Great schools w/in commuting distance of Princeton? (Philadelphia, Yardley: condos, homes)

[hopehome]

We are relocating from out of state due to a new job in the Princeton area and are curious if we will have better luck with our search if we cast our net a little wider to include PA. However I have zero familiarity with PA so would anyone be willing to point me in the right direction?

Looking for:
-4+ bedroom, price range under $750k
-family friendly neighborhood (subdivision fine, don’t need a huge yard, sidewalks are a bonus)
-desirable area with top schools (we have 3 in elementary)
-reasonable commute to Princeton
-proximity to Target/Trader Joes/a nice gym/etc would be great (i.e. nothing too terribly remote)

Does anywhere spring to mind as a good fit? We were looking at the New Hope area which supposedly has a good school system but would love other suggestions to research. Thank you!

[Wells5]

You received good advice when you asked this same question in the NJ forum.


http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-j...ly-5-near.html

[NewtownBucks]

Originally Posted by hopehome

We are relocating from out of state due to a new job in the Princeton area and are curious if we will have better luck with our search if we cast our net a little wider to include PA. However I have zero familiarity with PA so would anyone be willing to point me in the right direction?

Looking for:
-4+ bedroom, price range under $750k
-family friendly neighborhood (subdivision fine, don’t need a huge yard, sidewalks are a bonus)
-desirable area with top schools (we have 3 in elementary)
-reasonable commute to Princeton
-proximity to Target/Trader Joes/a nice gym/etc would be great (i.e. nothing too terribly remote)

Does anywhere spring to mind as a good fit? We were looking at the New Hope area which supposedly has a good school system but would love other suggestions to research. Thank you!

Your best bet in PA is going to be right across Scudders Falls bridge in Yardley/Lower Makefield (Pennsbury schools) or Newtown/Upper Makefield (Council Rock). Anywhere else is going to be a pretty long commute to Princeton. New Hope is very nice and New Hope-Solebury schools are excellent as well, but commuting to Princeton is going to be a little trickier (although I guess it would be back roads instead of Rt 1...).

[hopehome]

Originally Posted by Wells5

You received good advice when you asked this same question in the NJ forum.


http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-j...ly-5-near.html

We weren’t even considering PA at that point and I don’t believe any of the responses discussed PA options in any detail either. So my new question that I’ve posted here in the PA forum is for PA suggestions.

[hopehome]

Originally Posted by NewtownBucks

Your best bet in PA is going to be right across Scudders Falls bridge in Yardley/Lower Makefield (Pennsbury schools) or Newtown/Upper Makefield (Council Rock). Anywhere else is going to be a pretty long commute to Princeton. New Hope is very nice and New Hope-Solebury schools are excellent as well, but commuting to Princeton is going to be a little trickier (although I guess it would be back roads instead of Rt 1...).

Thank you! I will look at these districts.

[nico7]

Hi All,

Reviving this old thread because I have a potential scenario where I might commute to both Temple Univ. Hospital on some days and Princeton, NJ on other days. It looks like midpoint is Langhorne. Looking for something that is (1) safe, (2) good schools, (3) under 40 minutes to both, (4) a mix of housing options, like 2BR condos to single-family homes available under $400k. Any thoughts?

Thank you,
N

[NewtownBucks]

Originally Posted by nico7

Hi All,

Reviving this old thread because I have a potential scenario where I might commute to both Temple Univ. Hospital on some days and Princeton, NJ on other days. It looks like midpoint is Langhorne. Looking for something that is (1) safe, (2) good schools, (3) under 40 minutes to both, (4) a mix of housing options, like 2BR condos to single-family homes available under $400k. Any thoughts?

Thank you,
N

Well, first of all, there is going to be really nowhere that is 40 mins or under from both locations during rush hour. Your best bet is Yardley or Langhorne or Upper Makefield - i.e. somewhere very close to I-295 (old I-95). At rush hour from Yardley, Princeton will be right on the cusp of 40-45 mins and Temple will be more like 50-55 because of traffic on 95. If you're commuting during off-peak hours, Yardley is about a half hour from either place (maybe a little longer to Temple). You'd have to look at housing options in those areas, but both Pennsbury (Yardley) and Neshaminy (Langhorne) schools are fine and the whole area is safe.

[NewtownBucks]

Originally Posted by nico7

Hi All,

Reviving this old thread because I have a potential scenario where I might commute to both Temple Univ. Hospital on some days and Princeton, NJ on other days. It looks like midpoint is Langhorne. Looking for something that is (1) safe, (2) good schools, (3) under 40 minutes to both, (4) a mix of housing options, like 2BR condos to single-family homes available under $400k. Any thoughts?

Thank you,
N

Another option you might want to consider is Burlington, NJ. Traffic on the NJ side might help you on the commute times at rush hour, but I don't know what the housing or schools are like over there. I'd ask about this in the NJ Philly suburbs subforum.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by NewtownBucks

Another option you might want to consider is Burlington, NJ. Traffic on the NJ side might help you on the commute times at rush hour, but I don't know what the housing or schools are like over there. I'd ask about this in the NJ Philly suburbs subforum.

On that side of the river, there's Burlington City, with subpar schools and Burlington Twp. The township schools would be better. However Florence would probably be a better place to look, on that side of the river. Looking on the Pennsylvania side isn't a bad idea, given the circumstances. However, being on the Jersey side would potentially help for state taxes as the Philadelphia wage tax would be deductible.