Based on 160,000 data points regarding diversity, quality public schools, average income, cost of living and more, Abington Township has been named one of the “Best Places to Live” in the U.S. by MONEY, an online news outlet geared toward helping readers take charge of their finances and their futures. On the 2019 list, Abington, PA, ranked no. 74 out of 100, and was one of only two locations in the state to be recognized.
The Best Places to Live list was first published more than 30 years ago, and this is the third time MONEY has recognized Abington; the Township was previously ranked on the top 100 list in 2008, and again in 2010.
To create MONEY’s 2019 Best Places to Live ranking, the outlet set parameters that yielded 1,796 places to analyze, then considered data on each place’s economic health, cost of living, ethnic and economic diversity, public education, income, health and safety, ease of living, and amenities. According to the outlet, quality of life, education and local amenities were also critical components.
“Quality public schools are the cornerstone of a quality community,” Dr. Jeffrey S. Fecher, Superintendent of Schools for Abington School District, said. “Abington School District is proud that Abington, PA, has again been named one of the ‘Best Places to Live’ in the country. This recognition is a testament to the strong public education we offer the students of Abington and Rockledge, and we know that Abington Schools are a significant deciding factor when families choose where to buy a home.”
In regard to cost of living, which was income adjusted, rankings were based on tax burden, insurance costs, commuting costs and medical spending. Abington is the only school district in Montgomery County to not raise its taxes for the 2019-2020 school year, and over the past decade has had one of the lowest tax increases throughout the Greater Philadelphia region, despite having a more than 10 percent enrollment increase during that same time period.
“The Board of School Directors of the Abington School District is very proud that MONEY has recognized Abington as a ‘Best Place to Live’ for 2019,” said Raymond McGarry, Esquire, President of the Board of School Directors. “Not only do we live here, but we work hard as a Board to ensure Abington maintains its status as an affordable place to live, without sacrificing the level of quality and excellence in our schools that the residents of Abington and Rockledge have come to expect.”
Abington School District has embarked on a $104 million additions and renovations project at Abington Senior High School, which includes the construction of a center for science and technology, as well as the overhaul of 93 percent of the existing 1950s-era building. The Abington Senior High School Additions and Renovations Project, which is set to be complete in 2022, also entails a reconfiguration of grade spans across the District’s nine schools and a reimagined curriculum that is focused on college and career pathways.
“We continue to enhance educational opportunities for our students in Abington School District, and this is just another reason why Abington Township has so much to offer as a place to live,” Dr. Fecher added.
For the full Best Places to Live list and more information, visit http://money.com/money/collection/best-places-to-live-2019.
About Abington School District
Established in 1888, Abington School District is a public school system located outside of Philadelphia in the suburbs of Montgomery County, Pa. With more than 8,300 students from Abington Township and the Borough of Rockledge, the District has seven elementary schools, one junior high school and one senior high school, which has been recognized seven times as a “Best High School” by U.S. News & World Report. ASD has also been named a “District of Distinction” by the District Administration journal and is a 12-time honoree of The NAMM Foundation’s “Best Communities for Music Education” program. For more information, visit www.Abington.k12.pa.us.
About MONEY.com
MONEY is a multi-platform source of personal stories, candid conversations and useful information about money and the way it affects our lives. With a nearly 50-year legacy of providing trustworthy advice on every aspect of personal finance, MONEY helps its readers lead a richer life–in every sense of the word. Signature franchises include Best Colleges and Best Places to Live, an aspirational guide to the towns and cities around the country that provide the best launchpad for your family’s overall well-being. Find us at MONEY.com.