Moving to Royersford from Knoxville, Tn (Philadelphia, Reading: daycare, house, neighborhood)

[TapperMel]

Moving in July...doing some research on the area. Would anyone offer any opinions on the schools and the area in general? I've done all my 'homework' on Schooldigger.com and greatschools.org -- but sometimes it helps to hear from community members. Thanks very much!

[Fiss240]

I'm currently living in Limerick, which is part of the same school district. My little brother went to the highschool which seemed pretty nice. Driving by recently, they just put a big addition on, probably to deal with all the people moving into $350-580K+ cookie-cutter mcmansions in the area. As far as academics, its an area with a growing expectation that you go to college when you graduate. It was previously more working class but thats changing pretty dramatically year by year, even in the recession.

As someone in my 20's, I think the area is boring. Local attractions include golf, golf, more golf, and bowling (boooooooooorrrririiiiiiinnngggggg). The Royersford side of town has more dining and walkable area and is less wealthy but still very nice in my opinion (I actually prefer it to the limerick side). I cant wait to relocate closer to philly but see the appeal for families.

Public transit is almost non-existant, with a few infrequent septa buses here and there.

There is a decent amount of shopping near by, mostly big chain stuff and a big "premium outlets" were nothing seems any cheaper than at regular stores. Good variety of stores however.

I think the area is very safe, but apparently not enough for the ultra-paranoid parents in my neighborhood. They drive their kids 30 yards down the street to the bus stop so they dont get kidnapped and brutally murdered by the 1000's of psychopathic serial murders they must think live nearby. Me? I almost never lock my car and the house only gets locked out of habit. I've lived in some of the safest places on earth (Japan) and I dont feel unsafe here at all.

[orrmobl]

Check out these districts in this order and find one the location you like best... Tredyffrin, Radnor, Great Valley, Methacton, Downingtown, Owen J. Roberts, West Chester, Phoenixville, Perkiomen Valley SDs.

Good luck in your search!

[BPP1999]

I live in Collegeville, which is in the Perkiomen Valley SD, the next school district over from Spring-Ford. The above poster pretty much hit the nail on the head. The districts in this area used to be more blue-collar but with all the new development over the last 15 years things have changed. Spring-Ford is not a "trophy" school district like Lower Merion or Treddyfrin-Easttown, but it is a very good district. After all, many of the pharma people working at Pfizer (f/k/a Wyeth) and Glaxo-Smithkline live in this area. Many of the areas along 422 such as Limerick are bedroom communities of the King of Prussia and Malvern areas. Also, if this is in indication at all, there are new daycare centers popping up all over the 422 corridor.

I'm in my early 30's with 2 kids and I agree that the area is rather boring for 20-year-olds. However, it's a great place to raise a family. Check out the Spring Valley YMCA. There's also the Perkiomen Trail. Even the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown is only about a half hour away. There plenty of things to do with kids.

Downtown Phoenixville is very nice and there's quite a few good restaurants. Skippack is close by as well but is more oriented for the 40 and up crowd as opposed to Phoenixville which caters more to the 20/30/40 crowds.

Philadelphia is about 45 minutes to an hour away with no traffic. West Chester is about 45 minutes, King of Prussia is about 20 minutes with no traffic. A Wegman's just opened up. The area is relatively quiet but each year there are more and more things like shopping and restaurants. There could be more non-chain restaurants in this area but I suppose that will happen over time.

I think over time you will see the traffic continue to get worse on the local roads, but there continues to be talk of re-establishing train service out to Royersoford, Pottstown, and Reading on the freight lines that already exist. By the way, traffic on 422 is pretty terrible, but if you work in the King of Prussia area it's certainly doable.

[TapperMel]

Wow - thank you guys so much. I'm pushing 40 and my hub is 42...2.5 kids (2 at home, 1 headed to college)...it's so helpful to hear from the locals! I'm a dancer/instructor and own a company called Tap-N-Burn. I'm excited about getting up and going up there, but nervous at the same time (need to find a location to teach). We are trying to move by late July so the kids can get acclimated to the area before school starts. Thanks again everyone!!!