Apartment hunting Media, Pa or Cherry Hill, NJ (Chester, West Chester: houses, top schools)

[thesixth]

The main dif. between Cherry Hill & Media, that I see is that Media is more walkable and CH more car-dominated. Sure you can walk around you own neighborhood area in CH, but to get to shopping(of which there are tons to choose from in CH) , you will more likely need to get into a car.

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by MoorestownResident

Cherry Hill by a mile over Media and WC, not even an argument IMO. CH is a vibrant place with top schools, TONS of shopping, restaurants and a new town center currently under development. Rents are going to be high but it's a high rent area. Depends what you are looking for, if you don't need schools, for example, there are some other areas in South Jersey to explore. Cherry Hill's location is superb for getting around the region, couldn't ask for a better location.

The West Chester area is 18,000 light years ahead of Cherry HIll.

Cherry Hill is 50's 60's 70's middle class suburbia. The West Chester area is 80's 90's 00's very upscale suburbia. West Chester is the county seat of the 21st wealthiest county in the usa. West Chesters setting is amongst rolling hiolls and valleys nestled up against the Brandywine River. Ehh Cherry Hill is flat monotonous former farmland with sand based soil.

West Chester
Media
big drop
Cherry Hill

[toobusytoday]

Another reason that you are seeing a lot of apartments in West Chester is because of the student population from West Chester University. You will want to be careful not to get an apartment really close to the college or you will have loud college students as your neighbors. Personally, I really like West Chester and thinks it's a great choice for a young family.

[H-town reader]

All of these places are great places. Media is substantially closer to Philly than West Chester, so you may want to keep that in mind if that is important to you. There is also a train that goes directly from Media to downtown Philly, with West Chester you need to go to a neighboring town to catch the train (and, of course it takes longer). Both West Chester and Media have a great, walkable downtown area with restaurants, etc..
Cherry Hill, in my experience, is a little more active/hectic. It is a great community; but, feels different from the "main street usa" feel of Media...in my opinion.
Of course, there are also big tax differences between NJ and Pennsylvania....but, if you are renting, you will be shielded from a good bit of it.
Good luck!

[MoorestownResident]

Originally Posted by rainrock

The West Chester area is 18,000 light years ahead of Cherry HIll.

Cherry Hill is 50's 60's 70's middle class suburbia. The West Chester area is 80's 90's 00's very upscale suburbia. West Chester is the county seat of the 21st wealthiest county in the usa. West Chesters setting is amongst rolling hiolls and valleys nestled up against the Brandywine River. Ehh Cherry Hill is flat monotonous former farmland with sand based soil.

West Chester
Media
big drop
Cherry Hill

I guess $45-$55K/year is considered 'upscale' around West Chester and Media. Good point. And both towns have been losing population for 3 decades. Comparing this to Cherry Hill is not fair to the Commonwealth.

[Duderino]

Media is certainly the place to be for a charming, quaint and down-to-earth community with top notch walkability and two commuter modes (rail and trolley) to Philadelphia. Diversity, safety and cleanliness would certainly not be an issue here, either.

As other posters have noted, I think the choice would come down to whether you have a preference for an older community with a traditional main street, or a typical post-WWII suburban community that is MUCH more auto-oriented.

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by MoorestownResident

I guess $45-$55K/year is considered 'upscale' around West Chester and Media. Good point. And both towns have been losing population for 3 decades. Comparing this to Cherry Hill is not fair to the Commonwealth.

Unfortunately you have gotten a hold of some erroneous information.

Chester County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau

Household Median Income

Chester County PA- $ 83,000

Camden County NJ-$58,541

Population Percentage Increase 2000-2007

Chester County PA- 13.4%

Camden County NJ- 1.8%


Median Household Income

Cherry Hill Township NJ- $69,000


West Chester PA area-

Birmingham- $130,000
Pocopson-$98,215
Glen Mills-$92,000
Edgmont-$88,000
Concord-$86,000
Thornbury-$85,000
Westtown $85,000
Bethel $85,000
Chadds Ford- $84,000
Pennsbury $83,000
Willistown-$78,000
East Brandywine-$77,000

[MoorestownResident]

Originally Posted by rainrock

Unfortunately you have gotten a hold of some erroneous information.

Chester County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau

Household Median Income

Chester County PA- $ 83,000

Camden County NJ-$58,541

Population Percentage Increase 2000-2007

Chester County PA- 13.4%

Camden County NJ- 1.8%


Median Household Income

Cherry Hill Township NJ- $69,000


West Chester PA area-

Birmingham- $130,000
Pocopson-$98,215
Glen Mills-$92,000
Edgmont-$88,000
Concord-$86,000
Thornbury-$85,000
Westtown $85,000
Bethel $85,000
Chadds Ford- $84,000
Pennsbury $83,000
Willistown-$78,000
East Brandywine-$77,000

Sorry Rocker, wrong again, here are the verified stats:

West Chester $51K

Population growth by decade:

80s -10%
90s 3.5%
00s -1.0%

3 decade average is negative.

Media

$58K

80s -5.0%
90s -2.6%
00s -7.1%

3 decade average is very negative.

Cherry Hill

$98K (the largest township in NJ and also very understated with low income housing)

80s 6.8%
90s 0.8%
00s 1.0%

3 decade average is very positive and if you look at the 70s, population growth exceeded 100%.

[rainrock]

West Chester and Media are 150 yr. old planned towns which are at capacity, they have no room for new growth in the town limits. Hence the beginnings of neighboring Birmingham,Westtown,Thornbury,Willistown,East Brandywine near West Chester. Upper Providence,Rose Tree,Rose Valley,Newtown,Middletown,Glen Mills,Edgmont near Media.

Maybe you overlooked the part where I highlighted Areas. The West Chester and Media AREAS are superior to Cherry Hill Township.

The towns I listed previously along with the borough of West Chester are less sprawling than Cherry Hill Township.

Bottom line is that West Chester is the core of one of the wealthiest counties in the USA and one ofthe fastest growing counties in the northeast. Its not wise to start a flame war with a neighboring state especially considering the overwhelming economic data staring at you. If someone from NOVA or Central Jersey wanted to take on Chester County I could take them seriously but you have no argument from your perspective, none.

[BPP1999]

Originally Posted by MoorestownResident

I guess $45-$55K/year is considered 'upscale' around West Chester and Media.

You are so condescending, you make me sick, and you make yourself look like a complete ________. Stop using your precious town of residence as to compensate for all of your other problems and insecurities.