where to live in Philly suburbs (Philadelphia, Chester: houses, to buy, school districts)

[rickywli]

I am being relocated by my company to Philadelphia. $450,000 to $650,000 would be my budget. I would like at least 4 bedrooms and 2 baths.

I am looking to buy in an area with good schools in the Philly suburbs. I would like my commute to be least than 45 minutes to center city. In addition, I would like there to be at least a small group of asian americans in the town (preferably Chinese).

Does anyone know of good towns? I have heard of the main line and cherry hill in NJ but I really don't know

Thanks

LOOKING IN PHILLY

[bobsmith]

I don't exactly promote my former hometown of Newtown around here, having been a bit disillusioned with it, but actually, I might recommend it to you! It's about 30-45min to center city, most of the houses in the township are of the size and price that you were suggesting, and the schools are good. Plus, about 10%-15% of Council Rock students are Asian, lots of Chinese and Koreans there. Good Luck!

[solibs]

Cherry Hill has good schools. It's a big township so if you're on the western end you can be 15 minutes from Center City and if you're on the eastern end you can be 30+ minutes in rush hour.

Per the 2000 census the town was about 7% asian but from personal observation I think those numbers are up a lot in the last 8 years. There are a lot of Chinese, Filipinos, Koreans, and an increasing number of Vietnamese. The eastern end of town along with neighboring Voorhees is better known for its South Asian population.

[oc2nyc]

We were very close to relocating to the Philly area so I did quite a bit of research on the surrounding suburbs.
I really liked the Exton, Downington, West Chester areas. Many of the homes would be right in your price range and they have good schools. Many of the developments are newer and therefore you would meet others who, like you, have just moved there.
The Main Line area is very established and I felt not a place for newcomers. I don't think it would fall into your budget either. But top ranked schools. I have no idea about the Asian population in either. If you Google the cities you are interested in you can find a link that will give you the demographics. Hope this helps a little.

[mirancs8]

Broomall has a large Asian communty and very reasonable property taxes. Excellent schools as well and a 20 minute drive to Center City Philadelphia

[kelb]

Be sure to look at Lower Bucks - Yardley, Lower Makefield, and Langhorne. Your price range will buy lovely housing, and I think your children would feel at home in the excellent Pennsbury school district.

[orrmobl]

Newtown Square/Broomall has a fairly large affluent Asian population and good schools...not great schools but good ones...Media and West Chester seem to be quite diverse as well. Swarthmore/Wallingford are very welcoming so if there isn't a large asian population, it won't matter from a fitting in standpoint...

[BPP1999]

Believe it or not, the Lansdale area is very diverse. This puts you in the North Penn School District (huge, at around 1,100 per class), but very diverse (Asian). Merck has huge facilities in the area. So do Rohm & Haas and Teva, and I think these 3 help with the diversity.

You may want to check out Fort Washington as well. The Upper Dublin SD is also fairly diverse (Asian and Jewish). Even in Blue Bell I see plenty of Asian churches (not sure if they are Chinese, though). This is the Wissahickon SD.

[mirancs8]

Ow yes I forgot Lansdale! I lived there for a few years and it is a great community as well. I hear they have wonderful schools too.

Marple Township (Broomall/Newtown Square) sorry but it's a matter of opinion. I actually went to this school district as did my sister who is 10 years older then me and my son now goes to this school district... excellent schools! My son who is gifted in certain areas and gets bored easily when not challenged enough is getting more out of Worrell then he did in the private school he was going to before.

You have to stay away from those "stats" all of you look up on the internet because there is nothing like the actual experience of those who go or did go to that school district and the outcome of their education. You have to ask... where did they end up. My class many went on to Ivy league schools as well as very well know University pursuing advanced degrees. Many are very successful today is whatever it is they are doing.

I say Kudos to those school districts that don't make "The List" but out perform expecations and out perform other school districts. Just because the school is on some neatly typed list doesn't mean it's the best all around.

OK, I said what was on my mind :-))

[sbhubbell]

Originally Posted by mirancs8

Ow yes I forgot Lansdale! I lived there for a few years and it is a great community as well. I hear they have wonderful schools too.

Marple Township (Broomall/Newtown Square) sorry but it's a matter of opinion. I actually went to this school district as did my sister who is 10 years older then me and my son now goes to this school district... excellent schools! My son who is gifted in certain areas and gets bored easily when not challenged enough is getting more out of Worrell then he did in the private school he was going to before.

You have to stay away from those "stats" all of you look up on the internet because there is nothing like the actual experience of those who go or did go to that school district and the outcome of their education. You have to ask... where did they end up. My class many went on to Ivy league schools as well as very well know University pursuing advanced degrees. Many are very successful today is whatever it is they are doing.

I say Kudos to those school districts that don't make "The List" but out perform expecations and out perform other school districts. Just because the school is on some neatly typed list doesn't mean it's the best all around.

OK, I said what was on my mind :-))

I agree, I would say Marple Newtown is an EXCELLENT school district. There are several I know are great that aren't on that list, including Rose Tree Media where I grew up (but I did attend private school, not for academic reasons.) I had many friends both at Marple and Rose Tree that were gifted and talented, attended all kinds of AP classes, had outstanding SAT scores, and ended up at Ivy League or comparable schools. Having attended a private school on the Main Line, I had friends that lived all over the region and had experience in many different districts. I learned my way around a very big area at a really young age. There are many affluent areas and great school districts to choose from, although I'm not especially sure what towns have large Asian populations.