Moving from the Boston area to Philly--Need help with areas...

[cpomp]

My favorite recommendation: Media. Close to downtown there are older twins, which are well kept and probably the most affordable buy in media, if your looking for newer townhomes they can be found everywhere as well, such as Ravenscliff, new carriagehomes being contructed minutes from media. I dont know what your price range is, but overall the media area is expensive, but worth it, easy access to center city, close to any kind of store you need, bix box or boutique, restaurants from chain, to private and upscale, school district is excellent, and there is a very family friendly atmosphere in the media area. List any more specifics and ill be happy to repsond.

[PennKid]

I would second all the suggestions that Mt. Airy, in virtually all of its western side and most of its eastern side, is a wonderful place to live. However, if you are also looking for a place that is 'artsy', walkable, vibrant, and near a university, and with easy access to excursion destination, I would recommend the two parts of West Philly bordering Penn and Drexel, Spruce Hill/Walnut Hill and Powelton Village, respectively. The former has a very healthy commercial strip with small eateries, bike stores, organic-food-stores, yoga places, etc, and the latter is more quaint. They both have a reputation as very very liberal and progressive, and as the home of activism in the Delaware Valley. They both have stellar public schools, too- Penn Alexander, and Powel, respectively, that make it easy to feed into one of the city's renowned public schools.

Here are two street shots:

In Spruce Hill:

48th and osage - Google Maps

and Powelton Village:

powelton village - Google Maps

Think, for Boston comparisons, of JP and Mission Hill, respectively.

PS, I lived in Dorchester for a while and I don't think it's all a ghetto, not even remotely. The only reason I mention it on this forum is because I think that the DOt has many similarities to Lower Northeast Philly, which I've always thought to be a relatively healthy, if slightly not-perfectly-upkept part of Philly.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by sullivjo

Recently moved here as well from Mass... lower Main Line is quite similar to Newton and Brookline. This includes the communities of Wynnewood, Merion, Narberth, Ardmore, Radnor, Villanova, Bryn Mawr, and Wayne...These should all bring you to Market East on the Paoli/Thordale line in about 30 minutes or less. (Driving would take much longer!) Even parts of Overbrook Farms would have some family friendly homes. This is part of Philly, so I wouldn't rely on the local public school there, but the rent would be cheaper than Main Line while still being close to all the amenities. However, if price in not an issue I would choose one of the Main Line communities. You will still find it to be cheaper than the immediate suburbs of Boston. Lots of shopping, restaurants, great schools and parks, and community activities, and you are still super close to the city to take advantange of the museums and center city.

Not really.

[MsChelle]

Overbrook is another neighborhood to consider. It's a lot closer to Center City than Mt. Airy. I moved to Philly for grad school and I live in Overbrook. Overbrook Educational Center is a public school at 68th St and Lansdowne Ave. I know a couple of parents whose kids go there and I did a practicum there. It's a good school The neighborhood is working class/middle class and affordable. The nearby Catholic school is St. Donato (65th & Callowhill). A nearby neighborhood to consider is Overbrook Farms which is very nice. There is a Regional Rail station at 63rd & City Avenue. It's about a 10-12 minute ride to Center City. Overbrook Farms has a lot of families and some college students from St. Joseph's University. Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School is at 63rd St & Lancaster Ave.

[MsChelle]

FYI, there is a huge waiting list for the Penn Alexander School. (See Put out over city school's success - Philly.com.) There aren't any Catholic schools in the immediate area. The closest are Our Mother of Sorrows-St. Ignatius and St. Francis de Sales. (OMS-St. I is in Mill Creek and Belmont. While I have traveled and walked around frequently on major streets in Belmont and Mill Creek without any problems, these neighborhoods have a lot of blight.)