Familiar with West Chester, PA ? Possibly relocating

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You guys are the best!!

We are in the early stages of doing our homework on the area. My husband is in cyber forensics, I am a SAHM. So he's looking for a job in that area.

He's not a city guy, so Philly proper is out (for work and home). There are a few jobs with QVC. Any knowledge on how it is to work there? Any place to stay away from?

It's our first relocation, so any information is very appreciated!

I already startrd a spreadsheet on the info you guys already shared!

I interviewed for a job there. It seems like a cool place to work but it is in the middle of nowhere, from my perspective (I am in a Philly burb much closer to Philadelphia - Lower Merion - and my commute would have been more than an hour). Everything you'd need at QVC is "on campus" - there is absolutely zilch within a five minute drive. I would definitely live near QVC/West Chester to make the commute easy, and it's pleasant and suburban/rural out there in the surrounding areas, probably perfect for a noncity person. WC itself is a college town with an urban flavor - not exclusively college students, but more citylike than you would probably want. I think you would want to live more in suburbia, maybe the Kennett Square area. TE (Tredyffrin-Easttown) School District is also good, probably the best around, but will cost you.

West Chester is far from Philadelphia - a full hour - so you aren't likely to be zipping into the city for museums, zoo, etc.
Harrisburg is terrible - WC is far better, IMO, although too remote for me.

[Anonymous]

My parents have lived in West Chester for the past fifteen years (and are putting their house on the market this spring -- maybe it will be one of the ones you look at!).

You've gotten a lot of good info from other posters, but I would just add that West Chester is absolutely lovely. My parents liked it there a lot -- they're moving for other reasons (job/retirement and family). I would consider moving there if I could live downtown -- so many cute restaurants/shops -- but I'm too much of a city person to live out where my parents live (and it really is pretty far from Philly).

Anyway, good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all the info

I am very pleased with the information on WC! it sounds absolutely lovely. I'm from NEPA (Scranrton) and my husband and I agree we don't want to move there! He especially! So we are looking for a place to live with great schools, jobs and quality of life. WC sounds like it fits the bill!

I will post down the road as we get more specifics.

thanks again!

[Anonymous]

Op here again

how is Downingtown?

[Anonymous]

New poster here, just wanted to chime in to say how awesome the WC area is. Never lived there myself, but have had family in the area since before I was born. So many nice restaurants, great for kids (well, MY family members turned out OK!), and I like going there to visit.

BTW, best cheese steaks are up 202, at John's Pizza in Malvern/Frazer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys are the best!!

We are in the early stages of doing our homework on the area. My husband is in cyber forensics, I am a SAHM. So he's looking for a job in that area.

He's not a city guy, so Philly proper is out (for work and home). There are a few jobs with QVC. Any knowledge on how it is to work there? Any place to stay away from?

It's our first relocation, so any information is very appreciated!

I already startrd a spreadsheet on the info you guys already shared!

Prolific poster again--- there's are plenty of SAHMs in WC-- you will fit in much better than here. I'm a SAHM here by DC, and often wish the SAHM community was more like west Chester's! Looottssss of the women in my neighborhood worked for qvc over the years. (And one dad had an actual "real" job there.). Everyone always said good things about it. Used to have mothers' hours jobs and stuff like that. I don't know anything about cyber forensics, but there's a big SAP building east of WC, in newtown square, and an IBM building on Paoli pike. (Across from my fav hoagie place!) if he's not a city guy, stay away from conestoga then, you'll prefer wc, or that kennett square district who's name we can't remember.

What's your favorite hoagie place? Not Pepper Mill, right? That's more pizza? (And although this is blasphemous I think it's overrated). I thought Kennett Square schools were called Kennett Square, but there is also Unionville-Chadds Ford and Garnet Valley down that way.

OP, I don't know much about Downingtown. My best friend from WC lives there now and seems happy there. Personally I'd live in WC over Downingtown, but I'm biased. QVC is supposed to be a good place to work (and you get a discount!)

[Anonymous]

I went to West Chester University. If you want to know where the best bars and basement parties are, let me know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to West Chester University. If you want to know where the best bars and basement parties are, let me know.

Ah....yeah! And the discussion of cheese steaks and hoagies is KILLING ME! I am totally jonesing for one now!

Hit me with the best restaurants, bars, and greasy spoons, please!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What's your favorite hoagie place? Not Pepper Mill, right? That's more pizza? (And although this is blasphemous I think it's overrated). I thought Kennett Square schools were called Kennett Square, but there is also Unionville-Chadds Ford and Garnet Valley down that way.

OP, I don't know much about Downingtown. My best friend from WC lives there now and seems happy there. Personally I'd live in WC over Downingtown, but I'm biased. QVC is supposed to be a good place to work (and you get a discount!)

Me again. Yes! I love pepper mill-- their pepper n egg is the best-- I could go for one right now!!! Unionville the name of the district we've all been looking for! That was driving me nuts! Phew!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here again

how is Downingtown?

Really, really far from anything.

[Anonymous]

Prolific poster here-- haha, yes, as pp said, downingtown is far, but then again, so is WC. I know the high school is good, and great football team, but I don't know much about the other schools. Bishop shanahan moved up there. Slightly cheaper than WC. The town right between west Chester and downingtown is Exton, and that's in WCASD, while downingtown isn't, fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Prolific poster here-- haha, yes, as pp said, downingtown is far, but then again, so is WC. I know the high school is good, and great football team, but I don't know much about the other schools. Bishop shanahan moved up there. Slightly cheaper than WC. The town right between west Chester and downingtown is Exton, and that's in WCASD, while downingtown isn't, fwiw.

Can you tell me how downington is to WC, in DC terms? Is it Germantown to Rockville? Or Haymarket to Fairfax? You know what I mean?

[Anonymous]

Bump

[Anonymous]

Bumping again

[Anonymous]

I've never lived in West Chester but have family who do. Must say I'm jealous! We always love it when we go to visit. There are some great farm-to/table restaurants in the area, farmers markets (cheap compared to DC) and an Italian market that was cool.