Moving to philly burbs- need neighborhood refs (Pittsburgh, Reading: house, buy)

[Jax1023]

Hello everyone-

I am looking for some neighborhood suggestions. My family will be moving to eastern PA this summer. my husband will be working at temple university and I don't haves job yet but I imagine I will be working in one of the city hospitals. We would like an easy commute- 30 minutes would be ideal. We have a one year old son, and we are looking for an excellent school district.

My sister went to villanova university so I am somewhat familiar with that area and I am strongly considering it.

We currently live in Pittsburgh- in shadyside if anyone is familiar with the burgh. We love our current neighborhood, but I don't want to be within the city of philadelphia due to the schools. If there is any type of walkable urbanish suburb, that's what we would be looking for.

Our budget would be under 500k, ideally less than that but I would rather buy a better house now while interest rates are so low instead of wanting to upgrade in 5 years.

Thanks for your help!

[frankgn87]

Villanova is a very nice area but the commute is longer then a half hour unless you are traveling at off rush hour times to Temple..

Originally Posted by Jax1023

Hello everyone-

I am looking for some neighborhood suggestions. My family will be moving to eastern PA this summer. my husband will be working at temple university and I don't haves job yet but I imagine I will be working in one of the city hospitals. We would like an easy commute- 30 minutes would be ideal. We have a one year old son, and we are looking for an excellent school district.

My sister went to villanova university so I am somewhat familiar with that area and I am strongly considering it.

We currently live in Pittsburgh- in shadyside if anyone is familiar with the burgh. We love our current neighborhood, but I don't want to be within the city of philadelphia due to the schools. If there is any type of walkable urbanish suburb, that's what we would be looking for.

Our budget would be under 500k, ideally less than that but I would rather buy a better house now while interest rates are so low instead of wanting to upgrade in 5 years.

Thanks for your help!

[BPP1999]

There's not a whole lot in Villanova at that maximum price. All of SEPTA's lines operating on the old Reading system (these lines come into Center City from the north) stop at Temple before arriving in Center City. The former R5, which stops at Villanova, uses a line from the old PRR system and comes into Center City from the west. You could take a train from Villanova and pass through Center City toward Temple but it would take an extra 15 minutes or so doing that.

I recommend Glenside, Abington, or Jenkintown, or Ambler or Upper Dublin.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by BPP1999

There's not a whole lot in Villanova at that maximum price. All of SEPTA's lines operating on the old Reading system (these lines come into Center City from the north) stop at Temple before arriving in Center City. The former R5, which stops at Villanova, uses a line from the old PRR system and comes into Center City from the west. You could take a train from Villanova and pass through Center City toward Temple but it would take an extra 15 minutes or so doing that.

I recommend Glenside, Abington, or Jenkintown, or Ambler or Upper Dublin.

I wouldn't categorize Upper Dublin as all that walkable or urban-ish. Glenside, Abington, and Jenkintown aren't bad bets though.

While Villanova is outside the OP's budget, many other portions of the Main Line are not. Add Bala-Cynwyd, Merion, Narberth, Wynnewood, Ardmore, Haverford, and Bryn Mawr (the portions closer to Route 30/Lancaster Avenue) to your list. The Eastern Main Line compares very favorably to Mt. Lebanon. Chestnut Hill is more apropo to Shadyside, but you're not going to get excellent public schools there. You'd probably like Ardmore or Narberth the most. Ardmore is the largest individual "village center" in Lower Merion Township and offers a wide array of shops, restaurants, and bars. Narberth is a separate borough with its own cozy feel (think a more upscale Dormont).