Please Comment on these Towns (Chester, West Chester: real estate, house, buy)

[Sassygirl18]

Thanks to all of you who suggested towns that might suit us as we consider relocating from NJ. Hubby and I toured a number of Philly suburbs this weekend and these were our favorites:

Media
Wynnewood
Narberth
Jenkintown
Abington
Ridley Park

I think Wynnewood might be out of our price range but I think all the others are a possibility. I'd love your comments on how well you think these areas would suit us. To refresh your memory, hubby and I are in our 40s, childfree, freethinking, liberal, educated (but not elitist), vegetarian - you get the picture. Our price range is $300-$350K and we're looking for an area where we can buy a minimum 3 bedroom house with taxes under $5K/year. We love old architecture (1920s - 1930s especially) and we especially love areas with a cute, old-fashioned downtown. An extra bonus would be easy access to Center City via train and convenience to major shopping. A bonus would be an area where there is a diversity of household types and not completely family/kid-centered.

Somebody also suggested we check out West Chester but it seems a bit far. What do you think?

Any comments on the towns above that we liked? Do you think any of these would be more suitable for us than others? Any other towns you might suggest?

Thanks!

[maf763]

Jenkintown sounds like a match - good train service to CC, small downtown area, older housing stock, Whole Foods & Trader Joe's, plenty of liberal minded people. Check a real estate site and plug in zip code 19046 to see what's available.

Abington is more spread out and tends to be more conservative, but could also be a good choice - try 19001.

[bryson662001]

I think all those towns are pretty much alike except Wynnewood is more upscale then the others (except Rydal/Meadowbrook area of Abington/Jenkintown is also very upscale) and Ridley Park is more downscale.

[orrmobl]

I would look at Media and Jenkintown for the diversity component. And, given your background/desires, I would look for the area with the WORST schools as you will get more house for your money, probably lower taxes, and less families with small children...also you should really check out Wallingford and Swarthmore...with Media right next door you get pretty much everything you are looking for...there are some homes there with lower taxes...

[maestro]

how are the schools in Jenkintown?

[maf763]

Jenkintown is a very small district - one elementary, one middle school, one high school. No busing as everyone in the boro is close enough to walk. The smallness can be good or bad depending on the circumstances. I'd imagine one could get pretty tired of the spending 13 years with mostly the same kids, especially if a child was having a hard time fitting in. The other disadvantage of a small district is that they might not be equipped to provide certain support services if they were needed.

[maestro]

Originally Posted by maf763

Jenkintown is a very small district - one elementary, one middle school, one high school. No busing as everyone in the boro is close enough to walk. The smallness can be good or bad depending on the circumstances. I'd imagine one could get pretty tired of the spending 13 years with mostly the same kids, especially if a child was having a hard time fitting in. The other disadvantage of a small district is that they might not be equipped to provide certain support services if they were needed.

how small? how many in a high school graduating class? How are the schools rated?

[newmarlig]

Greatschools.net Search: Jenkintown

[maf763]

Graduating class is typically around 45-50 students.

[orrmobl]

District is 40th out of 500 statewide...not bad but you could do better and I would think a small district would mean many fewer opportunites for extracurriculars and Honors/AP classes...