Aspinwall/Oakmont/Sewickley

[SewickleyPA]

Originally Posted by Hopes

With the exception of commute times, they're all fairly comparable. You really can't go wrong with any of them.

Oakmont doesn't have as much wealth surrounding the area as Aspinwall and Sewickley.

Aspinwall has the easiest commute to Pittsburgh.

Aspinwall also has the most convenient shopping with Waterworks right up the road.

Aspinwall and Sewickly have better school districts than Oakmont, but Apsinwall has a better school district than Sewickley.

I guess Aspinwall wins by a nose.

Quaker Valley is actually ranked slightly higher than Fox Chapel, though its very close to where it almost doesn't make a difference. Quaker Valley is smaller and more intimate though. (Which can be a good or a bad thing)They also have two really great private schools in Sewickley and Shadyshide Academies.

For shopping they both have nice little downtowns with unique little stores to shop in, but as you mentioned Aspinwall and Fox Chapel are probably closer to a larger shopping area than Sewickley. However, the great thing about Sewickley that most people probably don't know, is that it is located in a absolutely prime location for shopping variety. If you drew a diamond from Robinson Mall to Ross Park mall to Cranberry to Beaver Valley mall, guess what would be right in between? SEWICKLEY. This is probably one of the reasons why so many people with money flock here.

As for proximity to the city, Sewickley is definitely a little farther of a drive, but has a much faster and newer road in the Ohio River Boulevard. I have heard that during rush hour 65 actually moves faster the closer you get to the city. On the other hand 28 might be one of the worse roads to drive into/out of the city on, since it is basically an old and crumbling highway not built to handle the current traffic load.

Using the above criteria, its too close to call which place is better and it would basically come down to personal preference. So I would add one more very important category, which is proximity to the airport. I know, you probably new that was coming as I am obviously a little bias here but it is extremely convenient living very close to the airport. Yet far enough that you never get bothered by the noise from the planes.

It was a really close call but in the end, the Aiport proximity breaks the tie and it comes down to Sewickley by a nose.

[aveojohn]

I can't speak for the other 2 but, I grew up near Oakmont and it is a very nice area.When I consider moving,Oakmont will be at the top of my list.

[robrobrob]

I used to live in Aspinwall and Oakmont and here are my thoughts. Aspinwall feeds into the Fox Chapel School district which is pretty good. Sewickley feeds into Quaker Valley which is a bit smaller and also pretty good. Oakmont is Riverview which is not that good. One has to realize that the affluent kids from these school district are not going to public schools.

I would not want to commute to town from Oakmont. Sewickley is further out but a less stressful commute than Aspinwall due t Route 28 being a mess.

With regard to the towns. Aspinwall has a very small business district and since the community is very small it is walkable. Oakmont is bigger business district and since it sits on a hill is not that walkable. Sewickley is the nicest town and is pretty big and is walkable.

[onwardandupward]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

Oakmont is bigger business district and since it sits on a hill is not that walkable.

This is half right - Oakmont does have a bigger business district, but it is not on a hill, and it is very flat and walkable. The whole of Oakmont is on a hill, but the business district is at the bottom of the hill where it is flat.

[PeterRabbit]

Oakmont is very walkable. A lot of people from out of town come here to walk on the trail along the tracks, around the track in the park and the the hiking trails in Dark Hollow. Crystal Drive is also popular for walking and jogging. I wouldn't go to Aspinwall if I wanted to walk because it's too small. I'm not familiar with Sewickley.

Two weeks ago I drove to downtown from Oakmont, parked on 7th Street and out of my car in under 20 minutes using Rt. 28. Did my business and was back home in an hour. 3:30PM - 4:30PM on a Friday. The drive to downtown from Oakmont isn't bad at all., just don't use A.R.B. They aren't working on Rt. 28 this time of year.

[pesach]

Originally Posted by PeterRabbit

Oakmont is very walkable. A lot of people from out of town come here to walk on the trail along the tracks, around the track in the park and the the hiking trails in Dark Hollow. Crystal Drive is also popular for walking and jogging. I wouldn't go to Aspinwall if I wanted to walk because it's too small. I'm not familiar with Sewickley.

Two weeks ago I drove to downtown from Oakmont, parked on 7th Street and out of my car in under 20 minutes using Rt. 28. Did my business and was back home in an hour. 3:30PM - 4:30PM on a Friday. The drive to downtown from Oakmont isn't bad at all., just don't use A.R.B. They aren't working on Rt. 28 this time of year.

As far as I can tell the work is done for the season.

[robrobrob]

Oakmont is walkable if you are only walking up and down the Allegheny River Blvd. Basically you have to drive there and then walk. It is not walkable if you are trying to walk to a store from your house on top of the hill.

[PeterRabbit]

I agree. I did it twice out of need. I ran out of smokes one night when there was 15" of snow and even Hulton Road hadn't been touched. To keep going I told myself how good this is for my health . . . while puffing on a cigarette. The other time I dropped the car off on Plum St., took it to 6th then cut up College Ave. I was praying to God for a flat spot to rest before reaching 8th St., and had to go to nearly 15th. After 8th it was pretty easy.

[pesach]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

Oakmont is walkable if you are only walking up and down the Allegheny River Blvd. Basically you have to drive there and then walk. It is not walkable if you are trying to walk to a store from your house on top of the hill.

I do it every other Day, but then again I am only 66.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by pesach

I do it every other Day, but then again I am only 66.

lightweight