Relocation/Marital Advice (Norristown, Ardmore, Paoli: houses, neighborhoods, new construction)

[uncleephriam]

My family is going to be moving to the Philly area in the near future. I've accepted a job in the Norristown/Valley Forge area. We're not sure where my husband will be working, yet, but I'm willing to commute around 20-30 minutes (as long as most of that time is driving, not sitting in traffic). We have 2 young kids, the older will be starting kindergarten in fall 2009.

I'm looking for excellent schools (for background, I grew up in Tenafly, NJ which is consistently ranked #1 or #2, so that's my standard). I'd like to be fairly close to the city (i.e. on a commuter rail line). I also like towns with walkable downtowns and walkable neighborhoods (I don't think winding country roads are safe places to walk the dogs at night or for the kids to learn to ride their bikes). I'd also like to be somewhere with some ethnic diversity and some sort of Jewish population. I'm not all that concerned about lot size and I like older houses (nothing against new construction, in principle, but I HATE McMansions- don't like the pseudo-palatial architecture- who needs a cathedral ceiling in a 2000 sq ft house and don't like the isolated, ticky tack box "communities").

Here's the marital advice part, my husband is not that interested in being close to the city. He would like to have a newer house (easier to maintain, he believes) and a larger lot (probably at least 1/2 acre).

We're looking around upper $500,00 to lower $600,00. So, any community recommendations would be greatly recommended.

Thanks

[newmarlig]

I would suggest you look in the Lower Merion School District. It's one of the highest rated in the country. It's on the main line and it's an easy commute via train into center city Philly. You will find a variety of housing depending upon the township you choose. Lower Merion, Wynnewood and Bala Cynwyd have large Jewish populations. It is also not far from Valley Forge.

[rainrock]

Excellent recommendations newmarlig. You can also look at neighboring towns like Radnor,Wayne,Paoli,St Davids, and Tredyffrin,Malvern,Great Valley. Lower Merion,Radnor,Great Valley school districts are all next to each other and are arguably the 3 best school districts in this region.

Lower Merion Township is closest to the city then heading west is Radnor then Great Valley. Lower Merion Township has a dozen or so towns within its border, most are very walkable e.g., Bryn Mawr,Ardmore,Narberth,Haverford.Sounds like the mainline is what you are looking for.

Radnor is a bit more spacious, more auto oriented but very upscale. Sounds a bit more to your husbands liking.

The Great Valley towns are newer auto-centric communities.

Good luck