Commute to HUP? Places to live? (Philadelphia, Ardmore: real estate, safe neighborhood, university)

[MO Fun in Philly]

Hello:

We're relocating to the Philadelphia area from the midwest to work at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. If you're familiar with the area, we'd really appreciate your thoughts:

1) How safe is the area immediately surrounding the hospital?

2) Any recommendations on commuting (bus vs. train), particularly at relatively odd hours of the day (i.e. late nights, early mornings)?

3) We're looking to live in a safe neighborhood which is accessible to the hospital by public transportation -- people have told us to look along the Main Line. Would this allow an easy commute? (Though the prices of real estate seem quite high).

Thanks!

[BPP1999]

HUP is surrounded by Penn's campus, and Drexel is nearby. Large swaths of West Philly are gentrified, but large swaths are still tough neighborhoods.

Yes, the Main Line is generally very expensive (though Ardmore is more affordable; so, too, might be Wynnewood). The R5 regional rail line runs through the Main Line (it's the old "Main Line" of the Pennsylvania Railroad, hence the name) and provides easy access to the city. Also, the light trolley runs through parts of the Main Line, and ends at the Market Street el/subway, which takes you right under Market Street and would be pretty convenient to HUP. Other suburban areas to check out would be Media, Swarthmore, and Wallingford (7th best place to live per Money Magazine's 2007 ranking), though their taxes are generally very high and if you are from MO I assume you will think the housing is expensive as well. Also, Havertown and Broomall are also fairly convenient to the city, are more affordable and not generally snobbish. Also, depending on where you are from, you may find some of these communities a little on the congested side.

[newmarlig]

I believe Narberth is also affordable. You should also check out West Mt. Airy. Since you will have to pay the city wage tax anyway, why not live in the city?