Want to avoid past relo mistakes!! Where to live? (Philadelphia: low crime, homes)

[windycitygirl]

We are relocating from the southeastern VA area. My husband will be working in Newcastle, DE and it seems like PA would be the best option for our family. We have 2 girls, ages 9 and 7. We also have a dog.

In our last move, our realtor convinced us that we needed to be in a certain area because it had the best schools, it was safe, and blah, blah, blah. Well, the schools are good and it is safe, but we just do not fit with the small town vibe. We are in a sea of deep-fried chain fast food restaurants with not much to do. I feel like I'm in the 70's (the town hasn't evolved) in the middle of some sort of revival (we are in the south). We drive to the next city near the beach and feel much more at home (I came to find out later that they have good schools too and it is safe). I like to use the analogy that our current city is Wonderbread, but I'm more of a multi-grain girl.

So here's what we would like for our next move in the best-case scenario:
*good schools
*safe
*neighborhoods where kids can make friends and play
*decent commute
*energy (Trader Joes, good non-chain restaurants, healthy lifestyle, shopping, good coffee, maybe a vegetarian restaurant)
*outdoor activity options (husband is a distance runner and we don't spend all our time at home)
*we don't necessarily need to buy b/c we may not be there over 1.5-2 yrs., but we would be anywhere between $450-600K if we did
*friendly attitudes, hopefully no political polarization

It may be a lot to ask for, but I'm hopeful! Thanks for any insight!

[Tone509]

If Trader Joe's is the dealbreaker, then you'll want to live in or near Media. It's a popular family-friendly town with a Main Street feel in its downtown. You may also like West Chester nearby. The general area leans conservative though not in an aggressive way. Others can give you more details but I think you'll generally find everything you're looking for (albeit with a bit of a commute down to New Castle) in the areas around these two towns.

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by Tone509

If Trader Joe's is the dealbreaker, then you'll want to live in or near Media. It's a popular family-friendly town with a Main Street feel in its downtown. You may also like West Chester nearby. The general area leans conservative though not in an aggressive way. Others can give you more details but I think you'll generally find everything you're looking for (albeit with a bit of a commute down to New Castle) in the areas around these two towns.

I also agree with Media/West Chester area for a commute to Delaware. Great schools, very low crime, wonderful housing stock for which your price range is perfect. Independent restaurants, outdoor activities (plenty of parks, hiking, bike trails, etc.) abound, as well.

My only disagreement is that the area leans liberal (particularly Media and West Chester proper), but it's generally a live and let live vibe here with ever-increasing diversity.

Good luck!

[rainrock]

I third the recommendation of the West Chester and Media areas. Both are excellent towns, both are surrounded by great surrounding communities(Upper Providence,Nether providence,Westtown,Newtown Square,Concord Township,West Goshen East Goshen,Thornbury,Chadds Ford). Midway between the two is Ridley Creek State Park which has a 5 mile paved biking/jogging trail and there are 50 miles of back country trails for jogging/hiking.

I personally like West Chester a bit more than Media and WC would be a bit closer to Newark.You cant go wrong with either area.

Good luck.

[breezy1]

I may be considering a move to the area (with a commute to Wilmigton). So from what I've researched, it would be between Media and West Chester. Can you please tell me more about why you specifically prefer WC to Media?

Thank you.

[LibraGirl123]

Here's a nice little website that contains info about both Media and West Chester:

Classic Towns of Greater Philadelphia

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by breezy1

I may be considering a move to the area (with a commute to Wilmigton). So from what I've researched, it would be between Media and West Chester. Can you please tell me more about why you specifically prefer WC to Media?

Thank you.

WC is a slightly easier commute to Wilmington. WC also is a little bigger town with a wider range of restaurants/bars and its also a college town so its a little more energenic. Media is more of a family town/ nice night out on the town atmosphere.

The West Chester area is much newer than the Media area. WC also is less crowded, less dense,more elbow room, more fresh air to breathe. WC is out in the Valleys of Chester County whereas Media is more leafy youre under the canopy of some pretty thick forest.

Both towns are small but very nice.

Good luck.

[MoorestownResident]

Originally Posted by windycitygirl

We are relocating from the southeastern VA area. My husband will be working in Newcastle, DE and it seems like PA would be the best option for our family. We have 2 girls, ages 9 and 7. We also have a dog.

In our last move, our realtor convinced us that we needed to be in a certain area because it had the best schools, it was safe, and blah, blah, blah. Well, the schools are good and it is safe, but we just do not fit with the small town vibe. We are in a sea of deep-fried chain fast food restaurants with not much to do. I feel like I'm in the 70's (the town hasn't evolved) in the middle of some sort of revival (we are in the south). We drive to the next city near the beach and feel much more at home (I came to find out later that they have good schools too and it is safe). I like to use the analogy that our current city is Wonderbread, but I'm more of a multi-grain girl.

So here's what we would like for our next move in the best-case scenario:
*good schools
*safe
*neighborhoods where kids can make friends and play
*decent commute
*energy (Trader Joes, good non-chain restaurants, healthy lifestyle, shopping, good coffee, maybe a vegetarian restaurant)
*outdoor activity options (husband is a distance runner and we don't spend all our time at home)
*we don't necessarily need to buy b/c we may not be there over 1.5-2 yrs., but we would be anywhere between $450-600K if we did
*friendly attitudes, hopefully no political polarization

It may be a lot to ask for, but I'm hopeful! Thanks for any insight!

Mullica Hill, NJ is your best option within 20 miles or so of New Castle. Great schools, great access to everything including great restaurants, etc. Plenty of homes in that price range though taxes are high. How anyone recommends West Chester to you is beyond me. It will take your husband 45 min+ to get there since the local roads in PA are horrible. Don't move to PA without looking in NJ. NJ's public schools rank tops in the nation, plus it has far better access to the NJ shore. There are far more recreational opportunities in NJ, plus being closer to the coast, the weather is sunnier and milder than PA. The stagnant, colder weather in PA is influenced by the mountain ranges to the west and the Delaware River to the east. It is known as a 'gray' state.

Mullica Hill also has several organic farms. Moods being one of the more popular.

http://www.moodsfarmmarket.com/

http://www.mullicahill.com/index.html

I'm telling you as sure as God made little green apples, and regardless of any responses to this post, if you don't look in NJ and just go straight to PA or West Chester, you have made a huge relo mistake.

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by MoorestownResident

Mullica Hill, NJ is your best option within 20 miles or so of New Castle. Great schools, great access to everything including great restaurants, etc. Plenty of homes in that price range though taxes are high. How anyone recommends West Chester to you is beyond me. It will take your husband 45 min+ to get there since the local roads in PA are horrible. Don't move to PA without looking in NJ. NJ's public schools rank tops in the nation, plus it has far better access to the NJ shore with far superior family recreational opportunities.

Mullica Hill doesnt fill nary 1of the OP's recommended criteria.

You have 8 sentences in the above paragraph and 7 of them are lies, mistruths or incorrect.

The South jersey public schools cant hold a candle to the Pa suburban schools. More affluent North + Central jersey might be more comparable to the Pa schools.

And does it really matter that Mullica Hill is 15-20 minutes closer to the seashore than West Chester? In the grand scheme of things is it really that important, the extra 15 minute car ride? No.

Mullica Hill is typical american exurban sprawl on flat indescript farmland. West Chester is an historic planned town surrounded by the beautiful Brandywine Valley.

Its incredulous that you would have the audacity to bring up the 2 areas in the same sentence.

[pman]

media has a train and trolley to Philly is that's of interest