Currently in W. SNJ and thinking of relocating to Phl suburbs (Philadelphia: apartment, rent)

[Dave5150]

I currently live just over the Ben and Walt from Phil in NJ. My husband works at the Navy yard on Broad. We have been considering a move into PA for some time. The question is, I know so little about the area outside Philly on the PA side. We have a young son and would need a 2 bedroom house or apartment (would love love a yard!). We are looking in the 900-1100 range preferably. Any advice for safe/good neighborhoods outside the city but still within a half hour of the shipyard if possible? By safe/good I mean young families with other children my son can hang out with that isnt in a drug/ or gang area. I know you see that everywhere (i live in a nice neighborhood now, but im pretty sure my neighbor uses heroin).

[bryson662001]

Glenolden 19036, Ridley 19033, Prospect Park 19076, Norwood 19074, Ridley Park 19078, all in South East Delaware County near the airport and the Navy Yard. Solid, safe, attractive working class areas where your budget will be adequate. Also a very convenient location.

[couldntthinkofaclevername]

Drugs and crime are all over the inner-ring right now. It's in the background but it's there. An 18 year old got shot in Darby township (which is right near Glenolden) last month over a drug deal gone bad and this was during school hours. They had to lock down the surrounding schools. When in the inner-ring or anywhere in the Philadelphia area, it's important to remember what areas your potential home borders. I'm not saying it's a war zone because really very few places are like that in Delco, mostly the areas directly bordering West/Southwest Philly and places like Chester. What I am saying though is that it's an extension of the city throughout the inner-ring so that means that drugs and crime are there in the background and the possibility is there for something to happen, whether it be a fight (people here don't take ... from anybody) or something more. Be street smart is all. The further you distance yourself from the trouble areas I mention later in this post though, the less likely it is that you'll have any problems.

Ridley, Ridley Park, Folsom, and possibly the others bryson mentioned would be worth looking into I would think, except Glenolden. Remember, it's about where your potential home borders, and Glenolden borders some either bad or declining areas.

The fact is that every area in the inner-ring is a place with lots of families where kids can hang out with other children and do other things. You can find that in the worst parts of Upper Darby proper, Darby, really everywhere. Plenty of kids grow up all over the inner-ring and have for decades, centuries even, but it's really only for a certain type of person in certain areas.

You want to avoid places that border Sharon Hill, Darby, Collingdale, Folcroft, definitely make sure you have at least one buffer town between you and Chester. Really I would limit any inner-ring suggestions to Ridley Park, Folsom, Ridley Township, Swarthmore(not sure if you'd consider that inner-ring or not though), Rutledge, Morton, maybe Holmes, maybe Norwood, possibly Secane, and possibly Glenolden. Places like Clifton Heights/Westbrook Park and the parts of Drexel Hill in that general area have a lot to offer kids but the fact is that those areas will continue to get worse before they get better so I really would be doing you a disservice recommending them to you.

School districts to avoid: Southeast Delco, William Penn, possibly Upper Darby, definitely Chester-Upland. Ridley and Interboro are probably two of the better true inner-ring school districts and Upper Darby's school district is solid if you stay in Drexel Hill/Westbrook Park and out of Beverly Hills/UD Proper area, and if you can handle the possible situations that can arise.

Hope this helps some

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by couldntthinkofaclevername

Drugs and crime are all over the inner-ring right now. It's in the background but it's there. An 18 year old got shot in Darby township (which is right near Glenolden) last month over a drug deal gone bad and this was during school hours. They had to lock down the surrounding schools. When in the inner-ring or anywhere in the Philadelphia area, it's important to remember what areas your potential home borders. I'm not saying it's a war zone because really very few places are like that in Delco, mostly the areas directly bordering West/Southwest Philly and places like Chester. What I am saying though is that it's an extension of the city throughout the inner-ring so that means that drugs and crime are there in the background and the possibility is there for something to happen, whether it be a fight (people here don't take sh*t from anybody) or something more. Be street smart is all. The further you distance yourself from the trouble areas I mention later in this post though, the less likely it is that you'll have any problems.

Ridley, Ridley Park, Folsom, and possibly the others bryson mentioned would be worth looking into I would think, except Glenolden. Remember, it's about where your potential home borders, and Glenolden borders some either bad or declining areas.

The fact is that every area in the inner-ring is a place with lots of families where kids can hang out with other children and do other things. You can find that in the worst parts of Upper Darby proper, Darby, really everywhere. Plenty of kids grow up all over the inner-ring and have for decades, centuries even, but it's really only for a certain type of person in certain areas.

