Help us find a good area? (Philadelphia, Norristown: apartment complexes, rental, low crime)

[anglican-mac]

So, in about a year to a year and a half, my fiance, myself, and our three year old (four at that point) will be moving to somewhere around Philadelphia. Our first thought is Phoenixville, as I will be assisting at a church there. However, I will be attending graduate school in Blue Bell.

The priorities are: Good elementary schools, and the ability to get to Blue Bell and Phoenixville easily. We would like an area with a low crime rate, relatively low cost-of-living (but that we can work with), and easy access to grocery stores, walmart, etc.


Here's the questionnaire from the sticky.

When are you moving? Between February and June 2012
Where are you coming from? Tennessee
Why are you moving? Graduate School
Where will you be working? Phoenixville
Have you been here yet? No

Will you buy or rent? Rent
If renting, are you looking for an apartment, a townhouse or loft? Apartment, possibly a rental house, depending on cost.
How much can you spend? undetermined at this time.
Do you prefer hi-rise or walk up? negotiable

Are you married or single? Will be married
Do you have children? One
Do you prefer public or private schools? Public
Do you have pets? No
Do you want or need a yard? Not opposed, but not necessary.
Are you keeping a car? Two.
Do you prefer bustling activity or calm and quiet? Negotiable

What do you want to be closest to?
Work
Shopping
Basic services (supermarket, drugstore, etc.)
Nightlife
Train or subway stations

Do you want to live with people of a similar age, race, religion or sexual preference or do you prefer a diverse neighborhood? negotiable

Coke or Pepsi? My fiance prefers coke, I prefer pepsi. The little one is a chocolate milk kind of guy.

[bryson662001]

It sounds like you would be a good candidate for one of these "5 county metro" atlases from franklin Maps. it is pricy but if you are going to live here you will be consulting it all the time. In addition to every street in every little suburban town it has zip codes, borders between different towns, countys etc, schools, shopping centers and the best way to get from here to there. By the time you move here you could be an expert on the whole area.

https://wx15.registeredsite.com/user...y=&idproduct=8

[anglican-mac]

Anybody?

I will mention that as far as school districts go, we need one that is peanut-allergy friendly. From what I've seen from the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District's website, it is not. Any comments as far as this goes?

[maf763]

It's hard to give an answer without knowing a budget. Blue Bell is a great area but it might be too pricy.

[anglican-mac]

I don't really have a budget per se, because neither of us know exactly how much we'll be making when we move. Which areas are generally average as far as rents go?

[BPP1999]

The Methacton School District comes to mind. Check out Lower Providence, PA - the post office might be Worcester, PA. The schools in Methacton are well-regarded. You'd be about 15 minutes from Blue Bell, and a half hour or so from Phoenixville. There's a few apartment complexes in the Audobon area (on Egypt Road). Plenty of shopping (grocery stores, pharmacies, a WalMart, etc. nearby) and you'd be about 20 minutes from the King of Prussia Mall and probably also the same distance from the Plymouth Meeting Mall.

[FindingZen]

Phoenixville and Blue Bell themselves are good places to live. A map search website predicts a 35 minute commute (or probably 45-50 minutes or so in traffic reality). If you subscribe to the idea that it's worth living in one or the other so that one parent can get to their child in an emergency, then you'll be fine.

Otherwise, with the exception of Norristown, you'll generally be surrounded by comfortable suburbs with above-average schools. You'll only be restricted by your budget.