Nice Towns that are not Family-Oriented (Philadelphia, Lancaster: real estate, condo, house)

[Sassygirl18]

Hello everyone,

What suburban areas/towns would you say are very nice, and not that oriented around families (do such areas exist?) Hubby and I are in our 40s, childfree and interested in staying suburban, but are not really crazy about areas that are completely oriented around families and crawling with kids.

Our price range is in the $300K area and we're interested in a solid middle/upper middle class area with moderate property taxes (i.e. $4K or less).

Thanks for any suggestions!

[MoorestownResident]

You can try looking in Collingswood, NJ which is transitioning image and infrastructure on the upside.

[Sassygirl18]

Oops. Forgot to specify, looking to get out of NJ (that's where we live now).

[orrmobl]

Lansdowne comes to mind. As I've said before, you just need to do the exact opposite of what real estate people recommend - buy in the WORST school district you can stand. But of course this also means a lower resale and generally worse neighbors. You could also look out towards Lancaster and Pottstown, up towards Harleysville and Schwenksville - you may not avoid the kids per se, but in the more rural areas, you will be avoiding your neighbors in general...

[Sassygirl18]

Thanks. I've checked out Lansdowne and wasn't crazy about it - it felt a little too rough for me. Lancaster is too far out and probably too country for our taste. Looking to stay within 15 miles or so of the city. More fond of main street towns than spread out suburban areas. We like Media a lot...just not sure if there's anything good in our price range there.

Edited to add: we're not looking to avoid people. We're pretty sociable and actually like a community vibe. Just looking for areas that are more centered around grownups than kids/families.

[maestro]

Phoenixville is full of restaurants, bars and other things adult-oriented. You could get a nice condo or duplex right in town and walk to Bridge St.

[SXMGirl]

Try Media. The county court house in located there, and there is a downtown area with shops and restaurants. It's close to several local theatres and Rose Tree Park. Stay away from areas with poorly-rated schools. While you might not have children, you still need a good school district for possible resale. Also, schools that are rated lower many times have a high truancy rate. You don't want to be in a neighborhood where the kids are wandering during the day. Don't know where you will find the low taxes.

[MoorestownResident]

Originally Posted by Sassygirl18

Thanks. I've checked out Lansdowne and wasn't crazy about it - it felt a little too rough for me. Lancaster is too far out and probably too country for our taste. Looking to stay within 15 miles or so of the city. More fond of main street towns than spread out suburban areas. We like Media a lot...just not sure if there's anything good in our price range there.

Edited to add: we're not looking to avoid people. We're pretty sociable and actually like a community vibe. Just looking for areas that are more centered around grownups than kids/families.

If you're coming from Cherry Hill, not sure you'll be happy in PA, the vibe is very different. You must have your reasons but there are plenty of other fine NJ towns that meet your criteria.

[Sassygirl18]

I do like Media a lot. That type of town totally appeals to me and I like that it's close to Ridley Creek State Park which we just LOVE. It's also an easy commute to Philly, which is a big plus.

I will have to check out Phoenixville. My husband's aunt and uncle live there and we visit them once a year and think where they live is pretty, but I have never really explored the town in any depth. Not sure how commuting would be from there. There's no regional rail to Philadelphia from Phoenixville, is there?

[SXMGirl]

One of the nice things about Media is the public transportation. It's on the train, trolley, and bus lines. Also near two arboretums, Rose Tree Park, and near several malls, including tax-free Delaware. If you boat, near the water. I think there is still a marina in Ridley Park.