Ambler? Glenside? Flourtown? Cheltenham? and other smaller towns? (Philadelphia, Bethlehem: apartments, rentals)

[Jane0218]

These forums are great and of much help to me and my husband. We're new to the area and looking for a place to rent (preferabley an apt. within a house). I've read lots of threads and read great advice from people in area. There are some smaller towns I have questions about, though,and hope you can help us out.

First, all of us know that crime exists everywhere. Second, we don't have children (school districts don't matter). We'd like to rent and feel OK about parking our cars outside, or coming home from a college class late in evening and not feeling the need to run into the house or constantly look over my shoulder.

Someone told me "stay away from Ambler" because there's a lot of car break-ins, drug activity at night, etc. She said her grandmother got robbed outside the movie theater during the day. When we drove through the area twice today (the downtown area, I think, it was on East Butler Pike, east of Rose Hill Cemetery), it looked friendly, charming and funky in a good way! My husband and I got great feelings about the area. We also drove down S Bethlehem Pike and saw quite a few large, older homes that are now apt. houses. Was this person right about crime in Ambler?

The same person said Glenside was safe and fine to live in. A little on the older side re: population, but a nice place to live. We haven't been there yet, but rental rates we've seen in ads seem very, very reasonable.

I was told it's about a 40-50 min commute (by car) to Center City during rush hours. Does that sound right? I checked the septa website and it showed about an hour using mass transit.

So, we're curious about safety, in general, if you know about the towns below, and a general idea of commute (better by car or by mass transit?) to Center City from the following towns (I haven't noticed these towns mentioned within this forum --I tried some searches and didn't find them or didn't find much on them):

Any input would be so appreciated!

Ambler
Whitpain
Glenside
Wyncote
Blue Bell (I've seen this a lot in threads, but am curious about commute time)
Flourtown
Cheltenham
Hatboro
Abington (a realtor said Abington would be OK only if you know which part of it to live in)
Upper Dublin (not Upper Darby)
Hatboro
Warminster
Royersford
Huntingdon Valley
Phoenixville--"up and coming" was written in a post about it.....
Norristown--I've been told it depends upon where in town you live???
Oreland

I'm hoping all of the above are similar to the area where I grew up---most suburbs (smaller towns) are basically fine to live in, no real crime problems---it's just a matter of preference and commute.

Thanks to all of you who post so consistently on these forums. You really help people like us and make a difference for those of us trying to find our way here.

[maf763]

Ambler - still some residual problems with petty crime mostly within the boro, but with the theater as an anchor, it is poised for a bright future; theater, restaurants, train station with about 45-50 train commute to CC

Whitpain - can't help you

Glenside - nice neighborhood, more spread out than Ambler, part of Glenside is Abington, part is Cheltenham; Keswick Theater has mainly music shows, quite a range of performers; a few nice restaurants/bars, train ride is about 30 minutes to CC and there are two lines that stop there (R2 & R5)

Wyncote - part of Cheltenham, mostly residential with older housing stock; some of the homes are massive and many of the streets are lined with large trees; some of the apartments are in old mansions that have been carved up into separate rentals; close to the Jenkintown train station, about 25 - 30 minutes to CC with three lines stopping there

Blue Bell (I've seen this a lot in threads, but am curious about commute time) - newer than most of the, much if it was probably built in the 60's and later, including commercial areas - no real downtown area; probably closest train station is Ambler, no real direct way to drive downtown without dealing with a lot of lights

Flourtown Between Fort Washington and Chestnut Hill, the commercial area is almost exclusively along Bethlehem Pike; nice residential areas on either side of Bethlehem Pike; no train station, but within a 5-10 minute drive to Oreland or Fort Washington stations, or either Chestnut Hill line

Hatboro - A little further from CC than the other places here, it's a boro like Ambler only without the movie theater as an entertainment anchor; there's a very good Italian restaurant and a couple of other places as well; residential stock varies in age and condition; probably a 50 minute train ride to CC via the R2; many nice streets but some places are a little tired-looking

These four places are townships that cover pretty wide areas and a variety of neighborhoods - it would take to long to cover all of them:
Cheltenham
Abington
Upper Dublin
Warminster

Royersford - can't help you other than to say it's pretty far from CC

Huntingdon Valley - more like Blue Bell in that there is not really a downtown area, but some high-end homes and even estates are here; would probably take the train from the Bethayres station, maybe 40-45 minutes to CC.

