Relocating from Westchester, NY (Philadelphia, Lancaster: buying a house, neighborhoods, buying)

[westchester1908]

Hello, we are possible relocating from Westchester, NY to the suburbs of Philadelphia next year. We are a biracial family and would love to find a walkable suburb with excellent public and private school options, a liberal population, a sense of community, activities for our two kids, and access to cultural activities.

We have the option to work from home when not traveling but would like easy train access to Philadelphia and airport. Strongly prefer a walkable downtown. I do not like areas that are too rural and prefer to live somewhere where you can see your neighbors and people walk around. Budget is up to 1.5 million for a 4 bedroom house. From some preliminary research, the Main Line neighborhoods seem like they would be a great fit but would love recommendations for specific towns to explore when we visit. Thank you!

[Xbreeze]

I would think that Wayne, Ardmore and Media would both be good options to further explore. West Chester as well but it is a bit further out. You have a healthy budget for this area and should have good options in pretty much every town, especially since you are not looking for a large lot size. It’s a wonderful area, Welcome!!

[chessimprov]

//www.city-data.com/forum/phila...formation.html Answer the questions from here for more depth to guide you in the right direction.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by westchester1908

Hello, we are possible relocating from Westchester, NY to the suburb mms of Philadelphia next year. We are a biracial family and would love to find a walkable suburb with excellent public and private school options, a liberal population, a sense of community, activities for our two kids, and access to cultural activities.

We have the option to work from home when not traveling but would like easy train access to Philadelphia and airport. Strongly prefer a walkable downtown. I do not like areas that are too rural and prefer to live somewhere where you can see your neighbors and people walk around. Budget is up to 1.5 million for a 4 bedroom house. From some preliminary research, the Main Line neighborhoods seem like they would be a great fit but would love recommendations for specific towns to explore when we visit. Thank you!

Look at all of the Main Line towns, from Narberth to Paoli. However, the ones from Narberth to Wayne(maybe to Berwyn) are more of what you are looking for.

I grew up in Haverford which is a village between Ardmore and Bryn Mawr both of which have walkable downtown. Wayne has a downtown too.

All have train access to Phila. The airport train travels between Center City Phila. and the airport.

[Xbreeze]

Originally Posted by kyb01

Look at all of the Main Line towns, from Narberth to Paoli. However, the ones from Narberth to Wayne(maybe to Berwyn) are more of what you are looking for.

I grew up in Haverford which is a village between Ardmore and Bryn Mawr both of which have walkable downtown. Wayne has a downtown too.

All have train access to Phila. The airport train travels between Center City Phila. and the airport.

The area of the Village of Haverford (Lower Merion Township) around Suburban Square would actually check off a lot of your boxes. It’s a great area!

[KansastoSouthphilly]

I would look at Media(!), Swarthmore, Wayne, Ardmore, Bryn Mawr. Maybe also consider Jenkintown and ambler. West Chester is has everything you want except train service to center city. It is a great town though. If you are ok with private schools maybe look at chestnut hill. Maybe also look at haddonfield on the NJ side.

Ultimately I would focus on media.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Xbreeze

The area of the Village of Haverford (Lower Merion Township) around Suburban Square would actually check off a lot of your boxes. It’s a great area!

Suburban Sq is in Ardmore but, yes, all of it is what the OP is looking for.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by KansastoSouthphilly

I would look at Media(!), Swarthmore, Wayne, Ardmore, Bryn Mawr. Maybe also consider Jenkintown and ambler. West Chester is has everything you want except train service to center city. It is a great town though. If you are ok with private schools maybe look at chestnut hill. Maybe also look at haddonfield on the NJ side.

Ultimately I would focus on media.

Media gets pushed a lot on this board. While Bryn Mawr, for example, rarely if ever gets pushed at all. It has a superb public library, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Aqua America PA, Bryn Mawr Trust hq, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr Film Institute and it's split between two good school districts with Lower Merion the better of the two. Plus, the walkable downtown of Lancaster Ave.

I like Media, btw, but why so much emphasis? Plus the OP specifically mentioned the Main Line.

[KansastoSouthphilly]

Originally Posted by kyb01

Media gets pushed a lot on this board. While Bryn Mawr, for example, rarely if ever gets pushed at all. It has a superb public library, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Aqua America PA, Bryn Mawr Trust hq, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr Film Institute and it's split between two good school districts with Lower Merion the better of the two. Plus, the walkable downtown of Lancaster Ave.

I like Media, btw, but why so much emphasis? Plus the OP specifically mentioned the Main Line.

I like Bryn Mawr a lot. I even considered buying a house there before I doubled down on Mt Airy. I emphasized media here because of the clearly stated preference for s walkable town. I think that is the center of media to a T. Lancaster ave in Bryn Mawr feels, to me st least, like a busy road with a lot of stores on them at least when it is compared to the main streets in media, West Chester. I just think I would start my search in media.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by kyb01

Media gets pushed a lot on this board. While Bryn Mawr, for example, rarely if ever gets pushed at all. It has a superb public library, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Aqua America PA, Bryn Mawr Trust hq, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr Film Institute and it's split between two good school districts with Lower Merion the better of the two. Plus, the walkable downtown of Lancaster Ave.

I like Media, btw, but why so much emphasis? Plus the OP specifically mentioned the Main Line.

Isn't there a fairly new development in Bryn Mawr with a La Colombe, Athleta, wine bar, and some other shops too? I heard it was very nice.

With regard to Media, I think anytime someone moves to the Philadelphia area with a budget of $1M + its automatically the Main Line, which may have been the case historically, but many towns have blossomed into their own, and no longer need the Main Line attachment to make said area attractive.

I personally prefer the Media/Swarthmore/Middletown/Edgemont/Upper Providence/Newtown Square area to Lower Merion. My reasons are: The Media area is less congested, a ton more open space and protected land, equally outstanding public schools, more house for the money, a larger variety of housing stock, Media outdoes any of the walkable Main Line towns (Ardmore still has a chance), and I feel that Media offers more in terms of recreation and family friendly activities.

Of course the Main Line scores an A+ in every category as well, but the Media area has extra perks that you don't realize until you move to the area.

Both areas also have easy rail/ highway access to Philadelphia and fairly diverse and liberal.

West Chester is a superb area, but much more separated from Philadelphia.

I recommend a visit to Main Line (Lower Merion), Media area, and West Chester to see them for yourself.