Main Line or Bucks County (Chester, King of Prussia: power lines, condos, how much)

[nicetomeetyou]

Hello, we are thinking of relocating to the Philly suburbs from NJ (Somerset County). Which is better (Main Line towns or Bucks County) in terms of taxes and schools (we have 2 children, ages 10 & 13)? Any thoughts about which is less "snobby"? I don't want to be in the middle of nowhere but I don't want to be on top of my neighbor. My husband has offices in Newtown and King of Prussia. I personally would love a walkable town... I know this is a tall order! Thanks so much for your input!

PS - I also want to be far away from the power lines I see in Bucks County

[orrmobl]

I would choose Tredyffrin-Easttown then Chadds Ford or Central Bucks then Lower Merion. TE is the best district this side of the state but the others are top 10 also. Less snobbery in the first three, I would guess lower taxes in this as well. Wayne and Doylestown come to mind as walkable down towns. Also West Chester, Media, Narberth.

[JasmineFlower]

Will your husband be in one office more than the other? Is there a reason it has to be Bucks County or Main Line and not somewhere in the middle? How much are you planning on spending on a home?

Looking in Newtown, New Hope, and Doylestown would be a good idea in Bucks County, and you can look into Wayne and Narberth on the Main Line. My other suggestion is to look into Ambler, seems like it would be the best choice overall given what you are looking for plus its in a good location, somewhat between your husband's offices.

Unionville-Chadds Ford is a great school district, but wouldn't suggest it because it will give your husband a pretty long commute to Newtown.

[frankgn87]

your husband has an office in newtown? Perfect.... Great town, great schools .. You could not ask for more

[nicetomeetyou]

Originally Posted by JasmineFlower

Will your husband be in one office more than the other? Is there a reason it has to be Bucks County or Main Line and not somewhere in the middle? How much are you planning on spending on a home?

Looking in Newtown, New Hope, and Doylestown would be a good idea in Bucks County, and you can look into Wayne and Narberth on the Main Line. My other suggestion is to look into Ambler, seems like it would be the best choice overall given what you are looking for plus its in a good location, somewhat between your husband's offices.

Unionville-Chadds Ford is a great school district, but wouldn't suggest it because it will give your husband a pretty long commute to Newtown.

Hi There - thanks for the reply - I'd say he's in KOP 75% and Newtown 25% and yes it could be somewhere in the middle - price? about $700-900K

[killakoolaide]

I second Ambler

[castigs]

I personally like Ambler but if they are looking in the 900k range, I imagine Ambler is a bit grittier than they'd want.

[JasmineFlower]

Originally Posted by nicetomeetyou

Hi There - thanks for the reply - I'd say he's in KOP 75% and Newtown 25% and yes it could be somewhere in the middle - price? about $700-900K

Great. So, I suggest looking in the Ambler/Blue Bell area and then you can look next to it as well in the Upper Dublin area as well. Ambler is the town with the walkable downtown near both of these areas. Add these to the other towns you are looking in. Both great school districts, Ambler/Blue Bell is in the Wissahickon SD, and Upper Dublin's school district of the same name.

In terms of Main Line towns, you'll do better staying closer to King of Prussia IMO, which will be T/E SD and you can look in Devon, Berwyn, and Wayne with your price point, with Wayne having the walkable downtown. Now, not a walkable town as a whole, but a walkable downtown. There's a decent chance that you will not want to walk from your house to town from where you live if you choose Wayne (that's also the case with Ambler - you'll be close but not walking distance from your house close especially given the roads in both areas).

I'd say only choose Bucks County if there's something there you love, love, love about it more than another area. Your husband will have about an hour commute from many of the places you'll likely be looking into in Bucks County getting to King of Prussia. Which might be a lot if that's his main commute.

As for snobbiness - I've seen many times on these forums people suggest choosing TE over other Main Line SDs when looking at the Main Line when requesting less snobby areas. Not completely sure why, TE is slightly less expensive than the other ones, but not by much. I've met many high school students in the area, certainly from these districts and you're gonna find snobs and entitlement in all of them, including from Conestoga. But I've also met many great kids from them as well. I'm not saying to stay away from these schools in the least, they are excellent schools. But in terms of snobs, I can't say you should choose Conestoga to get less snobby. And I think to a certain extent, it comes with the territory of buying a $900k home in an area that doesn't contain economic diversity within the township, and ML struggles with that for the most part.

[orrmobl]

T/E encompasses Chesterbrook which has townhomes and condos and also Paoli which is less expensive. The Berwyn and Devon addresses are more snobby as is that side of the district that attends T/E Middle School. The Valley Forge Middle side has a more wholesome feel if you will and a good number of Asian and Indian kids; I am so glad we did not buy on the other side of the district as the people are a bit much to take IMO.

[kimrocktherealtor]

You can't get much better than Council Rock (Newtown/Richboro/Holland) or Central Bucks (Doylestown) schools. As far as a walkable downtown - Newtown & Doylestown have that too! I think you can't go wrong with either.