Montgomery Or Chester County (Norristown, Pottstown: crime, houses, neighborhoods)

[candylkeme]

IT CAN GET A LITTLE CONFUSING ON HERE WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT OPINIONS. wHAT I NEED TO KNOW IS WHICH COUNTY IS FOR ME.

I WANT A COMMUNITY THE HAS LITTLE OR NO CRIME, DEVELOPED AREA, EASILY ACCESSABLE TO SHOPPING, GOOD MEDICAL FACILIITIES, RACIAL DIVERSITY, WELL EDUCATED PEOPLE, AND DECENT TRANSPORTATION. wHICH COUNTY WOULD BE THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE?

I HAVE ALSO SEEN SOME DECENT HOUSING IN POTTSTOWN. ANY FEEDBACK ON THIS AREA? ANY NUCLEAR OR CHEMICAL PLANTS NEARBY?

[Tone509]

In my opinion, both counties in general are pretty evenly matched in all the areas you mentioned. Perhaps the deal maker or breaker would be racial diversity, in which case Montgomery County would be the better choice. Also, if by "decent transportation" you meant mass transit, then you will find Montco better served than Chester County, not to mention closer to Philly if that's important to you. I certainly don't mean any disrespect to Chester County (not to be confused with the struggling city of Chester, BTW) which is a nice area. In fact, I'd encourage you to visit both counties. It just seems like that "on paper", Montgomery County might serve your needs a little better.

[rainrock]

tone makes some very good points.

Montgomery + Chester are basically identical counties, in fact they may as well lose the border and become one gigantic county. Montgomery may be a bit more progressive, Chester a bit more cautious about development and open land policy.

Neither county has crime issues. Montgomery has Norristown which isn't great in certain downtown sections, and Chester has Coatesville ditto. However bothe are pretty isolated and the extreme exception not the rule.

If you looked at a map of the Philly area. The areas east of 476 towards Philly are older denser classic neighborhoods some very affluent including the mainline towns Villanova, Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Narberth etc. Incredible area, more diverse. Public transportation more available.

The western side of 476 is much newer,less diverse, more elbow room, bigger houses, newer highways and roads,newer shopping etc Exton, King of Prussia,Plymouth Meeting etc.

I would come up and take a tour. Ride up 202 from Wilmington and take alook around.


In short if you want mcmansion type developments and fancy strip malls stay west of 476. If you want more historic character, mature trees, mainstreet type towns with the english tudors, and mansards stay east of 476.

Imo Chester/Montgomery option really isn't valid either one is a good choice.