Moving to Philly from Alaska (Chester, West Chester: house, safe area, purchase)

[suzie3776]

We are relocating to Philly for the next 3 -4 years and are looking to purchase a house outside the city in a safe area. We have 4 children one in high school, one in middle school and one in elementary school so a good school district is a must. The drive into Philly can be up to an hour. One child has aspergers and OCD so no school districts with a dress code will work. We were looking at Upper Darby and Lansdowne but after reading some reviews are not sure. Price range up to 280,000. We will need to sell in 3 years. We would like a 4 or 5 bedroom. Any suggestions?

[Tangled Threads]

Look at Collingswood/Oaklyn/Audubon/Haddon Township NJ - you might find something there in your price range. Dress codes shouldn't be a problem.

[rainrock]

Look into Downingtown, Exton,Phoenixville,Valley Forge,Audubon,East Norriton. The further you can stretch your commute the further your money will go. Upper Darby/Landsdowne are hard scrabble inner ring suburbs, perhaps a bit too much culture shock for someone from Alaska. The further you go from the city the slower the pace of life and the more scenic the Philadlephia area becomes.In pennsylvania East and West Norriton,Skippack,
Audubon,East Vincent,Coventry,ValleyForge,Phoenixville,Downingt own,Exton area would be a good place to start looking imo.All those towns are within 15 minutes to a rail station that can take you into the city. Depending on rush hour most of those towns are around a 1 hr-1 1/4 hr commute to the city.

Good luck

[chessimprov]

Try to live near the school called Hilltop. I'm not sure if the school has a dress code, but it caters well to special needs. You also have to have a lot of money to send your child/children to the school and to live in many of these general areas.

[solibs]

Originally Posted by suzie3776

Any suggestions?

rent.

[suzie3776]

Thank you for the suggestions we will start looking there and Rainrock you are right we are all going to go through a shock moving from Alaska to Philly.

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by suzie3776

Thank you for the suggestions we will start looking there and Rainrock you are right we are all going to go through a shock moving from Alaska to Philly.

There are different levels of culture shock though.Upper Darby/ Landsdowne is a very urban setting and I personally wouldnt recommend unless you come from an east coast environment. The outlying suburbs(Exton,West Chester,Downingtown Phoenixville areas ) are newer and much easier to assimilate to.

Good luck.