You want to avoid places that border Sharon Hill, Darby, Collingdale, Folcroft, definitely make sure you have at least one buffer town between you and Chester. Really I would limit any inner-ring suggestions to Ridley Park, Folsom, Ridley Township, Swarthmore(not sure if you'd consider that inner-ring or not though), Rutledge, Morton, maybe Holmes, maybe Norwood, possibly Secane, and possibly Glenolden. Places like Clifton Heights/Westbrook Park and the parts of Drexel Hill in that general area have a lot to offer kids but the fact is that those areas will continue to get worse before they get better so I really would be doing you a disservice recommending them to you.

School districts to avoid: Southeast Delco, William Penn, possibly Upper Darby, definitely Chester-Upland. Ridley and Interboro are probably two of the better true inner-ring school districts and Upper Darby's school district is solid if you stay in Drexel Hill/Westbrook Park and out of Beverly Hills/UD Proper area, and if you can handle the possible situations that can arise.

Hope this helps some

How about one click out from the inner ring?

[Dave5150]

Thanks so much for your input. This definately helps narrow down the search!

[Dave5150]

What about Aston, Media, Brookhaven, Nether Township, Garden City. Etc...

[couldntthinkofaclevername]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

How about one click out from the inner ring?

Where specifically do you mean?

Originally Posted by Dave5150

What about Aston, Media, Brookhaven, Nether Township, Garden City. Etc...

Media's great. Great school district, great little downtown, got regional rail, buses, trolleys, and a major road near it too. They've got a theatre that puts on plays and musicals and the like and is pretty well regarded around the area. They've got the Iron Hill, which when I was there (granted it was in the early 2000s) had really great food and was very popular.

I have no idea what Aston's like but I would think that the further north and west you go in Aston, the nicer it is. I'd think the same would go for Brookhaven as far as staying north.

I'm guessing by Nether Township you mean Nether Providence? I have no idea what Garden City's like but Nether Providence is served by the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, which is a very good school district.

[bryson662001]

Everything beyond the areas I mentioned it just keeps getting better....... but also more expensive and your budget is limited. Also it is further from the navy yard. It doesn't hurt to look. Only avoid the city of Chester.

[frankgn87]

Originally Posted by bryson662001

Everything beyond the areas I mentioned it just keeps getting better....... but also more expensive and your budget is limited. Also it is further from the navy yard. It doesn't hurt to look. Only avoid the city of Chester.

good advise.. And very true. Ya get what you pay for., There is no such area with low taxes, low rent with great schools, clean streets and little crime.

[PennKid]

Originally Posted by couldntthinkofaclevername

Drugs and crime are all over the inner-ring right now. It's in the background but it's there. An 18 year old got shot in Darby township (which is right near Glenolden) last month over a drug deal gone bad and this was during school hours. They had to lock down the surrounding schools. When in the inner-ring or anywhere in the Philadelphia area, it's important to remember what areas your potential home borders. I'm not saying it's a war zone because really very few places are like that in Delco, mostly the areas directly bordering West/Southwest Philly and places like Chester. What I am saying though is that it's an extension of the city throughout the inner-ring so that means that drugs and crime are there in the background and the possibility is there for something to happen, whether it be a fight (people here don't take sh*t from anybody) or something more. Be street smart is all. The further you distance yourself from the trouble areas I mention later in this post though, the less likely it is that you'll have any problems.

Ridley, Ridley Park, Folsom, and possibly the others bryson mentioned would be worth looking into I would think, except Glenolden. Remember, it's about where your potential home borders, and Glenolden borders some either bad or declining areas.

The fact is that every area in the inner-ring is a place with lots of families where kids can hang out with other children and do other things. You can find that in the worst parts of Upper Darby proper, Darby, really everywhere. Plenty of kids grow up all over the inner-ring and have for decades, centuries even, but it's really only for a certain type of person in certain areas.

You want to avoid places that border Sharon Hill, Darby, Collingdale, Folcroft, definitely make sure you have at least one buffer town between you and Chester. Really I would limit any inner-ring suggestions to Ridley Park, Folsom, Ridley Township, Swarthmore(not sure if you'd consider that inner-ring or not though), Rutledge, Morton, maybe Holmes, maybe Norwood, possibly Secane, and possibly Glenolden. Places like Clifton Heights/Westbrook Park and the parts of Drexel Hill in that general area have a lot to offer kids but the fact is that those areas will continue to get worse before they get better so I really would be doing you a disservice recommending them to you.

School districts to avoid: Southeast Delco, William Penn, possibly Upper Darby, definitely Chester-Upland. Ridley and Interboro are probably two of the better true inner-ring school districts and Upper Darby's school district is solid if you stay in Drexel Hill/Westbrook Park and out of Beverly Hills/UD Proper area, and if you can handle the possible situations that can arise.

Hope this helps some

I would say that Drexel Hill is more than just 'solid'. It's elementary schools- Hillcrest, Aronimink, and Garrettford are among the best in Delco, and Drexel Hill Middle is pretty good too. UDHS is not amazing, but it's decent, with plenty of smart kids taking the advanced track.