Villanova is a suburb of Philadelphia. It straddles Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County and Radnor Township in Delaware County. It is located at the center of the Philadelphia Main Line, a series of highly affluent Philadelphia suburbs located along the original east–west railroad tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad. It is served by the SEPTAPaoli/Thorndale Line regional rail train and Norristown High Speed Line. The center of the village straddles Lancaster Pike where it intersects Spring Mill. This village center contains the area's post office for ZIP code 19085, an office building, the Wilmington Trust Company's Pennsylvania headquarters, and several smaller shops. In 2019, Realtor.com named 19085 the Most Expensive Neighborhood in Pennsylvania. Calling it "For East Coast elites,” with a median home list price of $1,370,992.
The most notable feature of Villanova is Villanova University, from which the community gains its name. The university campus extends from County Line Road along Spring Mill Road south to Lancaster Pike, US Route 30, and then east to just beyond Villanova Stadium, home of the Villanova University football, men's and women's lacrosse, women's field hockey and men's and women's track teams. The university's indoor arena, the Pavilion - soon to be Finneran Pavilion, is home to the school's NCAA Division I 1985,2016 and 2018 national champion men's basketball teams. In addition to the undergraduate college Villanova University includes a well-recognized graduate school, a nursing school, a school of continuing studies, numerous certificate programs, and Villanova University Law School.
The Bryn Mawr Hospital, at South Bryn Mawr Avenue and Haverford Road, is one of the three nationally ranked community teaching hospitals that serve the Main Line; it is located less than one mile from the Villanova district line. The hospital has historically been associated with Philadelphia's Jefferson Medical College for many years. The Bryn Mawr Hospital is the chief beneficiary of the area's preeminent social and sporting event, the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, which is held annually during the last week of May at the fairgrounds in Devon, Pennsylvania.
Demographics
Villanova is neither an incorporated area nor a census-designated place; all the data is for the ZIP code 19085. As of the census of 2000, there were 9,189 people and 1,932 households residing in the community. The population density was 1,565 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the community was 92.5% White, 3.4% Asian, 3.9% African American, 1.40% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 2.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The median income for a household in the community was $159,538, and the median income for a family was $174,511. The per capita income for the community was $50,204. About 1.5% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line. The estimated median house/condo value in 2009 is $1,435,844. In 2009, the eastern section of Villanova was ranked the 39th wealthiest neighborhood in America with a median household income of $366,904.