Phoenixville--"up and coming" was written in a post about it..... - far from CC, I haven't been through in years

Norristown--I've been told it depends upon where in town you live??? - probably true - more urban than the other places listed here

Oreland - mainly residential with a small commercial area (I can walk to grocery stores, hardware store, liquor store, post office, train station, etc.); most of the township is in Springfield, but a small section is in Upper Dublin; the Upper Dublin side is pricier and limited in apartments; Oreland station is about 30-35 minutes from CC via the R5.

I've lived in Glenside and Oreland and work in Abington, but have been in the area for over ten years and these places are all pretty close to each other - feel free to send a message if you want any more particulars.

[Jane0218]

maf763:
Thanks so much. Your post is thorough and very informative. We appreciate you taking the time out to reply...

[Ohiogirl81]

Hi, Jane. I have firsthand experience with Flourtown and Norristown, for what that's worth ... LOL ...

Flourtown (and nearby Erdenheimi) is very safe, friendly, attractive. I liked the fact that I could walk from my apartment on Stenton Avenue to just about anywhere I needed to go. It's about 45 to 50 minute drive to Center City, or 5 minutes to the nearest train stations in Chestnut Hill (R7 or R8). I'd have bought a house there in a minute, if I could have afforded it, which led me to ...

... Norristown, which as maf said is much more urban, especially the borough itself. I live in the North End, which I chose just because the houses weren't so danged close together. It's relatively safe and quiet. Norristown is not without its problems -- quality of life crimes, bumbling leadership and a history of nepotism, favoritism, and similar isms, relatively high property taxes -- but living here isn't as bad as some would have you think.

Blue Bell and Whitpain are the same place. Drive time would be more than an hour during rush hour; the nearest train stations are in Norristown (R6).

[Jane0218]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Hi, Jane. I have firsthand experience with Flourtown and Norristown, for what that's worth ... LOL ...

Flourtown (and nearby Erdenheimi) is very safe, friendly, attractive. I liked the fact that I could walk from my apartment on Stenton Avenue to just about anywhere I needed to go. It's about 45 to 50 minute drive to Center City, or 5 minutes to the nearest train stations in Chestnut Hill (R7 or R8). I'd have bought a house there in a minute, if I could have afforded it, which led me to ...

... Norristown, which as maf said is much more urban, especially the borough itself. I live in the North End, which I chose just because the houses weren't so danged close together. It's relatively safe and quiet. Norristown is not without its problems -- quality of life crimes, bumbling leadership and a history of nepotism, favoritism, and similar isms, relatively high property taxes -- but living here isn't as bad as some would have you think.

Blue Bell and Whitpain are the same place. Drive time would be more than an hour during rush hour; the nearest train stations are in Norristown (R6).

Thanks, Ohiogirl.
I get the feeling it's better to use the rail to go into Center City from these areas....is that right? I'll check septa's website to get an idea of commute times.
Thanks again!

[maf763]

Commuting by train is definitely preferable during rush hours, but during off-hours you may be better off driving. Of course, then you have parking to deal with at your destination.

[Ohiogirl81]

Absolutely it's better to take the train into town. I drove into Center City once during rush hour. I'll never do that again!! It took me an hour and 20 minutes, creeping (and cussing) the whole way. And parking cost $18 for 3 hours.

From Norristown to Center City is 45 minutes on the train, and I get the added bonus of being able to nap on the way to work. It's even less from the Chestnut Hill stations. SEPTA often gets a bad rap, but the regional rail is worth every penny.

[Jane0218]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Absolutely it's better to take the train into town. I drove into Center City once during rush hour. I'll never do that again!! It took me an hour and 20 minutes, creeping (and cussing) the whole way. And parking cost $18 for 3 hours.

From Norristown to Center City is 45 minutes on the train, and I get the added bonus of being able to nap on the way to work. It's even less from the Chestnut Hill stations. SEPTA often gets a bad rap, but the regional rail is worth every penny.

Thanks again, Ohiogirl. Your help is great!

[Dan Castello]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Hi, Jane. I have firsthand experience with Flourtown and Norristown, for what that's worth ... LOL ...

... Norristown, which as maf said is much more urban, especially the borough itself. I live in the North End, which I chose just because the houses weren't so danged close together. It's relatively safe and quiet. Norristown is not without its problems -- quality of life crimes, bumbling leadership and a history of nepotism, favoritism, and similar isms, relatively high property taxes -- but living here isn't as bad as some would have you think.

It's not as bad as living where, .... West Philly or Chester? Norristown has a lot of downsides; the only plusses are that it isn't one of the five or so even worse places in the Philadelphia area.

[Ohiogirl81]

Dan, you're welcome to come hang out on my front porch or backyard some evening. Then you'll see how quiet, friendly and liveable some parts of Norristown can be.

It certainly has its problems, bad government being one of them. We're working to change that.