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09-08-2008, 09:17 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2008
2 posts, read 3,909 times
Reputation: 10
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Looking at Chester County for possible move
My husband is reviewing a job offer in the Kennett Square area of Chester County. We currently live in Northern Virginia, but are both Pennsylvanians originally. We are interested in hearing more about the areas of Chester County that are within a reasonable (less than 15 miles or 30 minutes) commute of the Kennett Square area. We have two young children (2 1/2 and 6 months old), so good schools, shopping close by, and family oriented activities are important to us. I am a SAHM, so any information offered on groups or clubs in the area would be helpful.
We'll be looking for a newer single family home in a family oriented community with a budget of $500K or less.
We've done some research and the following areas look attractive to us: Unionville-Chaddsford S.D., West Chester, West Grove, Avondale, Downingtown. We're interested on hearing pro's and con's on these locations, as well as any other areas in Chester County.
Thank you very much!
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09-08-2008, 09:43 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Villanova Pa.
2,121 posts, read 2,345,292 times
Reputation: 686
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Chadds Ford,West Chester, Garnet Valley or Downingtown.
Kennett ,West Grove and Avondale are a bit detached and have a decidely rural feel to them. Lots of Mushroom farms/manufacturing sites/migrant workers.Beautiful area but not alot going on out there imo.
Unionville-Chadds Ford has the best school district of the 4. West Chester is the best town,Garnet Valley and Downingtown have the newer shopping amenities/restaurants/.
If I were working in Kennett Square I would live in the Unionville Chadds Ford area for the outstanding schools, shop in Garnet Valley or/Downingtown-Exton and patronize West Chester which is one of the coolest towns in this area.
Good luck. Its avery nice area in general out there.
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09-08-2008, 10:03 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Katy, TX
1,047 posts, read 712,118 times
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Ditto what Rainrock said, except I might prefer to live in either Garnet Valley or West Chester because there is a little more to do, more shopping, restaurants, etc. And Garnet Valley is closer to Philly too which is good IMHO. My mom lives in a nice neighborhood in Garnet Valley. I like the whole area very much!
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09-09-2008, 07:55 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Villanova Pa.
2,121 posts, read 2,345,292 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sbhubbell
Ditto what Rainrock said, except I might prefer to live in either Garnet Valley or West Chester because there is a little more to do, more shopping, restaurants, etc. And Garnet Valley is closer to Philly too which is good IMHO. My mom lives in a nice neighborhood in Garnet Valley. I like the whole area very much!
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Keep in mind if anyone is looking for information on Garnet Valley.It encompasses the towns of Concord Township,Bethel Township,Chester Heights,and Concordville.
I agree about the location. Garnet Valley/Chadds Ford to me is kind of the edge of the boundary for the region. Its where suburbia meets country. A mile or two to the west of RT 202 and its a different world,a different feel. It becomes rural but there are areas of growth out there like West Grove,Oxford where your money can buy an awful lot of house. Its just going to be a matter of personal preference. The closer you are to 202 the more modern the area.
Philaldephia Magazine ranked the best school districts in the area. Out of 105 school districts in the area here are how the applicable shool districts fared.
http://www.phillymag.com/files/images/Full_ranking.pdf
4. Unionville-Chadds Ford
18.Garnet Valley
19.Downingtown
23.West Chester
34.Kennett
36.Avon Grove
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09-09-2008, 08:03 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2007
1,906 posts, read 1,327,292 times
Reputation: 236
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You're definitely getting a lot of house for your money in Chadds Ford as well.
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09-09-2008, 08:24 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 2007
1,318 posts, read 1,074,492 times
Reputation: 231
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Chadds Ford homes are gorgeous, schools are great, people are nice. It's really a no brainer for you to move to that area.
Check out the Red Bridge Farms development and do a search in the Philadelphia forum for Chadds Ford as someone has listed other good or desirable developments in the area...
Garnet Valley has become a "keep up with the Joneses" type area, the kids are spoiled and bratty - its the worst of the Main Line attitude without any of the charming architecture...
And according to a state ranking of 498 school districts:
Chadds Ford 6
Garnet Valley 18
Avon Grove 81
Kennett 197
Oxford 216
I personally find these numbers much more meaningful as the additional data points allow you to see how the district fares relative to the whole versus a subset of its local peers, i.e., compared to awful school districts they can look good but compared to good school districts they can look awful.
Last edited by orrmobl; 09-09-2008 at 08:51 AM..
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09-09-2008, 08:26 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2007
1,906 posts, read 1,327,292 times
Reputation: 236
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rainrock
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LOL, good luck buying a house in Moorestown for $404K.
5 bedroom house, 2,800 square feet, 15 years old in CF, $425K
Single Family Home - 8 Balmoral Dr, Chadds Ford, PA, 19317 - Realtor.com
3 bedroom, 2.5 bath condo in Moorestown, 20 years old, $690K
Prudential Fox and Roach - Home Search / Property Profile
1,900 square foot house, 39 years old, $535K
Prudential Fox and Roach - Home Search / Property Profile |
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09-09-2008, 08:42 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Villanova Pa.
2,121 posts, read 2,345,292 times
Reputation: 686
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Quote:
Originally Posted by orrmobl
Chadds Ford homes are gorgeous, schools are great, people are nice. It's really a no brainer for you to move to that area.
Check out the Red Bridge Farms development and do a search in the Philadelphia forum for Chadds Ford as someone has listed other good or desirable developments in the area...
Garnet Valley has become a "keep up with the Joneses" type area, the kids are spoiled and bratty - its the worst of the Main Line attitude without any of the charming architecture...
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I dont see much difference at all between Chadds Ford and Garnet Valley especially concerning the newer communities. Garnet Valley is simply an extension of Chadds Ford imo. I dont understand how the people living in the newer developments of Garnet Valley are "keeping up with the Joneses" yet the people moving a mile away in identical devolopments in Chadds Ford "aren't keeping up with the Joneses." |
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09-09-2008, 10:02 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 2007
1,318 posts, read 1,074,492 times
Reputation: 231
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Again I'm going by anecdotal evidence of Garnet Valley students and my own perception of who moves to Chadds Ford vs Garnet Valley.
It's older established homes vs brand spankin' new McMansions.
It's people who appreciate nature and are willing to drive a bit for other amenities vs people who don't mind plowing under farms and forests to build a great new mall...
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