Bucks/MontCo too many options, help narrow down

[bbrunaud]

Originally Posted by TownDweller

Last year I did an exhaustive search in the areas you are targeting. I also was looking for a townhome. You can find single family homes everywhere but townhomes tend to be clustered. And there are plenty of good options in your price range.

I wanted the Abingdon/Willow Grove area at first but it has very few townhomes. Newtown has a high concentration in the price range you are targeting. It is worth a close look, schools are great and it has a community feel.

The 309 corridor north of the Turnpike also has a large number of townhomes, from Ambler up to Colmar. The area has a lot of amenities but commuting to Newtown can be 40 minutes or more.

Yardley has a number of townhomes and also many of twins (duplexes). It has a lot of what you are looking for and a reasonable commute for both of you.

Best of luck with your search.

Thanks a lot! In your research did the townhomes were in general newer that the single family for the same price? Is the area closer to Yardley offering same amenities than the area close to Willow Grove?... When I drive through it, it feels more rural

[NewtownBucks]

Originally Posted by bbrunaud

Thanks a lot! In your research did the townhomes were in general newer that the single family for the same price? Is the area closer to Yardley offering same amenities than the area close to Willow Grove?... When I drive through it, it feels more rural

Yes, there are plenty of amenities close to Yardley.

[Rootdkj]

Originally Posted by Gaylord_Focker

Sounds wonderful.

Originally Posted by Avalon08

Wow, it sounds amazing.

Thank you. I wake up every day and reflect how fortunate/lucky I am to have moved my family here.

[Rootdkj]

Originally Posted by PhillyTransplant20

May I ask where specifically your community is? (Nothing too specific just off what major road or something like that). Sounds awesome!

Sandy Ridge Road is the most major road. It’s not even a major road for the area as it doesn’t actually lead anywhere but yet we are only 10 mins away from the downtown area and 202/611 shopping.

[TownDweller]

Originally Posted by bbrunaud

Thanks a lot! In your research did the townhomes were in general newer that the single family for the same price? Is the area closer to Yardley offering same amenities than the area close to Willow Grove?... When I drive through it, it feels more rural

The townhomes I saw were from mid-80's to current construction. Single family for the same price tend to be older and smaller. As it should be, as they have land included with them.

Willow Grove has a lot of amenities, definitely more than Yardley. But townhomes are very hard to come by there. You could find some twins there and in Abingdon, however.

[AstronomicalTofu]

We took the plunge several months ago and ended up in the Abington / Jenkintown area. Areas like Doylestown weren't as diverse (almost exclusively white) and much more considerable distance via transit to Center City.

- Abington / Willow Grove have a lot of the standard strip shops, and the area in general around Jenkintown has a solid number of indie shops + restaurants.
- We're loving the walkability of Jenkintown and access to multiple train routes. We can get to Center City in about 20-28 minutes usually via the train.
- Diverse housing stock in this area (twins, rows, single family), but if you're looking for newer then that limits things a bit more. We super love the character and historic nature of the old homes here.
- Abington + Jenkintown both are excellent school districts.

Good luck!

[chessimprov]

Squirrel Hill has a significant Jewish population. Willow Grove, Jenkintown, and maybe Abington have a significant Jewish population too. I think this should be your target area out of the ones you listed. If you can live near the Assi grocery store in this general area, that would be helpful for you I think as I don't know any other big Asian grocery stores in that general vicinity.


I feel like most of the areas you listed are kind of far out from Philly downtown

PA is a cyber school state. So, that means, wherever you move, you could have your students schooled via cyber with your own tax dollars. So, if you like an area, but you don't like the respective school district, this is an option you can consider or consider as a backup.

I get the impression that Council Rock can be snobby. Good school district, but might not be what you're looking for.

[smt1111]

You say you don't want your daughters to grow up into snobby kids. Well, Doylestown, Yardley and Newtown are some of the most affluent areas of Bucks County. These are areas where high school kids are driving brand new BMWs and have the latest I-Phones. I agree with the previous poster who said Council Rock (Newtown) can be snobby.

I'm not sure Willow Grove is what you're looking for. It's a bit rundown in some sections and has no walkable town. If you live in, say, Abington or Jenkintown and your wife works in Newtown, her commute will be an issue. The roads are all 2 lane back roads and they do get flooded at times and snow events can be an issue. There's really no direct or easy way to take to Newtown from these areas of Montco. I used to live in Newtown and commute to Abington and it would take me 45 minutes. I would not live in Jenkintown or worse, Ambler, if I were working in Newtown. It's just not an easy commute.

I suggest perhaps looking at Southampton or Ivyland or Hatboro.

[NewtownBucks]

Originally Posted by chessimprov

Squirrel Hill has a significant Jewish population. Willow Grove, Jenkintown, and maybe Abington have a significant Jewish population too. I think this should be your target area out of the ones you listed. If you can live near the Assi grocery store in this general area, that would be helpful for you I think as I don't know any other big Asian grocery stores in that general vicinity.


I feel like most of the areas you listed are kind of far out from Philly downtown

PA is a cyber school state. So, that means, wherever you move, you could have your students schooled via cyber with your own tax dollars. So, if you like an area, but you don't like the respective school district, this is an option you can consider or consider as a backup.

I get the impression that Council Rock can be snobby. Good school district, but might not be what you're looking for.

Council Rock definitely can be snobby. The racism part of it is overplayed, though. It's a tiny minority, just like anywhere else.