Looking for Philly area residents knowledgeable of traffic patterns! (Philadelphia: fit in, rent)

[Brittlestix]

Hi all,

We are three graduate students/young professionals moving down to the Philadelphia area from the Lehigh Valley. I'm looking for your advice on a good place to live that would result in reasonable commutes for all parties involved.

-One of us will be commuting to University City via public trans
-The second will be working in Abington
-The third will be commuting via car to the Navy Yard

We're hoping to find a 3 BR place for no more than $1800- so nothing prohibitively expensive. One of the best suggestions that has come up so far is Conshy, but we're trying to identify some other options. Does anyone have any other ideas/recommendations? Or, do you know what the commute out to the Abington area might be like through the city from Manayunk, Roxborough, or Mt. Airy during rush hour?


Thanks for your help!

[kidphilly]

Why not Abington or Jenkintown. Train access for U City (right in Abington for Abington) and drive all the way down 611 to the Navy Yard. A lot of lights and some crappy areas but it moves.

The other alternative would be South Philly (PT to the Navy Yard via shuttle connection, and PT to U City or even potentially walking) and a reverse commute to Abington (Is it the Hospital?)

What type of area do you wish to reside in - more urban/less urban and also is nightlife a criteria?

Manyunk/Rox would be ~25-30 minutes at rush hour - all back roads (you will need to map the route) but basically down Lincoln and over to Abington - some others may know of a more direct route.

[UDResident]

If you live in the city then two of you can commute by public transportation.

I'd say live somewhere on the fringes of the core, that way both the first and second can easily take the Market-Frankford and either the Warminster or West Trenton lines respectively (The second would probably need to keep a car at the station to drive the short distance from the station to work). Plus, the commute by car would be much easier for the third.

[FrankInPhilly]

Originally Posted by Brittlestix

Hi all,

We are three graduate students/young professionals moving down to the Philadelphia area from the Lehigh Valley. I'm looking for your advice on a good place to live that would result in reasonable commutes for all parties involved.

-One of us will be commuting to University City via public trans
-The second will be working in Abington
-The third will be commuting via car to the Navy Yard

We're hoping to find a 3 BR place for no more than $1800- so nothing prohibitively expensive. One of the best suggestions that has come up so far is Conshy, but we're trying to identify some other options. Does anyone have any other ideas/recommendations? Or, do you know what the commute out to the Abington area might be like through the city from Manayunk, Roxborough, or Mt. Airy during rush hour?

Thanks for your help!

When you look at the locations on a map you can see why some responses to your post might be summed up as "pick a place that'll make at least 2 of you happy." That said, East Falls might work:

• good SEPTA access
• about 25-30 minutes to Abington (although once you get off Roosevelt Blvd you'll have a lot of traffic lights to deal with). Depending where you are in the area, access to the Blvd can be pretty direct.
• about 1/2 hour maybe to Navy Yard via the Schuykill Expwy. This is the worst commute of the three, esp'ly if you have to do it during "normal" working hours. Same comment as the previous item: depending on your location in E Falls, you can have quick access to the Expressway

Conshohocken may be better for access to Abington, but is going to make the UCity and Navy Yard commutes longer, especially for the one who drives to the Yard (the less time on the S'kill, the better).


Of course, this considers only location and doesn't take into account any preferences re: night life, grocery stores, etc.

[rainrock]

Center City or University City.

Can take the train to Glenside which is within walking distance(or bus) to Abington.

[RightonWalnut]

I'd say either live in Manayunk or Center City.

[bryson662001]

You are between a rock and a hard place. Actually it seems impossible because there is no decent place to live halfway between Center City (you can't afford it) and Abington. 19128 Roxborough (someone may need a ride to the train station)
or ugly old Manayunk seems to be the spot that spreads the pain equally between you. You could rent a house for your budget.
This place looks really nice but there aren't many like it.
Summit Park Communities, Philadelphia - Trulia

[LHM]

East Falls or Manayunk would be the best fit in terms of a centrally located area.

Train to or from Abington really depends on exactly where in Abington you are going.