Coming back to Philadelphia burbs

[Avalon08]

Bissie, are your parents still in KOP? I'm thinking some of the places you mentioned would be a haul from KOP and not very convenient, which is the whole point of your moving back, right? (For example, Quakertown, Sellersville, etc.) I agree that it's going to be tough to find a decent house within your budget. But wouldn't there be something in the KOP area, or up the 422 corridor like Audubon, Jeffersonville, Collegeville? Or outside of Norristown, like Plymouth Township? Not sure what the schools in those areas are like....I'm just thinking of the convenience to your parents.

[SD70]

Originally Posted by Avalon08

Bissie, are your parents still in KOP? I'm thinking some of the places you mentioned would be a haul from KOP and not very convenient, which is the whole point of your moving back, right? (For example, Quakertown, Sellersville, etc.) I agree that it's going to be tough to find a decent house within your budget. But wouldn't there be something in the KOP area, or up the 422 corridor like Audubon, Jeffersonville, Collegeville? Or outside of Norristown, like Plymouth Township? Not sure what the schools in those areas are like....I'm just thinking of the convenience to your parents.

Bissie's original post asked for areas that were within an hour. I can get to KOP in under 40 minutes from Sellersville. Quakertown has easy access to 476 and would be approximately the same amount of time.

All of the places you mentioned are convenient to KOP, but can be expensive. However, your post did cause me to think of another viable option... Pheonixville. The downtown area of Pheonixville has gone through a bit of a revival. In addition, the demographics are more of what you are looking for Bissie. It is also close to KOP. I know there are some areas of P'ville that are a little questionable and I'm not sure what the school system is like. Maybe someone else can chime in regarding the schools and crime in Pheonixville?

Quakertown is a little more culturally diverse than the Sellersville/Perkasie area. The school system isn't bad either. I know someone who currently works in the Central Bucks school system (regarded as one of the state's best), but previously worked in the Quakertown system. She has stated more than once that she enjoyed working in Quakertown much more.

[Avalon08]

OK, I didn't realize Bissie was OK with up to an hour commute to the parents. Quakertown is 38 miles from KOP, so you'd have to be hauling butt and run into no traffic to get there in less than 40 mins. :-) Phoenixville would definitely be more convenient; I don't know about the schools either though.

[SHELTONSL]

I don't know if this is too far off the beaten path for you, but Downingtown-Thorndale area would seem to fit the bill.