according to the united states census bureau, the township has a total area of . the area consists of rolling hills and also has a few streams running through it, most notably the tookany creek. the highest elevation is 411 feet, at the intersection of sunset and lindley roads. the lowest elevation is 63 feet, in the southeastern most part of the township where tookany creek flows into philadelphia. it includes the census-designated places of arcadia university, glenside, and wyncote. other communities include cheltenham, elkins park, melrose park, la mott and laverock, edge hill, and cedarbrook. all of the communities form a border with philadelphia along cheltenham avenue.