Tell me about Philly! (Philadelphia, York: best cities, condo, crime)

[condorito]

We are a couple from MN tired of the cold. Anyways, so far we have considered San Diego, CA but the cost of living is a bit high. I remember visiting Philadelphia when I was in high school and I really liked the city. I also remember seeing some really poor looking housing and much trash in some parts of the city. My questions are:

Would you considered Philadelphia to a young couple? We live in a suburb of Minneapolis and we hardly ever go to Minneapolis, especially the bad parts. We are looking for a life maybe outside of the burbs but we don't like the bad things about city living (crime, trash, criminals, etc). Are there reasonably priced neighborhoods outside of Philly that are not cookie cutter burbs but safe and convenient the city? We would love to buy an older home like a Victorian with character, not interested in your typical cookie cutter house. I hear a lot about Philly being a dangerous city, are the bad parts limited to certain parts of the city or most of the city? I should visit the city again soon but do not have time yet. Anyways, any feedback is appreciated

[orrmobl]

I would say the area is definitely hot these days, more than up and coming, great for young couples...the question is, what is your definition of "reasonable"? You can get large victorians in Lansdowne, just outside West Philly for around $400K, I'm sure you can get smaller vintage homes for less as well. But what you get in house and convenience to the city you lose in amenities (the downtown area is struggling to come back after 2 decades of virtual non-existence), high taxes (I'm guessin $4-5K range), bad sections (have always been there and probably always will be) and ATROCIOUS schools...

If you want great big old houses, great schools, close to city, you will be paying well over $500K.

So just depends on your budget and tolerance for other things based upon that budget...And yes, for the most part the bad sections contain the bad people; you just have to be extra careful when traveling to areas adjacent to the bad ones as spillover random violence can and does happen, but, honestly, if you stick to the pretty good parts where the restaurants, arts, night life are, you will be fine...

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by condorito

Would you considered Philadelphia to a young couple? We live in a suburb of Minneapolis and we hardly ever go to Minneapolis, especially the bad parts. We are looking for a life maybe outside of the burbs but we don't like the bad things about city living (crime, trash, criminals, etc).

Center City has a great mixture of vibrancy and quietnesss. Its the biggest smalltown you will ever visit. I dont live there- but 90,000 people do- but it sure is a great palce to visit. Other city neighborhoods free of city grittiness are Chestnut Hill and Mt Airy. Keep in mind that if you live in the city though you will have to pay a 4% wage tax on your income. One of the downfalls of living in the city.

The suburbs are for the most part excellent. Very little crime, a very good quality of life. This is agreat area if you are into older historic homes dating back all the way to the 1700's. Chester County and Bucks County are full of historic homes.

Some of the better towns worth looking into are:

quaint older mainstreet usa towns

West Chester
Doylestown
Newtown
Yardley
Media
Wayne
Phoenixville
Morrestown NJ
Haddonfield NJ

Newer more typical usa suburbia
King of Prussia
Exton
Chester Springs
Plymouth Meeting
Garnet Valley(Concordville)
Horsham
Cherry Hill NJ

[billb7581]

I'd add Riverton NJ to the list, as being very convienient to the City, with a Light Rail stop right in town, Victorian era housing stock and no crime to speak of.



Riverton, NJ Borough Web Site

[LEFT]

Riverton Borough, Riverton, NJ, established in 1851, is located on the Delaware River. With its sidewalks, gas lamps and victorian flavor, the town has maintained a charm through the decades by the ever-present care and volunteer spirit that its residents possess.

Riverton is home to the Riverton Yacht Club. One of the oldest and still active yacht clubs in the country. Many resident's sailboats make their home at this wonderful landmark. Downtown, the new Riverline Light Rail system has contributed to a resurgence in public transportation. The Riverline offers daily service shuttling travelers between metro Camden and Trenton with connections to Philadelphia and New York City.

[/LEFT]


Just to give you an idea, this house is 450 grand (5 bed 3.5 bath)



Look at zip code 08077 but you have to watch this zip code also includes Cinnaminson which really aint what you're looking for.

[leighland]

Originally Posted by condorito

We are a couple from MN tired of the cold. Anyways, so far we have considered San Diego, CA but the cost of living is a bit high. I remember visiting Philadelphia when I was in high school and I really liked the city. I also remember seeing some really poor looking housing and much trash in some parts of the city. My questions are:

Would you considered Philadelphia to a young couple? We live in a suburb of Minneapolis and we hardly ever go to Minneapolis, especially the bad parts.

