Delaware county townships - what are they like? (Drexel Hill, Springfield: houses, to buy)

[campion]

So I'm looking to buy a house later this year and have been checking out the listings around the Ridley Park area. I'm currently living in Ridley Park, but I'm trying to keep my search widened enough. At what point do the townships just get too shady? Is Morton safe? Secane? Primos?

I'm trying to find a place north of the Blue Route so I don't have to deal with that commute - the Ridley Park commute into CC is just about as good as I think it can get. So I'd like to find a place that's either off exit 9 or exit 8 from 95.

Thanks in advance.

[PhillyViaBoston]

It sounds to me like you're looking for a reasonable commute between Delaware County and Center City. If that's the case, don't be afraid to expand your search to areas that would put you on the Blue Route at exit 3 ("Media/Swarthmore"), rather than just areas "north of the Blue Route". The traffic between that exit and 95 North isn't bad at all in the morning (mostly because the lane drop and associated traffic slowdown happens north of there). The return in the afternoon is more difficult, though most of the traffic at the 95S/476N interchange continues on 95S toward Delaware. You'd be impacted by that same tie up anyway, at least a bit, if you're going to Ridley Park.

And, to answer your more direct question, I don't think Morton is shady. (Don't know much about Secane or Primos.)

[campion]

Originally Posted by PhillyViaBoston

It sounds to me like you're looking for a reasonable commute between Delaware County and Center City. If that's the case, don't be afraid to expand your search to areas that would put you on the Blue Route at exit 3 ("Media/Swarthmore"), rather than just areas "north of the Blue Route". The traffic between that exit and 95 North isn't bad at all in the morning (mostly because the lane drop and associated traffic slowdown happens north of there). The return in the afternoon is more difficult, though most of the traffic at the 95S/476N interchange continues on 95S toward Delaware. You'd be impacted by that same tie up anyway, at least a bit, if you're going to Ridley Park.

And, to answer your more direct question, I don't think Morton is shady. (Don't know much about Secane or Primos.)

Thanks! In my experience, from listening to traffic reports and dealing with the commute to and from Ridley Park, a move to Media/Swarthmore would add a good 15-20 minutes to my commute in the evening. As much as I enjoyed Media when I was working in Haverford, I would not want that added time, which is why I was looking to avoid the Blue Route. Good to know about Morton - it seems nice from what I've seen driving through.

Still curious what others think.

[mullligan150]

Secane and Primos are fine, they are both basically extentions of Clifton Heights.

[mcguirk]

Morton is not shady at all. Don't let that small ghetto on 420 across from BJs or MacDade's dinginess scare you. Secane is also fine and Primos is OK. I personally find parts of Clifton Heights, Yeadon, and Collingdale charming but they are decidedly more downmarket. It takes a little bit of Delco savvy to see those places in a positive light.

You might want to consider Lansdowne as you can just take Baltimore right into UCity.

Why are you driving instead of taking the train?

[campion]

Originally Posted by mcguirk

Morton is not shady at all. Don't let that small ghetto on 420 across from BJs or MacDade's dinginess scare you. Secane is also fine and Primos is OK. I personally find parts of Clifton Heights, Yeadon, and Collingdale charming but they are decidedly more downmarket. It takes a little bit of Delco savvy to see those places in a positive light.

You might want to consider Lansdowne as you can just take Baltimore right into UCity.

Why are you driving instead of taking the train?

Thanks. I'm going to Center City (Rittenhouse Square), so I'm not sure I fancy a Baltimore Pike commute every day, but I'll look at travel times for a few weeks to see what it's like.

I think I've posted a few times here about why I drive rather than take the train, but it boils down to the fact that I abhor public transportation. I get motion sickness, I hate being smushed up next to some random person I don't know, and I don't like living by some company's schedule that's not my own. In addition, at least one day a week I don't get off work until 6:30 and thus can't catch the last rush hour train out of the city, so I really have to drive that day (unless I want to stay in the city until 7:30, which I don't). So it doesn't make sense to buy a monthly pass since I wouldn't get my money's worth for it. And if I can pay $10 to park or $10 to take the train, I'm going to pay $10 to park every time, even considering the gas.

Where I live now it's a ten minute walk to the train. So that means I have to leave at 8:12 to catch an 8:22 train. When I get off the train I've got a 10 minute walk to work by 9 am. Or, I could leave my house at 8:25, drive to the garage in CC and still get to work at 9 am. The extra 15 or so minutes of sleep in the morning is worth it too!

I did give the train an honest chance for about three months when I first moved here and took the job. But sleep and my natural hatred of the train won out in the end.

[LHM]

Originally Posted by campion

I abhor public transportation. I get motion sickness, I hate being smushed up next to some random person I don't know, and I don't like living by some company's schedule that's not my own.

You're not alone - there are many others who feel this way.

[templeu]

Originally Posted by campion

Thanks. I'm going to Center City (Rittenhouse Square), so I'm not sure I fancy a Baltimore Pike commute every day, but I'll look at travel times for a few weeks to see what it's like.

If you're not opposed to take Rte 3 into the city, then Drexel Hill might be an option to pursue.

[soulsurv]

Morton is an okay area, and it's split bwtween Ridley and Springfield townships (though most of it, I believe is in Ridley). Don't quote me, but I think the tax structure is similar. In Drexel Hill, you'll pay OBSCENE taxes if you own a home. Why not try and purchase something right in Ridley Park where you are now? You want to be close to 95, and you're familiar with the town. You didn't mention a price range, but you could probably get a solid home in RP in the low 200's.

[campion]

Originally Posted by soulsurv

Morton is an okay area, and it's split bwtween Ridley and Springfield townships (though most of it, I believe is in Ridley). Don't quote me, but I think the tax structure is similar. In Drexel Hill, you'll pay OBSCENE taxes if you own a home. Why not try and purchase something right in Ridley Park where you are now? You want to be close to 95, and you're familiar with the town. You didn't mention a price range, but you could probably get a solid home in RP in the low 200's.

I am definitely going to try to buy in RP. I just see a lot of nice little houses in the Morton and Folsom area and wondered how far out from RP was still okay. Price range will be up to $250k, but I'd rather spend in the low 200s or even lower if I can since I'm single.