Best place for a single 30yo?? (Conshohocken, Swarthmore: condo, appliances, house)

[grlintheworld]

After a long stint in NYC and abroad, I'm finally ready to come back home. I'm over the city (done with the hustle and bustle, tired of poor quality of life), and looking for something a bit more suburban where I can actually live like a "grown up" (i.e. actual bedroom, my own washer and dryer, etc.). That said, I'm still single, and looking to meet people, so I can't be somewhere super suburban or isolated. I need to be somewhere where there's actually stuff going on, and where I can easily get into the city as well. Would love to be able to buy a house at $350-$400k. Close access to a nice park (hiking, biking) would be a plus. Any suggestions?

[pman]

mt. airy, fox chase have train lines to the city and are suburban (though in city limits) and are near parks (wissahickon, pennypack respectively). phoenixville is a bit further afield but is close to VF Park and has a river trail and a nice little downtown. jenkintown/glenside.
fairmount is in the city but has a fairly high quality of life, by the art museum, the jogging trails along the schuylkill, and easy access to fairmount park. it's a good place for a single 30 yo.

[Marius Pontmercy]

Queen Village or NoLibs (Northern Liberties) would be safe bets. They're downtown and close to all sorts of nightlife and culture. You could also try Fishtown which is a bit rougher but cheaper. Fairmount could work too, its near the Art Museum and Fairmount Park.

[a75206]

For that much money, I think you could easily afford a nice house within the city and be in a good/hip area and still it won't be super busy like it is in NYC. At least that's the feel I'm getting.

The above ideas are all awesome, though I've heard a lot more about West Mt Airy and how its quite diverse, and because of the train, you're never too far from Center City and all the singles scene there.

I'm hoping to live in a 1-bedroom apt in Center City when I move there in June, but like you, I also want the basic amenities--I'll not accept a tiny apt with old appliances and so forth. Thankfully there are some good choices in condo buildings... i'll find out soon enough.

[maf763]

You can try Conshohocken - it seems to fit all your requests.

[solibs]

For that much money you can buy a nice 3 bedroom house (and in some neighborhoods a 5-bedroom house) with all the things you're looking for.

The neighborhoods that have already been mentioned would fit the bill.

[niceguy19125]

East Falls would probably best fit your criteria. It's close to Manayunk (a social hub) and the greenspace of the Fairmount Park/Wissahickon Gorge area. Your still in the city for convenience yet with a suburban feel.

[deadhead948]

Out of all the places that have been mentioned, i'd check out Conshohocken. Jenkintown is pretty nice too but Conshohocken probably has a little more happening.

[nosyneighbors]

Take a look at Media and Swarthmore, they are located in Delaware County, but have easy access into the city via SEPTA.

[grlintheworld]

nosyneighbors, I actually grew up around media and swarthmore, and while they're both gorgeous, I worry that as a single person I'll never really meet anybody there. Swarthmore especially seems so family oriented...