I used to visit Minny/St Paul a lot. If you don't like the city itself, you will HATE Philly- most of Philly looks like the Worst Parts St Paul on a good day.On top of it, its an East Coast city with all the rudeness, pushiness and grime of every East Coast City.

If you are simply looking for better weather and not a lifestyle change in a different area, why not just follow 35 south? KC is a terrific metro area, has a little bit of everything but not a huge city feel; I like Okie City a lot, Norman, home of OU is a great college town and its much warmer there than in MN; if you want more big city, there's always Dallas and the Metroplex. San Antonio is one of the best cities right now, lots of culture, laid back, palm trees, rarely snows. There are many Midwest options that would have better weather without having to make a huge move.

[orrmobl]

Sorry Leigh, but I have to disagree with you...people here are not rude or pushy...you may have encountered some of that on the main line with the nouveau riche, but for the most part, the Philadelphia area is a blue collar, old fashioned town with old fashioned values...we were voted most friendly a few years ago when tested by people asking random strangers for help with directions and the like...Granted, good old fashioned racism, xenophobia, and political corruption are alive and well here too, but the people for the most part are a-okay

[CHIP72]

I would add Hatboro, PA and Palmyra, NJ (and probably Burlington, NJ) as nice suburban towns as well. Though leighland has had issues living on "the Main Line" (Bryn Mawr is a town on the Main Line), the Main Line towns (stretching from the Overbrook section in west Philadelphia westward to Paoli and Malvern) are generally considered to be nice. The aforementioned Wayne is one of the towns on the Main Line.

[john_starks]

Originally Posted by orrmobl

Sorry Leigh, but I have to disagree with you...people here are not rude or pushy...you may have encountered some of that on the main line with the nouveau riche, but for the most part, the Philadelphia area is a blue collar, old fashioned town with old fashioned values...we were voted most friendly a few years ago when tested by people asking random strangers for help with directions and the like...Granted, good old fashioned racism, xenophobia, and political corruption are alive and well here too, but the people for the most part are a-okay

i don't see that "old fashioned" goodness on south street.

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by leighland

I used to visit Minny/St Paul a lot. If you don't like the city itself, you will HATE Philly- most of Philly looks like the Worst Parts St Paul on a good day.On top of it, its an East Coast city with all the rudeness, pushiness and grime of every East Coast City.

Too much of Philaldephia is in decline and it does have alot of grit but I must say that the above statement as vaguely descriptive as it may be doesn't seem to do Philadlephia justice.But that doesnt surprise considering the source. Not saying that Philaldephia doesnt have its problems-it certainly does- but lets try to keep the opinions unbiased or at the very least do a little research before you make derisive off-handed statements.

1/3 of the Philadlephia is wonderful. 1/3 is doing ok, and 1/3 is completely bombed out.80% of the suburban area has first class QOL standards. Back to Philly. You can't rationally compare the city of Philadlephia(pop 1.5 M) to a small city such as St Paul(population 280,000).And admittedly Philadlephia has much more decay and grit than St Paul, but at the same time St Paul is not going to have anywhere near the quanity of upside that Philadlephia has.

The Center City neighborhoods of Philly are nothing short of spectacular.It might be the best 4 sq. mi. 100,000 person urban neighborhood in the entire country. Add in all the cultural institutions, 600 restaurants and bars, Fairmount Park and its just tremendous.

NW Philaldephia-which is Chestnut Hill,Mt Airy,East Falls,Andorra,Roxborough,
Manayunk,Overbrook Farms,Wynnefield Heights and is home to the one of the most amazing urban park settings in the world, the Wissahickon Gorge
125,000 people live here very comfortably.

Far NE Philadlephia is a very stable middle class section of the city 262,000 people.

West Philadelphia- University City,Cedar Park,Spruce Hill,Powelton Village is another fantastic area of the city. 60,000 people.(125,000 when school is in session.
Theres close to 600,000 people in those neighborhoods alone who are living pretty darn good. Thats 2.5x the size of the entire city of St Paul.

[orrmobl]

Ah well South Street has the young rude kids from the suburbs and the local thugs...but seriously, I've worked with New Yorkers and Bostoners and they take rude/pushy/big egos to a whole new level..they will trample their mothers to get ahead in life...just go to Sesame Place and watch them butt to the front of the line/run you and your kid over so their kid can get their pick of which animal to ride in on the Elmo Fish ride...I just explain to my son that the world doesn't work that way and that these people are embarasssing themselves and don't even know it...