best bang for the buck in all of Philly? 3 roommates (2 musicians) sharing house? (Ambler: 2014)

[themixtape]

Hi guys, I realize my other post was probably too long. Let me keep this short-

What areas have the best bang for the buck for three roommates? One is a Drexel student, another works as an adjunct professor for Villanova, and me, I'm a music teacher (teach from home, at go to the burbs to do lessons). We each make about $1600-2000 a month, and would like a 3-bedroom (or larger) house, and we'd like to feel relatively safe biking or walking around the neighborhood at night.

Two of us do music (post rock/ambient, and indie/folk stuff), and would like to find a spot where the neighbors don't bang on the wall if I am singing or playing electronic drums (VERY quietly) at like noon (not midnight, I work afternoons/nights).

Also, how bad is the cockroach situation, if you have scumbag neighbors who don't clean up after themselves? I hear the roaches come right through the walls to your place. No good.

We're each moving from the 'burbs (Ambler area, as we all live together now), and are shooting for a July 2014 moving date.

Everyone's leaning toward West Philly, but people have said you get more for your money in South Philly, and Fairmount (and possibly Graduate Hospital). We will only have one car as two of us will be selling ours.

Thanks for ANY help, really!

[MikeNigh]

How much are you thinking to spend on a house? I would recommend somewhere along the MFL or west philly trolley lines. I think you should choose a place that you think will be most inspiring for your music. Is your friend planning to drive or take a train/bus to villanova?