What suburb should we move to? I have friends in Abington, Media, Springfield and Swathmore who all live their neighborhoods, but I don't know much about them.
We'd like a home in the mid 200s, with a decent yard, in a nice walkable community, with great schools, and a close commute to center city. Is that too much to ask? Lol.
Seriously though- any knowledge of suburban areas is greatly appreciated. We're making a list and then going to drive around and scope them out.
I have friends in Media. They love it and the schools are good. (I love their Trader Joes) Have you looked into Ardmore, Radnor and Wayne? Type in Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore into your GPS and just drive along that road for a while. It takes you through all the cute downtown shops in the adjoining towns as well. I have friends in Downingtown too and they never stop trying to get me to move there. They talk about their amazing schools all the time. I live in West Chester and love it but it is a bigger town and that does lose some of that small town quaintness you're looking for. I have to run to work but I'll check back if you have any questions. Good luck.
The school situation is that, for the most part, the better districts are outside the older inner-ring suburbs, often in towns that were historically small towns/county seats before they were subsumed by the suburbs.
Ease of commute is important, look for a town served by regional rail since commuting from place like the Main Line, Abington, Media and Springfield is horrible otherwise.
If you're looking good school/small town vibe Doylestown, New Hope and Newtown are also small cute towns with great schools. Doylestown has train service. Not sure that you could get a small single in any of the communities you mention at that price. You could get a townhouse in CRSD at that price point, but it wouldn't be in the cute walkable part of town. Check out Narberth, it's one of the more realistically priced parts of the Main Line.
If you're looking good school/small town vibe Doylestown, New Hope and Newtown are also small cute towns with great schools. Doylestown has train service. Not sure that you could get a small single in any of the communities you mention at that price. You could get a townhouse in CRSD at that price point, but it wouldn't be in the cute walkable part of town. Check out Narberth, it's one of the more realistically priced parts of the Main Line.
I seriously doubt you'll find a nice home in your price range in Doylestown, New Hope or Newtown. They're super cute towns, but also really pricy.
Out of what you listed, I'm only familiar with Abington. It's a nice area. You might be able to find a house around Yardley for that price range, but it won't be in the Borough. Pennsbury is a good school district, though, and there's train service to downtown.
Hatboro has a cute main street with some shopping, and I think it has a SEPTA station.
There are a lot of good options. I do agree that Newtown / Doylestown will be out of that price range. Ditto PP for Media, Wayne, Radnor. Also Hatboro or Warminster (Bux/Mont) have good schools, and SEPTA station. Parts of Abington are nice; Glenside, Willow Grove. Willow Grove is Upper Moreland SD I believe. I think driving around to scope them out is a great idea. I would also park at a local park or shopping center and walk around the neighborhoods you like.
I agree with Ambler, Hatboro, and Abington. North Wales is also really nice, but I'm not sure about the prices there. We haven't had to really research schools yet, but it's my understanding that the school system in Montgomery County is pretty solid across the board.
If you're looking good school/small town vibe Doylestown, New Hope and Newtown are also small cute towns with great schools. Doylestown has train service. Not sure that you could get a small single in any of the communities you mention at that price. You could get a townhouse in CRSD at that price point, but it wouldn't be in the cute walkable part of town. Check out Narberth, it's one of the more realistically priced parts of the Main Line.
I seriously doubt you'll find a nice home in your price range in Doylestown, New Hope or Newtown. They're super cute towns, but also really pricy.
Out of what you listed, I'm only familiar with Abington. It's a nice area. You might be able to find a house around Yardley for that price range, but it won't be in the Borough. Pennsbury is a good school district, though, and there's train service to downtown.
Hatboro has a cute main street with some shopping, and I think it has a SEPTA station.
There are a lot of townhomes in CRSD- especially in Holland where they tend to be about $225K, but there are a couple walking distance to Newtown Boro and Roberts Ridge Park as well as in Newtown Crossing/Liberty Place which are walkable to Tyler Park. These all have small yards.
Hatboro Horsham is a decent district. I know a couple teachers who have chosen to raise their kids there. Pennsbury is a quirky district, at the elementary level school quality is very dependent on which school your child attends- Quarry Hill and Afton are a very diiferent experience than, say, Disney. At the high school there's a fair amount of culture clash between the haves in Yardley/Lower Makefield and the have-nots from Levittown/Fairless Hills. They have an excellent sports and music program at the high school level.
Not from Philly, but my bff from college grew up in Doylestown. She and her SO bought a home 3 years ago in Willow Grove and love it. They got a nice modest home, and have done a few renovations, but it has a nice yard and they really seem to love where they live. That said, again, I'm not from Philly so I don't know if that helps!
I live just outside of Media and wish that we were in that school district. Swartmore/Wallingford area is really nice. Glen Mills, Chadds Ford area also nice with a good school district.
Say no to Philly, go to sojo. Haddonfield which also has a patco station straight to Philly has one of the best school systems in NJ, people actually pay tuition to send their kids to that public school. Collingswood is nice and very cozy with some bitchin restaurants and a great downtown walking area.