Moving to Philly (Chester, Pottstown, West Chester: houses, safest neighborhood, buy)

[Kluebke]

I need some advice on the best places to live outside of Philly? Would like to be in a smaller rural setting. What are the best school districts and safest neighborhoods for kids?

Need to be within 20 minutes or so of Wayne, PA as this is where my husband will be working.

Would prefer a home in the country (single, detached) no town home, row home or apt.

Thank you for participating and your advice.

[orrmobl]

Best schools are in places like Tredyffrin Twp (Wayne, Paoli, Berwyn, parts of Devon and Malvern) and Malvern (Great Valley). Phoenixville and Collegeville have pretty good but not great schools and more of a rural feel to them. Malvern has some pretty rural horse farm country but you have to bring the big bucks to live there and they are a tad isolated/isolating.

The difficulty is a 20 minute commute doesn't get you that far into the country in any direction...and a commute up Rt 422 West is not that fun or scenic at all.

Other places with very good schools in the area would be West Chester, Downingtown/Chester Springs/Lionville/Exton - big district, some sections very rural and further out on Rt 422 would be Pottstown (Owen J. Roberts schools).

I would extend that commute a bit and buy in Phoenixville, Collegeville, Downingtown, Pottsville, Methacton (great schools) and maybe the Upper Merion School Districts...that's all I can think of in that vicinity.

[rainrock]

Row houses in the Wayne area are very rare. Wayne and the surrounding areas could be described as upper middle class suburbia.

Rural areas around Wayne include Malvern,East Goshen,Willistown Township,Edgmont,Sugartown,Whitehorse,East Brandywine, Charlestown Township,Lionville,West Whiteland,Yellow Springs,Pickering Valley,Coventry Township. Be prepared for sticker shock.

Best school school districts in proximity to Wayne are Radnor, Tredyffrin-Easttown,and Great Valley.

Good luck.

[Kluebke]

Thank you for your advice thus far - it is truly helpful considering I have never even been to PA and will be moving from Missoula MT to the Philly area in June.