Swarthmore, Rutledge, Wallingford - Is there a difference between them?

[cfm328]

Originally Posted by AuntNik

Our "town" hunt continues. We haven't even gotten to the house hunt yet. I am really thinking that Wallingford-Swarthmore is really the best area for us. I see that Swarthmore, Wallingford, Rutledge and Nether Provindence all feed into their middle school and high school. We really want this to be our last move until the kids are done with school (both elementary schoolers now).

Can I get some feedback on the differences between these three small communities?

Thanks!!

Not mentioned in the other replies is that Swarthmore actually has a town center (ok not quite like Media )whereas the other 3 towns do not. Many of my children's friends outside Swarthmore but in the wssd district definitely miss this. The walkability factor (from sidewalks) is very high in Swarthmore. This and the general transit oriented deign (TOD) of Swarthmore makes it a top pick.

[antiquarian]

I grew up in Swarthmore, with friends in Wallingford & Rutledge. Swarthmore is your typical old-school college town, with old-growth trees and big old Victorians. I didn't find it snobby, in the Main-Line sense, but there is definitely a sense of "us" among its wealthy and upper middle-class professionals. It's very walkable, with lots of charm and a real downtown. The fact that they banned movie theaters and gas stations back in the 1930s and won in court when it was challenged has kept it very, very residential. Swarthmore College and in particular the Crum Creek Valley (owned in considerable part by the College, IIRC) are great places to walk and feel closer to nature. A great place to grow up, really.

Wallingford and Rutledge are nice, but there's a different vibe to them. Most of their houses were built after cars became common, and so they're much more typical suburbs-- less charming (sorry, but it's true), less walkable, more car-oriented. The people who live there are nice; I went to Strath Haven with many of them. The house prices and taxes are lower, but in my opinion not enough lower to justify choosing them over Swarthmore.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by antiquarian

I grew up in Swarthmore, with friends in Wallingford & Rutledge. Swarthmore is your typical old-school college town, with old-growth trees and big old Victorians. I didn't find it snobby, in the Main-Line sense,but there is definitely a sense of "us" among its wealthy and upper middle-class professionals. It's very walkable, with lots of charm and a real downtown. The fact that they banned movie theaters and gas stations back in the 1930s and won in court when it was challenged has kept it very, very residential. Swarthmore College and in particular the Crum Creek Valley (owned in considerable part by the College, IIRC) are great places to walk and feel closer to nature. A great place to grow up, really.

Wallingford and Rutledge are nice, but there's a different vibe to them. Most of their houses were built after cars became common, and so they're much more typical suburbs-- less charming (sorry, but it's true), less walkable, more car-oriented. The people who live there are nice; I went to Strath Haven with many of them. The house prices and taxes are lower, but in my opinion not enough lower to justify choosing them over Swarthmore.

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