Train commute to Philadelphia (Chester, West Chester: rent, house, neighborhoods)

[daysable]

Hi there, I just recently accepted a job in center city Philadelphia.
I currently live in Philadelphia now (in the art museum area), but am looking to move with my girlfriend out in a suburb of NJ or PA. We eventually want to buy a house, but would like to try out the area we pick first and rent the first year. Does anyone recommend a suburb that is commutable by train? I don't want the train ride to be any longer than an hour, the shorter the train ride, obviously the better, but I would take the longer train if it meant to live in a good area/area that we love.
We want a nice community, safe, with park(s), good school districts and somewhere where the house would hold it's value.
Eventually will be looking for a 4 bedroom house, with an ok size backyard (doesn't need to be huge).
Total household income is $135K.

We were considering Haddonfield, NJ but our parents are saying to stay away because of high taxes.
I also love the West Chester area, but don't know if it's commutable to Philadelphia.

Any help would be great. Thanks.

[Marius Pontmercy]

Originally Posted by daysable

Hi there, I just recently accepted a job in center city Philadelphia.
I currently live in Philadelphia now (in the art museum area), but am looking to move with my girlfriend out in a suburb of NJ or PA. We eventually want to buy a house, but would like to try out the area we pick first and rent the first year. Does anyone recommend a suburb that is commutable by train? I don't want the train ride to be any longer than an hour, the shorter the train ride, obviously the better, but I would take the longer train if it meant to live in a good area/area that we love.
We want a nice community, safe, with park(s), good school districts and somewhere where the house would hold it's value.
Eventually will be looking for a 4 bedroom house, with an ok size backyard (doesn't need to be huge).
Total household income is $135K.

We were considering Haddonfield, NJ but our parents are saying to stay away because of high taxes.
I also love the West Chester area, but don't know if it's commutable to Philadelphia.

Any help would be great. Thanks.

West Chester is not commutable by train. You'd have to move towards Media.

You could also try Torresdale or Chestnut Hill which are still within the city, but quieter, more spacious, and very easily commutable to Center City by Regional Rail. Outside city I think Elkins Park and Jenkintown would fit the bill nicely as well.

[hensleya1]

Originally Posted by daysable

Hi there, I just recently accepted a job in center city Philadelphia.
I currently live in Philadelphia now (in the art museum area), but am looking to move with my girlfriend out in a suburb of NJ or PA. We eventually want to buy a house, but would like to try out the area we pick first and rent the first year. Does anyone recommend a suburb that is commutable by train? I don't want the train ride to be any longer than an hour, the shorter the train ride, obviously the better, but I would take the longer train if it meant to live in a good area/area that we love.
We want a nice community, safe, with park(s), good school districts and somewhere where the house would hold it's value.
Eventually will be looking for a 4 bedroom house, with an ok size backyard (doesn't need to be huge).
Total household income is $135K.

We were considering Haddonfield, NJ but our parents are saying to stay away because of high taxes.
I also love the West Chester area, but don't know if it's commutable to Philadelphia.

Any help would be great. Thanks.

Hi daysable--

I suggest checking out the map on SEPTA's website. I grew up in North Philly and had no problems getting to/from center city via train. If you'd like to save quite a bit on coin, I'd suggest finding a place to live that's within walking distance of a train station (otherwise you'll be searching frantically for a parking spot at the train station as the train arrives). Be prepared to spend a pretty penny on fares though; they've skyrocketed since the mid 90's.

[Marius Pontmercy]

Originally Posted by hensleya1

Be prepared to spend a pretty penny on fares though; they've skyrocketed since the mid 90's.

So has gasoline.

[Ms_Christina]

Look at Collingswood and Haddon Heights too. All the charms of Haddonfield, less of the taxes. School districts can change dramatically in 5 years so what is good today might not be good later and so on. Do you have school age kids now?

[UDResident]

You can get to Center City from Media in under an hour on the Media/Elwyn line. Here's the schedule for that train: SEPTA | Media/Elwyn Line Regional Rail Schedule | Weekday | to Center City Philadelphia

It goes through Wallingford, Rose Valley/Moylan, Swarthmore, Morton, Rutledge, and Secane, all of which are in good school districts with Wallingford, Rose Valley/Moylan, Swarthmore, and Rutledge being in the better of the three districts and two of the elite districts in the metro. Personally, I'd say that Swarthmore, Wallingford, and Media borough would be the ones to not only retain their value in the future but probably to see it go higher given how nice those areas are and how they're much more than the typical sprawled out suburbs in NJ or in other parts of Delaware County.

[daysable]

Thank you guys so much for all of the responses.

I definitely think we're going to look at Collingswood and Haddon Heights. And I like the the thought of media as well, which I've only been to once or twice, but it is quite nice.

As far as kids, we don't have any as of yet. But have been talking about trying in the next year or two.

[daysable]

Does anyone recommend some streets/landmarks/areas to go visit in media? I would like to drive over there and check out the town and get a feel of it.
Thanks!

[bryson662001]

Originally Posted by daysable

Does anyone recommend some streets/landmarks/areas to go visit in media? I would like to drive over there and check out the town and get a feel of it.
Thanks!

It is important to know that Media is a small village (borough0 surounded by vast areas of suburban neighborhoods that are called Media because they share the zip code but they really aren't Media at all. Maybe put media in the search tool for more info.

[UDResident]

Originally Posted by daysable

Does anyone recommend some streets/landmarks/areas to go visit in media? I would like to drive over there and check out the town and get a feel of it.
Thanks!

State Street is the main street of Media in the "downtown" area of the borough. You can actually take the trolley there from 69th street in Upper Darby, which you can get to from Philadelphia by way of the El.

There's the Media firehouse right off of State Street, the Media courthouse, the many great examples of different eras of architecture within walking distance of State Street, the many restaurants and shops along State Street, the Delaware County Veterans Museum, which is inside the "Trader Joes" building, and some others that I will need to think about and get back to you with.

Here's two websites that might be helpful to you: Media Pennsylvania Home | Media Borough Pennsylvania Official Website Welcome to Visit Media Pa | Visit Media Pa

Also, check out this picture thread by Nexis4Jersey Cling Clang Here comes the Trolley to Media , Pennsylvania - My Photos