Schools, safety, and real estate: What every property owner should know

Real estate (Credit: Pexels/Wired Smart)

When neighbors treat one another with kindness, dignity, and respect, and instill those same values in their children, they help maintain — and elevate — the reputation of their community

Recently, the North Penn School District made headlines for an incident that occurred within one of its school buildings. 

Thankfully, no one was injured, and the situation did not escalate further. Unfortunately, across the country, similar incidents have become all too common, affecting not only school communities but also the neighborhoods they serve.

As real estate agents, we often find ourselves in a unique position when these discussions arise —In my tenure, I’ve found that families, or those planning to start one, often consider school quality among the top factors when choosing where to live. They look at student demographics, test scores, extracurricular opportunities, and more. Often, this comes down to a simple statement:

“I just want to live in a good school district.”

However, as real estate agents who are bound by a strict code of ethics, defining what “good” means can border on steering, which is both unethical and illegal. So, here is what I do when handling the topic of schools.

Resources You Can Trust

There are several reliable, unbiased resources that provide information about schools across the country. One of my most trusted tools is Niche.com. It allows users to explore school data, rankings, and reviews so they can decide what matters most based on their own priorities.

As a resident of the North Penn School District, I often check Niche’s data to see how our district ranks among others in Pennsylvania. As of October 2025, NPSD ranks:

● #26 of 488 – Best School Districts for Athletes

● #37 of 498 – Most Diverse School Districts

● #60 of 494 – Best School Districts Overall

These rankings illustrate why Realtors should avoid labeling areas as “good” or “bad.” Instead, we should empower our clients with trusted resources so they can make decisions based on their own standards and values.

How School Districts Impact Property Value

According to NFM Lending, a school district’s reputation can significantly affect the local real estate market in several ways:

1. Property Value Appreciation Reputable school districts often attract higher demand, leading to stronger home price appreciation and faster sales.

2. Increased Housing Demand Even for buyers without children, a respected district signals area stability and long-term investment potential. Realtor.com reports that homes in top-performing districts sell, on average, eight days faster than homes elsewhere.

3. Neighborhood Stability While perception often drives this factor more than hard data, buyers tend to associate high-performing districts with higher incomes, better local amenities, and lower crime rates — all of which contribute to neighborhood desirability.

4. Property Taxes Public schools are primarily funded through local taxes, meaning that homes in stronger school districts often come with higher property tax rates — a factor that buyers should weigh carefully.

Building the Community We Want

The actions of a few individuals can impact the broader school community, but the strength of a district ultimately reflects the values of its residents. Even for those without children in the system, it’s important to take pride in supporting and contributing to the local schools.

When neighbors treat one another with kindness, dignity, and respect, and instill those same values in their children, they help maintain — and elevate — the reputation of their community.

In the end, we all share the same goal: to live in a “good” area — one defined not just by numbers and rankings, but by the people who call it home.

Never hesitate to contact me with your real estate needs.

 Nia Mullins is a resident of Lansdale Borough, Montgomery County, a parent, and a licensed REALTOR© with Realty One Group Restore

(This letter is a printed submission expressing the views and thoughts of the named writer. An op-ed is not the viewpoint nor stance of Fideri News Network nor its affiliate websites. The letter is an opinion-based submission which contains statements intended only to share the thoughts of its author and is not a fact-checked news article.)