Relo. to "mainline" or Newtown area or Jersey? Will be working near Philly and going to Sea Isle on weekends. (Chester: fit in, homes) - Philadelphia - Pennsylvania (PA) - City-Data Forum

Cold Up North · 09-20-2009, 05:57 AM

We are considering a relo. to the Philly area. Should we look around Newtown area, the "mainline" area or go over to Jersey? We will be spending weekends in Sea Isle NJ. We have 3 kids (4, 8 & 10). We would like to be in a neighborhood where the kids could walk to schools. Also a quaint downtown area is important. A smaller town with a good school system is preferred. Housing price range $600k or so.......Thanks!!!

Tangled Threads · 09-20-2009, 06:36 AM

I'd look into Haddonfield, NJ - sounds like it could work well for you.

FindingZen · 09-20-2009, 09:59 AM

In what town(s) near Philly will you be working? Knowing that will help us give you the most appropriate suggestions. (That's certainly no knock on Haddonfield, of course... but a Haddonfield-to-King of Prussia commute, for example, would be a nightmare.)

Cold Up North · 09-20-2009, 05:23 PM

My husband works in a field where there are many offices. Sounds weird, I know, but chances are we can pick what office he wants to work out of based on where we want to live first. Thanks for the advice!!

southbound_295 · 09-20-2009, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cold Up North

My husband works in a field where there are many offices. Sounds weird, I know, but chances are we can pick what office he wants to work out of based on where we want to live first. Thanks for the advice!!

If he can work from an office near Haddonfield, that would be my recommendation.

FindingZen · 09-20-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cold Up North

My husband works in a field where there are many offices. Sounds weird, I know, but chances are we can pick what office he wants to work out of based on where we want to live first. Thanks for the advice!!

Ah ok.

Well I would recommend looking into various communities in New Jersey such as Haddonfield. The general New Jersey forum may be able to give you even more information.

Cold Up North · 09-20-2009, 05:48 PM

Haddonfield does look absolutely beautiful!!! I just checked out some websites...but the taxes ARE outrageous. Any other suggestions as a backup?

southbound_295 · 09-20-2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cold Up North

Haddonfield does look absolutely beautiful!!! I just checked out some websites...but the taxes ARE outrageous. Any other suggestions as a backup?

The taxes are outrageous all over South Jersey. That's why I left.

I lived in Cherry Hill for many years. I would suggest Haddon Heights as your back up but their taxes are worse.

The New Jersey forum skews to North Jersey, so if I were you, & if this isn't something where there's a rush, just wait & see what you get on this board.

orrmobl · 09-20-2009, 06:29 PM

If the drive to Sea Isle is a primary driver, I would consider places on the other side of SE Delco in PA vs the Main Line. Wallingford (liberal, friendly, semi walkable, older homes, higher taxes than other places in PA), Media (walkable downtown, friendly, older smaller housing as well), Garnet Valley (Bethel Twp, Concord Twp, Glen Mills) (newer housing, lots of development going on, upper class, keep up with the Joneses types), or Chadds Ford (upper class, mix of newer and older homes but more rural and spread out).

Wallingford Swarthmore and Unionville Chadds Ford schools especially are on par with Main Line schools (Radnor - super snobby, Lower Merion - mix but lots of super wealthy, Tredyffrin Easttown - mix of both, best district around here and one of the best in the state, further out from Center City and NJ).

We just moved to the T/E district and the schools are really good, though a tad more intense than we anticipated - there are a million activities, goings on and corresponding paperwork for even the elementary school. The preschool my son is going to in Berwyn (richest of the T/E areas) is really anal and academically focused - the pervasive attitude there seems to be that if little Johnny doesn''t do well in preschool, his chances for the Ivies are over. Give me a break already. We live by Valley Forge Park on a large hill they call a mountain - woods, animals, bugs, we got it all. The people are very friendly and we'll see how we fit in this year. My son takes the bus to school as do most kids just because this area is so congested traffic is a concern even close to the schools in many places.

So it's a mixed bag wherever you go but if you truly want the kids to walk to school you should check out Media, Havertown, maybe Springfield, Delco or some of the other walkable communities like West Chester and Phoenixville. Just not sure if walking to school is a reality these days for most families wherever you live.

john_starks · 09-20-2009, 07:15 PM

sea isle's overrated