Malvern (Philadelphia, Lancaster, Chester: buying a house, buying, school district)

[maestro]

Another area I'm thinking of buying a house in is Malvern. It seems the outskirts of Malvern are pretty nice and I think there is a plaza opening up near 29 and Lancaster Ave., but I'm can get a "feel" for the area at this point. Anyone have a take here? How are the schools?

[Bwads31]

Originally Posted by maestro

Another area I'm thinking of buying a house in is Malvern. It seems the outskirts of Malvern are pretty nice and I think there is a plaza opening up near 29 and Lancaster Ave., but I'm can get a "feel" for the area at this point. Anyone have a take here? How are the schools?

The school district (Great Valley) is considered one of the best in the state. The area is very expensive though.

[orrmobl]

The schools are very good, in the top 15 or so in the state, a bit lower than Chadds Ford and Swarthmore, a bit higher than Downingtown and West Chester. You can find housing for much less money than the Main Line. I just haven't found the kind of houses I'm looking for. Almost everything there seems to be newer vinyl-sided boxes - not my taste but I've read from people on here that the locals are friendly and people love living there...

[sbhubbell]

Um, Malvern is on the Main Line. Yes it's expensive, although being further from Philadelphia it's slightly less so. It does have a very small town center area with some cute shops, not on Lancaster Ave. Schools are very good. Some beautiful horse country in Malvern too. The new Wegmans on 29 will be great too, Wegmans is a fabulous upscale grocery store.

[orrmobl]

Um, I guess I'm a traditionalist. I always think of the Main Line as ending at Paoli, like the original train line did...

And I hardly count Malvern in that group unless you means the section that is in Tredyffrin Township...otherwise Great Valley is not comparable to Lower Merion, Radnor, Tredyffrin schools...

[maestro]

are there areas of Malvern that are better or worse than others? Any areas that I should stay away from?

[orrmobl]

They are all good - you will pay through the nose for Tredyffrin schools where you will have a great range of choices in Great Valley schools.

It's a very nice area, just doesn't have a big walkable downtown like West Chester, Media, Phoenixville...but if you do a search on malvern, you will see lots of positive feedback about the area...

Also I believe matildap and newtophilly? are both living there currently and loving it...you could always direct message them...

[JHG722]

Malvern is essentially 'new' Main Line.

[maestro]

Originally Posted by JHG722

Malvern is essentially 'new' Main Line.

is that a good thing or a bad thing?

[JHG722]

Originally Posted by maestro

is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Neither. It's just not an original part of the Main Line. I mean, it's cool living in the Main Line when someone knows where it is, and mentions it, but I certainly wouldn't dissuade someone from moving to Malvern because it's not 'true' Main Line. It's a cool distinction, but doesn't mean much.