Conshohocken vs Media (Philadelphia, Swarthmore, New Hope: apartment complexes, neighborhoods, school districts)

[Nrmiche210]

Hello everyone!
I currently live in the poconos but plan on moving to the Philadelphia area within the next 18 months. I've done some research and think I have it narrowed down to Media or Conshohocken. I'll be 28 at that time so I would like to be around other young professionals with a nice downtown area ( art, good restaurants, a few bars but definitely not looking for a college kid area). I've been to New Hope and loved it but it's much too small . Wayne was also very nice but I've read on other threads that the mainline areas aren't always the friendliest to new people. Safety and a great school district are also big factors. I have a son that will be starting kindergarten that year, so I would also like to have a good number of young families in the area. Diversity is also big on the list. My son is biracial and I grew up in an area where I had friends from many different cultures and would like something similar. Any advice on these two neighborhoods would be great. Thanks in advance!

[Aimewitue]

Originally Posted by Nrmiche210

Hello everyone!
I currently live in the poconos but plan on moving to the Philadelphia area within the next 18 months. I've done some research and think I have it narrowed down to Media or Conshohocken. I'll be 28 at that time so I would like to be around other young professionals with a nice downtown area ( art, good restaurants, a few bars but definitely not looking for a college kid area). I've been to New Hope and loved it but it's much too small . Wayne was also very nice but I've read on other threads that the mainline areas aren't always the friendliest to new people. Safety and a great school district are also big factors. I have a son that will be starting kindergarten that year, so I would also like to have a good number of young families in the area. Diversity is also big on the list. My son is biracial and I grew up in an area where I had friends from many different cultures and would like something similar. Any advice on these two neighborhoods would be great. Thanks in advance!

Both are great choices. Where are you working at? I think for diversity media has a little more.

I think rose tree media elementary is pretty diverse but check the numbers at www.greatschools.com.

Both are good choices though!! safe and good school districts

[Nrmiche210]

No job in the area yet. I am a pre-school teacher right now but will have my certification by time we move, so I will most likely look for something in the Philadelphia school district.

[Aimewitue]

Originally Posted by Nrmiche210

No job in the area yet. I am a pre-school teacher right now but will have my certification by time we move, so I will most likely look for something in the Philadelphia school district.

Philadelphia school district isnt doing so great right now....Gather more info before you move.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by Nrmiche210

Hello everyone!
I currently live in the poconos but plan on moving to the Philadelphia area within the next 18 months. I've done some research and think I have it narrowed down to Media or Conshohocken. I'll be 28 at that time so I would like to be around other young professionals with a nice downtown area ( art, good restaurants, a few bars but definitely not looking for a college kid area). I've been to New Hope and loved it but it's much too small . Wayne was also very nice but I've read on other threads that the mainline areas aren't always the friendliest to new people. Safety and a great school district are also big factors. I have a son that will be starting kindergarten that year, so I would also like to have a good number of young families in the area. Diversity is also big on the list. My son is biracial and I grew up in an area where I had friends from many different cultures and would like something similar. Any advice on these two neighborhoods would be great. Thanks in advance!

Conshohocken and Media are very different. First, Media schools (rose tree media school district) are much much better than Upper Merion, not even a competition. Next, Conshohocken isnt bad, but I still find it rather dumpy even though there is a lot of revitalization going on.

Media is a quaint downtown with a main street (State St) many restaurants and small shops to choose from. Big Box stuff not far. There is not really a nightlife aspect aside from a few bars, and it may lack that artsy feel that you get in a lot of Philadelphia neighborhoods. Media is much more family oriented, safer, less congestion, liberal, and diverse in that people will not isolate your son for being biracial, and the area is more aesthetically pleasing than Conshohocken. All of the communities around Media are very leafy and quiet suburban streets. Media is most definitely a more appropriate choice, and easy commute to Philadelphia via train or car.

[RightonWalnut]

Media is more of a quaint quiet town. Conshohocken is building more in the way of large apartment complexes and highrise office buildings. Two different towns really and depends on what you prefer. Media is served by SEPTA via a Trolley and a Regional Rail line but is a further out from the city. Conshohocken is served by a Regional Rail line and is practically right outside of the city limits.

[Nrmiche210]

Got it. Seems like Media might be more of what I'm looking for. Even though it's quaint are there still a good number of people there in their late 20s/ early 30s?


I did a bit of research on the Phili school system. Thanks for the warning. I would like to attend grad school at some point so I would also look for jobs at one of the universities.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by Nrmiche210

Got it. Seems like Media might be more of what I'm looking for. Even though it's quaint are there still a good number of people there in their late 20s/ early 30s?


I did a bit of research on the Phili school system. Thanks for the warning. I would like to attend grad school at some point so I would also look for jobs at one of the universities.

A very good number as far as suburbs go, but don't confuse it with a hip, in-city neighborhood.

[RightonWalnut]

Originally Posted by Nrmiche210

Got it. Seems like Media might be more of what I'm looking for. Even though it's quaint are there still a good number of people there in their late 20s/ early 30s?


I did a bit of research on the Phili school system. Thanks for the warning. I would like to attend grad school at some point so I would also look for jobs at one of the universities.

The universities are a good place to look for work. They're all booming right now. UPenn, Drexel and Temple are the hottest, but there are other great Universities all around the metro.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by Summersm343

The universities are a good place to look for work. They're all booming right now. UPenn, Drexel and Temple are the hottest, but there are other great Universities all around the metro.

A bit closer to Media, you have Haverford, Villanova, Cabrini, and Eastern, while Swarthmore, Neumann, and PSU-Brandywine are practically at your doorstep.