Apartments in Media?? (Philadelphia, Chester, Washington: real estate, for rent, insurance)

[LyndsayM]

I've been researching apartments in Media and I can't find anything under $800-900 a month. Does anyone know of any?? I am going to be attending Widener University and have been looking at smaller areas outside of Chester to live. Media seems like the perfect place!

I come from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where you can rent a nice 3 bedroom HOUSE for $700 a month. Nice apartments around here are about $500 a month or less. We currently rent a two bedroom townhouse for $525.

I'm obviously not at all used to having to pay 800 a month for rent, let alone $1000 a month as I've been seeing many places around that entire area. However, I'm assuming that people must make more money in that area than they do around here.

I currently have a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. Here, that can earn me about $8.75-$12.00 an hour. Can anyone tell me if I would probably make more money around that area with my degree than I do around here? Otherwise, I have no idea how I would be able to afford a 2 bedroom apartment for that much money. I also have a fiance who would be working, though he doesn't have a college degree. I have a 7 year old daughter, so safety and good school are of utmost importance.

Thank you so much for any help I can get!!

[bryson662001]

Widener has a beautiful campus. The town of Chester including right outside Widener's gates is a poor, dangerous, high crime area so don't rent there. The towns north of there, Ridley and Ridley Park, Prospect Park and Glenolden are some safe, stable areas that have older houses subdivided into apartments. Prospect Park is particularly nice. You probably won't get more than a studio or single room for less than $800. That whole area south of the city in Delaware County has some of the less expensive housing in the metro but still I guess Philly is more expensive then you are used to.

[toobusytoday]

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While I agree with bryson about the area's he's mentioned, one thing to point out is that if you go west of Media, towards Garnet Valley School district, the prices will rise again. Towns closest to I-95 will be older and lower priced.

I hope that you have a job lined up Lyndsay, because the job market is not pretty here either.

[LyndsayM]

Thanks for your help guys! I'll do some checking around on those other towns. I'm having a hard time finding much online though. I wish I could just subscribe to the local newspapers so I could check out the classifieds, but for it to be mailed to me this far away they charge 600 dollars for a 6 month subscription!

Anyway, thanks again!

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by LyndsayM

Thanks for your help guys! I'll do some checking around on those other towns. I'm having a hard time finding much online though. I wish I could just subscribe to the local newspapers so I could check out the classifieds, but for it to be mailed to me this far away they charge 600 dollars for a 6 month subscription!

Anyway, thanks again!

You should be able to subscribe online to philly dot com for free. It's the aggregate site for the city's two daily newspapers, the Inquirer and Daily News.

As a general rule, the cost of living in larger cities, especially an area like Philly as part of the Boston-Washington corridor, will be a lot higher than smaller metros in the Midwest. As for your salary, it depends on what kind of job you're looking for. Assuming you and your fiance' were able to find the same type of work you had in Michigan, you should be able to cover a $800 apt without a problem, assuming other debts were low-to-nonexistent.

[ScottyG]

[quote=LyndsayM;11104572]I've been researching apartments in Media and I can't find anything under $800-900 a month. Does anyone know of any?? I am going to be attending Widener University and have been looking at smaller areas outside of Chester to live. Media seems like the perfect place!

I am not sure if you've been to the campus or not, but the immediate area, 2 to 3 blocks around the campus, isn't that bad. You might be able to find something in your price range. Widener is buying up and renovating a lot of property in the area around campus and there are several schools and the Chester Upland Administrative building is in the neighborhood. I think the area is well patrolled because of this and crime is kept in check.

I come from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where you can rent a nice 3 bedroom HOUSE for $700 a month. Nice apartments around here are about $500 a month or less. We currently rent a two bedroom townhouse for $525.

I'm obviously not at all used to having to pay 800 a month for rent, let alone $1000 a month as I've been seeing many places around that entire area. However, I'm assuming that people must make more money in that area than they do around here.

Yes you are paid more, but housing, much higher insurance rates, and higher entertainment costs eats up a large chunk of it.

I currently have a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. Here, that can earn me about $8.75-$12.00 an hour. Can anyone tell me if I would probably make more money around that area with my degree than I do around here? Otherwise, I have no idea how I would be able to afford a 2 bedroom apartment for that much money. I also have a fiance who would be working, though he doesn't have a college degree. I have a 7 year old daughter, so safety and good school are of utmost importance.

You should definitely be able to find something over $12 an hour, the area's economy is much more diverse and you should not have an issue finding a decent paying job.

If your heart is set on Media, and who can blame you, look on Craigslist for apartments/condos (which are privately owned) at Holly House or Hickory Hill, you can occasionally find something for around $1000 or less with everything included. Good Luck...