Doylestown or Media? (Philadelphia, Plum, Chalfont: townhouse, safe area, good schools)

[manny1031]

I'll be working in city center Philadelphia. My family and I want to know the better place to live - Media or Doylestown. My wife and I have a four-year old daughter, so the issues that are important to us are: good schools and a safe environment. We're looking at housing (single family home or townhouse) between $275,000 and $325,000. Any information is welcome.

[newmarlig]

Getting to center city from Media would be a lot quicker than from Doylestown.

[orrmobl]

Central Bucks schools are better. If you don't mind the commute to the city, I would go Doylestown.

[newmarlig]

Media schools are very highly rated on GreatSchools.net

[toobusytoday]

And on the third hand, both are great choices! Why don't you spend a weekend in each, wander around and talk to people?

[thesixth]

Don't pick Doylestown - yes the schools are great, but the commute is no good at all. I have a co-worker who lives in Doylestown and he is very tired of the commute...and he doesn't even have to go into CC!
Media has fine schools & your commute will be much better.

[MamaBee]

I grew up in Doylestown. It's more open outside of the town, there is a lot of country to be seen in Buckingham, Plumstead, and Lahaska and New Hope are nearby too. If you are driving, a commute to the city would be no good. However, there is a train station in Doylestown that will take you to the city.

The schools are GREAT, Central Bucks is excellent. However, in your price range you might want to look at New Britain or Chalfont (right outside of Doylestown towards Montco). I think you may have a hard time finding something in that price range inside the town.

What other things are important to you about the area?

[Tyson808]

A detached house in Doylestown for that range would be a slight stretch - brother-in-law just got a nice upgraded townhouse in the borough (3/2) for about 250K.

Doylestown is a notoriously nice and safe area, probably as many 'millionaire' residents as any of the far north or western suburbs, like others said the schools in that area are in the top 1% of the entire state.

Disclaimer: Doylestown has a very specific 'vibe' to it, I would spend a few days there among the people before making any decisions. If I was inclined to stereotype I would say by vibe I mean 'yuppie'.

[glausuche]

I'm also interested in Doylestown or the nearby area.
Our commute would be into Trenton instead. What would that be like? Is there a train to Trenton? And what of Warminster? Does it have the same "vibe"?

[CHIP72]

There is no direct train from Doylestown to Trenton.

Regarding the original question, I'd say Media just because it is closer to Philadelphia. Both Doylestown and Media do have rail transit into Center City Philadelphia.