Seeking very diverse area in metro Philly (Philadelphia, Drexel Hill: real estate, 2010)

[leavingGA]

I'll be moving back to NJ area soon to do more in depth research but I'm looking for a very ethically and racially diverse area as I prepare to move back. I grew up in South Jersey (Marlton/Medford/Willingboro) but have been away for 12 years.

I'm black divorced mom with kids who are not black. I want to continue to expose them to East Indian culture and be able to shop at Indian groceries, go to temple, etc......I need to be close to train as I will be working in Center City.

Any suggestions on areas of philly or the suburbs that have home prices under $200K and offer gifted and talented programs in school system? Living in primarily black areas has not worked out well and explains why I want out of GA.

What areas can I include in my drive throughs?

The reason I ask is because I am often steered towards certain neighborhoods like Nicetown area of Philly which I am not usre is safe....but again, I don't know much about Philly outside of Center City and South Street. Back in the 90's I remember Italian and Irish areas that did not want me as a visitor but I just picked up my friends and left most of the time :-) I do have friends of almost every nationality and I don't want them to be afraid to come visit me or get robbed when they do!!!!!

[reztrop]

You might want to consider Mt. Airy. It is a diverse neighborhood and the homes can be quite affordable here depending on which section you live in. Mt. Airy west of Germantown Ave is expensive (especially near Lincoln Drive), while Mt. Airy east of Germantown Ave is more affordable.

I recently saw a house in East Mt. Airy displaying a People's Republic of China flag on its porch!

The R7 or R8 Septa lines will take you from Mt. Airy into Center City.

Lansdale in Montgomery County has a growing minority population. Koreans and Indians are the fastest growing minorities in Lansdale. The R5 Septa line on Main Street in Lansdale travels to Center City. The North Penn School District in Lansdale has a high school program for gifted students.

[newmarlig]

Queen Village - which is just south of center city would be a good choice. Nobody will even look at you. I don't know how old your kids are, but the Meredith School in the area has an excellent reputation. You can also easily take public transportation (or even walk) to your job in center city.

University City - in the Alexander school catchment would be another excellent choice, with easy public transportation to center city.

West Mt. Airy (The Henry or Houston Schools) - has always been very diversified - you can take the train into center city (about 1/2 hour ride).

Good luck

[otters21]

I agree with the two previous posters. University City and West Mount Airy are wonderful choices for being very diverse . I would not steer you towards Nicetown, however- that area is not good at all.

[john_starks]

Queen Village - which is just south of center city would be a good choice. Nobody will even look at you. I don't know how old your kids are, but the Meredith School in the area has an excellent reputation. You can also easily take public transportation (or even walk) to your job in center city.

yup, i live here. and agree with everything said. diverse hipster heaven/or hell

[thesixth]

You could check out the Upper Darby area. Will have cheaper home prices, very easy commute into Center City and is diverse but safer than W. Phila.

[orrmobl]

Unless you can afford Drexel Hill, I'd avoid Upper Darby. Neighborhood is going ghetto and the schools really aren't very good. Drexel Hill Middle Schools is MUCH better than Beverly Hills Middle School and the high school is a total crapshoot due to the influx of rougher elements from the city. Same goes for Lansdowne.

[leavingGA]

Thanks, I will take a look at all of these areas when I visit the area again. I have a few areas under consideration but need to make sure the pay equals the cost of living. :-)

[gorilazgomossad]

Originally Posted by leavingGA

I'll be moving back to NJ area soon to do more in depth research but I'm looking for a very ethically and racially diverse area as I prepare to move back. I grew up in South Jersey (Marlton/Medford/Willingboro) but have been away for 12 years.

I'm black divorced mom with kids who are not black. I want to continue to expose them to East Indian culture and be able to shop at Indian groceries, go to temple, etc......I need to be close to train as I will be working in Center City.

Any suggestions on areas of philly or the suburbs that have home prices under $200K and offer gifted and talented programs in school system? Living in primarily black areas has not worked out well and explains why I want out of GA.

What areas can I include in my drive throughs?

The reason I ask is because I am often steered towards certain neighborhoods like Nicetown area of Philly which I am not usre is safe....but again, I don't know much about Philly outside of Center City and South Street. Back in the 90's I remember Italian and Irish areas that did not want me as a visitor but I just picked up my friends and left most of the time :-) I do have friends of almost every nationality and I don't want them to be afraid to come visit me or get robbed when they do!!!!!

Some Philadelphia High School Students can go to a better school in Lower Merion or Radnor -the suburbs - through the ABC house, so you could live there and pay less in rent than in the suburban district.

Lower Merion ABC:
A Better Chance in Lower Merion provided by Bravenet.com

Radnor ABC:
http://www.radnorabc.org/

Some Alumni, see where they went to college, and that they succeeded in later life:
A Better Chance in Lower Merion provided by Bravenet.com



Also - West Philadelphia has a lot of indian food near University City. THere are areas around 44th street that are gentrifying so you could probably find a safe street in that area thats still fairly cheap to rent or buy. There's a place called International House on 37th and Chestnut that is a huge high rise featuring student living for international college students in the apartments and the lobby hosts international films.

Philly has a lot of diverse restaurants from Lebanese to Indian to Cuban. So its a great place to be if you are looking to explore that.

South Philly tends to be a lot of Italian and some Irish I think, I'm not sure how open they are to diversity as a general group. I really just dont know much about that at in terms of positives or negatives. Theres an Italian market on 9th and Passayunk, or thereabouts.

[Jennifer19027]

We live in Elkins Park-Cheltenham. We have great schools with a strong concentration in the arts, ethnic and socio-economic diversity, easy access to Center City (22 minutes by train) and good prices on real estate. There are many Synagogues within an easy walk.
The only thing we dont' have easy access to is fresh produce, that should change shortly as we are opening a co-op in early 2010.