School ratings and rankings - how important are they? (Chester: for sale, real estate market)

[orrmobl]

Aston is nice and the Penn Delco school district is pretty good but apparently in decline. I would pick Springfield Delco, Wallingford-Swarthmore, Rose Tree Media, over it.

And pprattle the only downside to the Delco districts is that they are in Delco...which has become an extension of the city. We went shopping at Bj's in Springfield the past 2 weeks and it's quite shocking how unfriendly the employees and patrons are...like ghetto lite...The rudeness and drama and slow unfriendly people just really convinced us it's not for us any longer, even though my family still lives there.

As for homes for $450K, you won't get much in Tredyffrin for that. However you should be able to find something in Malvern.

Colonial SD is quite good so unless you are moving to Tredyffrin, Lower Merion, Radnor, Chadds Ford, Upper Dublin, New Hope, Great Valley, Methacton, Central Bucks (Top 10), Wissahickon, Rose Tree Media, Haverford, Hatboro-Horsham, Council Rock schools (Colonial is next), don't bother moving at all!

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by sbhubbell

I would advise against Aston. Higher crime, lower income, not as good schools.

Aston has very little if any crime and its certainly not lower income.

Its a solid community for people that do not have an unlimited budget.The schools are fine, not exceptional.Lower income? No. In fact I'd bet its wealthier than Katy Tx. Perhaps Aston is lower income compared to Radnor or Great Valley but the household income of Aston is approximately $15,000 above the national average.

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by orrmobl

And pprattle the only downside to the Delco districts is that they are in Delco...which has become an extension of the city. We went shopping at Bj's in Springfield the past 2 weeks and it's quite shocking how unfriendly the employees and patrons are...like ghetto lite...The rudeness and drama and slow unfriendly people just really convinced us it's not for us any longer, even though my family still lives there.

I was shopping in Sprinfield last weekend too and the people were very friendly and hospitable. But then again I dont have a phobia about the city.

Saying Delaware County"ghetto lite" is an extension of the city is one of the most ridiculous claims I have ever heard. 2/3 of Delaware County is upper class/rural.

[toobusytoday]

We lived in Garnet Valley (Delaware County) and while it's pretty much the definition of suburban sprawl, it's not ghetto or city like in the least and the schools are very good. It's ranked 35th out of the 351 schools in the state according to: Schools in Garnet Valley School District. Schooldigger.com Wallingford-Swathmore is 29th.

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

We lived in Garnet Valley (Delaware County) and while it's pretty much the definition of suburban sprawl, it's not ghetto or city like in the least and the schools are very good. It's ranked 35th out of the 351 schools in the state according to: Schools in Garnet Valley School District. Schooldigger.com Wallingford-Swathmore is 29th.

Oormobl is constantly ridiculing Delaware County, I'm not so sure Orrmobl is aware of the geographical boundaries of Delaware County. The NW 2/3 of Delaware County might be the wealthiest area in the entire metro(Radnor,Edgmont,Springton,Rose Tree,Newtown Township,Glen Mills,Concord,Bethel,Thornbury,Chadds Ford etc.)The ghetto lite parts would be secluded to the eastern 1/4 of the county(Darby,Yeadon,Collingdale, parts of Upper Darby etc)

[sbhubbell]

Rainrock, come on I grew up in Middletown I know what I'm talking about with Aston. If the OP is looking at TE and Great Valley, Aston shouldn't even be on the list. Median income there is $57,000 and median house price is $136,000. Media proper, for example, is about the same, but the crime statistics for Aston are WAY higher. Of course Rose Tree Media school district covers a lot more than just Media, a lot of higher income areas. Swathmore median income is $99,000 and median home price is $437,000. No comparison there.

As for Katy, Tx? What the heck are you talking about? Median income where I live is $103,000. #1 school district in Houston.

[pprattle]

All good food for thought. I think we'll just stay put for now but keep our feelers out with realtors in our areas of interest. Maybe drive through some neighborhoods in case something comes up. We're not ready to compromise on the type of home/yard we want to get into the T/E district. Perhaps GV would give us what we want for the price. But then again, not sure it would be that much "better" in the long run. By the way, I went to Methacton, it is a good school, but it's a little more rural than I like and I want a different experience for my kids. I like fairly close proximity to the city.

Thanks again.

[sbhubbell]

Interesting...Methacton is a very highly rated district that I wouldn't consider very rural at all, at least for the most part. And it seems to me GV isn't any closer to the city or less rural.

Sounds like you have a good plan though.

[pprattle]

Originally Posted by sbhubbell

Interesting...Methacton is a very highly rated district that I wouldn't consider very rural at all, at least for the most part. And it seems to me GV isn't any closer to the city or less rural.

Everything is spread out all over the Eagleville, Audubon, Collegeville area with no real walkable "downtown" unless you go into the borough of Collegeville and that's Perk Valley School District. You're right though - Methacton SD is about the same drive time to Philly (maybe slightly longer) as GV but it doesn't have a convenient train station -- the closest is in Norristown.

[sbhubbell]

True. I'm a big fan of Phoenixville as far as walkable downtowns go, although Media is a close second and Wayne is nice too. But the train station situation...yeah Methacton and Pville don't have that at all. GV is pretty spread out too though. Actually so is Rose Tree Media school district.