despite the fact that Lionville has been around for hundreds of years, you won't find many houses that are older than 80 years old. In fact, about half of the homes here were built between 1970 and 1999. That doesn't mean you have to give up on the idea of getting a home that was constructed within the last decade; there are at least a few of those scattered around here.
The Lease Signing
So now that you have some idea of the type of house you are looking for, you can feel slightly prepared as you sign the lease. You can feel even more prepared by remembering to bring your proof of income, a check for the deposit, and any other paperwork that might convince a landlord to take a chance on little ol' you. If you have great credit or an impressive rental history, bring it up to the landlord because it will work in your favor.
Lionville Neighborhoods
This area boasts about 2.5 square miles. Not bad. But before you give up on your current place and start packing for Lionville, you might want to get an idea of which part of this census-designated place would be right for you.
North Lionville: If you like the idea of going east and west around the state pretty quickly, you will appreciate living just south of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. This is also where you will find lots of hotels and other businesses, such as Starbucks, Tennis Addiction Sports Club, and Wawa. Maybe not super exciting stuff, but it sure is a convenient spot to live.
South Lionville: This is where you will find the local YMCA, Acker Park, and best of all, Marchwood Shopping Center. Yeah, it's time to get excited, because this center features a variety of places to eat and shop. Examples include Mario's Pizza, Yokohama Japanese, Weso's Bar & Restaurants, and Exton Pharmacy at Marchwood. So it has practically everything you will need as a Lionville resident. Well, close enough.
East Lionville: Like living near water? Well you won't exactly get waterfront property in this neighborhood, but you will be close to a few ponds and lakes. Plus, you will be as close to the East Coast as you can get in Lionville, which is a little over an hour away. And if you just want a glimpse of the Delaware River up close, that's less than an hour east.
West Lionville: The Lionville Shopping Center is pretty much the heart of the western part of town. It features stores like Wawa, Giant, and Rite Aid, as well as places to eat, such as McDonald's, Taco Bell, and Umami Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar.
Living in Lionville
Now you know most of the places to shop and eat here, but there are a few other attractions, as well. If you are into history, you can always check out the Friends Meeting House and the rest of the historic district. After all, these buildings have been around since the 1700s. Not every city has that kind of history!
If you're up for venturing into the neighboring areas, head to Downingtown to camp or sightsee at the Brandywine Creek Campground. You can also check out Exton Park just outside the Lionville limits if you want to frolic around hundreds of acres of greenery. And then of course if you want to travel to bigger cities, like Philadelphia, you can just hop on the local freeways - such as Interstate 76, U.S. Route 30, and U.S. Route 202 - and ride into the sunset.