Question about drive times from several suburbs to Center City (Philadelphia: house, live)

[southfan123]

Will be looking for a home soon in the Philadelphia area, must drive to work, and will be commuting from home to Center City (very close to the Liberty Bell, Chinatown, etc.) leaving the house at around 6:30 am, coming home around 6.

I would like approximate drive times from the following areas where we will be looking for homes:

Montgomery County homes:
Abington
Jenkintown
Rydal
Horsham
Fort Washington
Maple Glen

Bucks County homes:
Richboro
Holland
Northhampton
Churchville

Delaware County homes:
Media
Swarthmore
Wallingford



I don't think it matters greatly but our price range is $500-650k, if there are specific developments in these areas we should be looking at. Hoping to stay within 45 minutes drive time, so please....just the brutal truth. Also, if there are areas we are missing besides Main Line (we will look there as well) and Jersey (wife prefers the PA side), please let me know.

Thanks,
Southfan

[sbhubbell]

From Media, Swathmore and Wallingford I would say 35-45 minutes. Better when it's not rush hour.

[solibs]

Jenkintown/Rydal to Center City at 6:30am should only be about 35 minutes or so. For Abington I would add 10. For Horsham/Ft. Washington I would say an hour if you do 276/76 and probably the same if you go 309/Broad St.

[billb7581]

That kind of bread I'd look in Moorestown NJ. That's where a lot of the Philly pro Athletes live.

[ajb842]

Jenkintown/Rydal/Meadowbrook are personally my favorites and where I would choose. I lived in Elkins Park, so I recommend that as well. All those areas have homes upwards of 1million so spending 500k in an area is reasonable. The homes are beautiful, though older, with tons of character. I worked at Graduate Hospital as an RN before it closed and door to door from my house to walking into the lobby was 20 min, though I left by 6am every am. If there's no traffic, it's a nice easy drive whether its 76 or broad. With traffic...the horrors of the Surekill....BUT, plenty of people do it and all the areas I mentioned are less than 45min commute, some way less.

[kelb]

Forget Bucks County.
I lived in Horsham and commuted to Center City. The cool thing is that you can make the trip without getting onto any major highways. I found the drive down Lincoln Drive and Kelly Drive relaxing, but I felt I had to leave an hour for the one way trip. Leaving early helps...you should make it in 45 minutes most days. Check out Talamore, a great golf course community in Horsham Twp. The lifestyle and amenities are just awesome. Prices range from half a million to a million. You get a LOT for your money.

[oz19454]

any town house in Horsham has no home association fee ?

[eggtimer]

any of those commutes at 6:30am shouldn't be terrible. you wait another half hour and you're in trouble.