Where to Relocate near Malvern, PA (Philadelphia, Chester: rent, house, best school districts)

[CT1YC]

We are looking at options to relocate to somewhere within 30 min driving distance of Malvern, PA (new job). Any suggestions of nearby towns with a good quality of life (value for money housing, friendly neighbours, safe, fun and good downtown) and excellent school district (kids in elementary school).
Having lived in the West Coast (Bay Area SFO) for a long time, we are not very familiar with the PA counties. Would like to ideally find a city which gives us the balance between the convenience of larger towns and the benefits of smaller communities.
Any suggestions?

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by CT1YC

We are looking at options to relocate to somewhere within 30 min driving distance of Malvern, PA (new job). Any suggestions of nearby towns with a good quality of life (value for money housing, friendly neighbours, safe, fun and good downtown) and excellent school district (kids in elementary school).
Having lived in the West Coast (Bay Area SFO) for a long time, we are not very familiar with the PA counties. Would like to ideally find a city which gives us the balance between the convenience of larger towns and the benefits of smaller communities.
Any suggestions?

What kind of housing budget will you have?

The area surrounding Malvern runs the gamut from middle class to upper middle class/wealthy.Of course coming from SF you will find this area a bargain, you can live very nicely here for a fraction of the cost of SF.

If you look at a map of the Philadelphia area , route 476 which runs N/S is the unofficial dividing line of OLD + NEW concerning the western suburbs. Malvern is on the newer end(West) this area is more typical american suburbia, lots of elbow room, mcmansions, newer town centers, lots of new growth etc. East of 476 towards Philadelphia is more Old School East Coast,its either very extravagant + elegant or rundown.

The best school districts in the Malvern area would be

Tredyffrin-Easttown
Radnor
Lower Merion
Unionville-Chadds Ford
Great valley

Walkable towns

West Chester
Wayne
Main Line Towns- Bryn Mawr, Ardmore,Narberth,Haverford
Media

Some nicer areas of mcmansions

St Davids
Radnor
Westtown
Thornbury
Edgmont
Willistown
Birmingham Township
Chester Springs
Charlestown Township
valley Forge
Tredyffrin Township

If I was to recommend areas without limits

Gladwyne
Radnor
Villanova
Bryn Mawr
Wynnewood
Wayne

Good luck

[orrmobl]

Malvern or Wayne in the higher rent category (500K-1Mil+) - both great places to live and great school districts.

Phoenixville or Collegeville, West Chester, Downingtown (300-600k) in the slightly lower rent category...

Tredyffrin is the 2nd best district in the state, Great Valley (Malvern) is 12th). This is out of 500 districts.

Downingtown and West Chester are 31 and 32.

Phoenixville and Collegeville (Perkiomen) are 76 and 80.

The other districts rainrock mentioned are also in the top 10 or so.

[pman]

Originally Posted by rainrock

West Chester
Wayne
Main Line Towns- Bryn Mawr, Ardmore,Narberth,Haverford
Media

To this I'd add Phoenixville, decent school district, sometimes gets a bad rap, and Wayne. Wayne is smaller, but still walkable.

[zionrug]

Your best bet would be Berwyn but it only has a small walkable town district.This puts you almost in the middle between Malvern and the ameneties of Devon and walkability of Wayne.Whole Foods is nearby as well.

[CT1YC]

Thanks for the helpful reply ...... I will be researching the areas you mentioned. Our housing budget would be around $500K max for a 4 bedroom house with a decent size backyard for the kids to play in. Also, the size of the town (and amenities/quality of downtown) will also play a big part in the decision.

[PABoy]

Malvern is probally one of the best areas to live in, great sense of community here. Convenient to everything, and there is a HUGE town cetner being constructed off RT 29 in Malvern.

[Century 21 Scott]

I have lived in the Chester County area for the past 20 yrs and in my opinion it is one of the best places to live in the Country. You will be happy in most areas in the whole county. Your best bet educational wise would be West Chester, Malvern, Wayne, Paoli, Downingtown. They are close enough to major access routes to the city and the airport. Feel free to contact me for more information about the area. I am a local Realtor in the area.

[orrmobl]

With that budget, I would look at West Chester, Exton and Downingtown - their proximity to downtown West Chester as well as the Exton Square/Exton Mall area at Rt 30 and Rt 100 would be a great place to which to move.