Follow up on potential move to Chester County, PA

[toobusytoday]

solibs, The schools in Northern Delaware are all rated pretty poorly, and I don't mean just the city schools. You can do some comparisons on schoolmatters.com. I should add that my husband is a grad of one of them and we're both native Delawareans, so I'm not speaking as a Delaware hater.

[Pennsylvania]

Husband leaves for Kennett at 6:25 to just out side the town from West chester and gets him well into work before 8:00. Using rt. 926. It is a beautiful drive through mostly country and large home developments.

[bhill20]

Thank you to everyone for your guidance, the information you've posted helped alot in making our decision to move to Chester County. We've seen some homes we've liked (and have been to all of the suggested areas with our realtor), I was hoping to ask for some specifics regarding a few housing developments. First is the Whitford Hills area (surrounding Whitford Country Club). Seems like a nice older area with larger 40-50 year old homes. I was hoping someone could give us some details about the development as far as the people (is it friendly, are there families with kids?). The addresses in that development are Downingtown and Exton, but it's West Chester schools. Any input there would be greatly appreciated.

The second area is a new construction development in Downingtown schools called Chestnut Ridge. This is in Romansville, but is closer to Coatesville than Downingtown. Seems like a nice, new development, but is more remote than some of the areas in WC and Downingtown that we liked. However, it is still fairly close to Thorndale for groceries and the train. As I've posted before, I will be working in Kennett Square, so its nice from a commute perspective as well. Any thoughts on Chestnut Ridge?

[orrmobl]

I would always take an older home over something built in the last 5 years. I have also read Orleans (Chestnut Ridge) is not such a great builder.

The Whitford Hills area is very nice, accessible, should be lots of families there...but if you can get the Downingtown SD it is a tad better than West Chester...Great Valley and Chadds Ford SDs are way way better than WC or DTown....

I love the Caln area but would buy in an older neighborhood or from a higher end builder like Moser, maybe Dewey...not Pulte, Toll, or Orleans...

[YorkieMom4]

Glad that you liked West Chester. DH made the commute to Kennett Sq. for the last 10 years. Beautiful country side to travel to. Looks like we will be moving to FL for a new position and have lived here in WC for 15 years. Throughly enjoyed our home and neighborhood and am in a quiet neighborhood but close to everything we need. I can't speak highly enough about this part of Chester County. It only took hubby 20 min. to get from WC to kennett. Yes, avoiding 202 is very possible. I also like living nearer a city as even a trip into Philly is under a hour.

[Synergy1]

As a former resident of Newtown Square PA (Rte 252 + Rte 3) of 42 years I can accurately say that the Route 1 (Balti Pike) route is a real mess in the snowy winter. Going to my sister's home in Exton PA was a traffic mess using the Rte 100 and Rte 1 junctions. Schools in neighboring Downingtown are are just OK at best..I would not send my children there.
Homes are from around $300k for a nice 6 year old home to $600k for a more modern and larger 5bd/4bath/2car gar home.

Elwyn is just unbelievable in the snow and Media is very tough traveling in the snow.
Otherwise the trip from most parts of Media on Rte 1 to Kennett Sq can take you 40 minutes or more. No other reasonable alternative route is available to Kennett Sq.

Like "sbhubbell" said, Glen Mills/Garnet Valley/Condordville area including Chadds Ford are around the 30 minute mark. Chadds Ford is probably the most renoun town of the group because it was the home of the artist Andrew Wyeth. His works and his sons, Jamie Wyeth are now shown in the Chadds Ford area and in the Brandywine River Museum, the old mill at Chadds Ford.

Three years ago when we sold our home the prices in the Chadds Ford area were around $600 to $1.5m and some "executive homes" going much more.

[orrmobl]

Downingtown schools are better than neighboring West Chester's and MUCH better than Marple Newtown's! I would not hesitate to put my kids in the Downingtown SD.

[LNS]

i grew up in Media, lived in Kennett/West Grove area and now live in WC. I also see that you are considering Downingtown... just be aware that what you may save in a mortgage, you will make up in taxes in Downingtown School District. WCASD has the lowest taxes in Chester County. Feel free to contact me if you want more questions answered~ it sounds like i know all of the areas you are considering.