Places to live between Springhouse and Malvern (Chester, King of Prussia: house, transfer to)

[kbgack]

I have a job opportunity in Springhouse, the job will last 4-5 years, then I can transfer to their Malvern office. I am currently living in NJ, and need to relocate. I would like to find something "in-between", so I don't have to move 2x's. I am not familiar with the area at all, need help in finding a nice place to live.

Good schools are important - we have a 6 & 4 yr old.
Safe area
Newer homes, <10 yrs old
Not too rural, but not too congested, something in-between
Approx. $600 to spend.

Some friends have suggested the Collegeville area? Opinions on this area? Any specific areas in Collegeville, any areas to avoid?

[orrmobl]

Collegeville is ok if you like tons of new developments with cookie cutter homes on small plots of land, but I still consider it rural and kind of out of the way. A lot of my friends live there but honestly developments give me the willies. Schools are ok but not nearly the best in the area

I would look closer to Malvern as the schools are better and the amenities are much better...Wayne, Paoli, Berwyn are Tredyffrin schools which are the best in the area. Then Radnor School District but its a snootier area and the high school apparently let's the rich kids run amok. Lower Merion is also top notch.

Then Great Valley SD which is Malvern, then Downingtown, then West Chester...not really sure how far down the list Perkiomen Schools fall...

I would look at older homes in Wayne or Paoli, or new developments in Malvern, Chester Springs or Lionville (Downingtown SD), then King of Prussia or Plymouth Meeting areas...

Collegeville is popular because its relatively affordable, and that is because it is so far from the center of things which is King of Prussia, Main Line, West Chester, Exton, etc...basically the 202 corridor.

[ShannonMilligan]

Chester Springs is nice. I believe they are in the Owen J Roberts school district and it is a good one.
good luck

[Will Kelly]

One thing you have to take into consideration is the taxes. A 10 year old home on the Main Line will have a much different property tax then one in lets say Collegeville. You will also get a lot more house for 600K moving away from the Main Line.

There are quite a number of different areas to research. I would look at the Skippack and Blue Bell areas. They are both excellent communities.

Best of luck.

Will

[orrmobl]

In my earlier post, I had referenced my friends who live in Collegeville. Guess what? They have encountered some teens from the local high school through their neighbors' kids and have decided the school district isn't up to snuff. Granted all four parents in both couples went to Catholic schools so there is some bias.

Just wanted to give you a heads up to consider the cost of private school vs taxes vs housing prices. In my mind, I will always choose the best possible schools I can afford taking those three plus house size into account, but some parents seem to try to fit a square peg into a round hole...then complain about the asymmetry of the situation...I will never understand them I guess.