Commute to UPENN.. NJ or Philly suburbs??? (Lancaster, Drexel Hill: rental, houses)

[lost4now]

Realize this topic is nothing new. Just want information from anyone who may have experienced travelling back and forth from UPENN. Not looking for judgements on what state is better. Information on easiest commutes, Towns on both sides. Anything would be helpful..... Want what we all want. Great schools, Safe(relatively), A place to raise a family.... Should mention have two kids, 7 and 3.

[Tangled Threads]

What is your housing budget and do you intend to drive, take public transportation, or whatever is fastest/cheapest?

[tarp]

The easiest suburban commute to UPenn would be from the close-in Delaware County suburbs like Upper Darby, Lansdowne, etc. Unfortunately most of those towns are very close to inner-city West Philly and have the same problems with crime. Drexel Hill (part of Upper Darby) has some very nice parts but it is my understanding once your kids reach HS, the public schools in Upper Darby have issues. The nicer PA areas on the Main Line or places like Springfield and Media are a further commute. Places like Villanova and Wayne are very expensive and have very good schools, but commuting on the Schuylkill Expressway or down Lancaster Avenue is a nightmare. Keep in mind there is regional rail connecting most of these areas to UPenn, so that may be an option.

Really the easiest suburban commute would be places across the bridge in NJ like Haddon Township and Audubon because you can be across the Walt Whitman Bridge and in University City in 15 minutes. I commute from Gloucester Township and it takes only 20 to 25 minutes. The houses are cheaper in NJ but taxes are usually higher (though not by much). The bridge toll ($5 one way) does add up. You could also look at Cherry Hill and Voorhees. I think NJ is overall easier for commuting into Center City or University City, but you do lose the hilly landscape in PA.

[rainrock]

In Pa. I would recommend looking into this towns/areas..


Swarthmore,Media,Nether Providence,Upper Providence, Middletown Township, Garnet Valley,Concord,Glen Mills,Newtown Square.

Main Line towns a bit costlier. Merion,Narberth,Ardmore,Bryn Mawr, Haverford,Wayne, Malvern

Good luck

[PhillyViaBoston]

I suggest you look along the Media/Elwyn regional rail train line (formerly the R3) in Delaware County. This line has a stop at University City (31st & South Streets), which is on the Penn campus. I know several people who do this commute...

Both the Wallingford-Swarthmore school district (R3 stops at Swarthmore, Wallingford, Moylan/RoseValley) and the Media-RoseTree school district (R3 stop at Media) are highly regarded. It would take you 20-25 minutes on the train to Penn.

Another option from this area would be to commute on the Route 101 trolley, which you'd take to the 69th street terminal, then subway to campus. This usually takes longer, but it's more economical.

Also, the area is very safe. There are many family-friendly activities in the area and it's a great place to raise a family.

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by PhillyViaBoston

I suggest you look along the Media/Elwyn regional rail train line (formerly the R3) in Delaware County. This line has a stop at University City (31st & South Streets), which is on the Penn campus. I know several people who do this commute...

Yes the Media-Elwyn Line would be a greart starting point and quick public access into University Penn. Nether Providence,Swarthmore,Media,Rose Valley,Upper Providence is a wonderful area to raise a family.

I think the whole its easier to get into the City from Jersey rather than the Pa suburbs is greatly exaggerated.

Depending exactly where you live you could walk to 1 of 5-6 train stations in that area and be in Center City in 25 minutes. If you had to drive its an easy 1/2 hour commute via 476- I 95.

[lost4now]

Originally Posted by Tangled Threads

What is your housing budget and do you intend to drive, take public transportation, or whatever is fastest/cheapest?

Fastest and cheapest!!! May need to rent at first, being new to area.

[Tangled Threads]

I'd find someplace in the Lower Merion school district. You should be able to find yourself something on the SEPTA Regional Rail Line or you may even find something on a bus line. You'll get great schools, a decent commute and decent rental properties to chose from. If and when you decide to buy, although you may not find something in the same elementary school catchment area, you will at least be in the same district, giving continuity to your child(ren)s education.

If you're up to driving (your bridge toll will be equivalent to your transit fare but you'll probably have to pay for parking in most cases), I'd look into New Jersey just over the Walt Whitman bridge; Oaklyn, Audubon, Collingswood, Haddon Township would have good rental opportunities as well as good elementary education.

[phillies2011]

Originally Posted by lost4now

Fastest and cheapest!!! May need to rent at first, being new to area.

information like this helps no one. how do you expect people to help you with such lack of specifics. You say you want something that is safe, has good schools, is a fast commute, that's all well and good, but guess what? A LOT of people want those things... that's why it's EXPENSIVE to live there.


now you claim you just want fastest and cheapest? fine. move to darby,pa. You could probably rent a place suitable for a 4 person family for $350 a month. You're a short trolley ride from university city. That would be the fast and cheapest suburb.

is it safe? no. but without solid parameters of what you want, how do you expect people to help you?

[lost4now]

Originally Posted by phillies2011

information like this helps no one. how do you expect people to help you with such lack of specifics. You say you want something that is safe, has good schools, is a fast commute, that's all well and good, but guess what? A LOT of people want those things... that's why it's EXPENSIVE to live there.


now you claim you just want fastest and cheapest? fine. move to darby,pa. You could probably rent a place suitable for a 4 person family for $350 a month. You're a short trolley ride from university city. That would be the fast and cheapest suburb.

is it safe? no. but without solid parameters of what you want, how do you expect people to help you?

It's hard to give solid parameters to an area I know nothing about. That why I kept it general. If you don't mind me asking, what parameters should I consider?