Richmond suburbs and Philly suburbs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are actually some nice, more suburban-like neighborhoods in the city of Richmond itself. My sister lives in Westover Hills right across the river from downtown / Carytown. They can easily walk/bike to tons of stuff, but their neighborhood is mostly SFHs (it actually has a similar to feel to some upper NW neighborhoods).

But the public schools are terrible.

I’m a Richmond Public School parent of an 8th grader and step kids who are post college but also went to RPS. I’m also a major advocate for the schools (I speak at every school board meeting and I’m on other advisory boards/councils). If you want to go by only Great Schools ratings that’s fine - the schools are terrible. If you aren’t scared of sending your kids to school with *black kids* then I’d be happy to tell you about schools that have intimate and incredibly supportive environments.

Oh pleeeze.

NP. Your reaction is telling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in Philly suburbs and would move back in a hot minute. Main line public schools are excellent. Districts are small. Try Aardmore near Suburban Square. I believe it’s zoned for Lower Merion, which is an excellent school district. There are other walkable areas in Narberth and Radnor. Septa stations nearby to get you into town.

Lawyer Merion.
Philly suburbs every time, OP. The best. Would move in a minute. Good luck.

It’s cold there, the state universities are absurdly expensive, less diversity, less walkability, and high inequality. No thanks.

[Anonymous]

If you have a kid with SN then hands down philly suburbs. No comparison at all. There are so many things that are common supports in PA and NJ that are not in Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just moved to RVA from DC a year ago. In doing so, we went from the city to suburbs. We have been so happy here. We’re in the 23233 area. Houses aren’t too bad expense wise. Schools are excellent. Pool plus an amazingly maintained park with walking trails nearby. A great community vibe all around. It never takes more than 15 to get downtown to museums or the amazingly kid friendly botanical garden. We love doing hikes along the James, taking trips to the mountains and beach. This city is awesome. I’ve been blown away with all the vegan restaurant and local coffee shop options. It’s a city that makes you want to explore and be curious. Great resources: RVA Reddit thread, there are a few Richmond mom websites with excellent ideas for things to do, check out Instagrams for Richmond moms too.

I'm the 20:27 PP and I think we've neighbors. Do you have 3 kids? We're members at Lewis Ginter too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have a kid with SN then hands down philly suburbs. No comparison at all. There are so many things that are common supports in PA and NJ that are not in Virginia.

Like what? I'm the mom with the two SN kids who received excellent services in RVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in Philly suburbs and would move back in a hot minute. Main line public schools are excellent. Districts are small. Try Aardmore near Suburban Square. I believe it’s zoned for Lower Merion, which is an excellent school district. There are other walkable areas in Narberth and Radnor. Septa stations nearby to get you into town.

Lawyer Merion.
Philly suburbs every time, OP. The best. Would move in a minute. Good luck.

It’s cold there, the state universities are absurdly expensive, less diversity, less walkability, and high inequality. No thanks.

Compare to…Richmond? LOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in Philly suburbs and would move back in a hot minute. Main line public schools are excellent. Districts are small. Try Aardmore near Suburban Square. I believe it’s zoned for Lower Merion, which is an excellent school district. There are other walkable areas in Narberth and Radnor. Septa stations nearby to get you into town.

Lawyer Merion.
Philly suburbs every time, OP. The best. Would move in a minute. Good luck.

It’s cold there, the state universities are absurdly expensive, less diversity, less walkability, and high inequality. No thanks.

Compare to…Richmond? LOL.

Yes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in Philly suburbs and would move back in a hot minute. Main line public schools are excellent. Districts are small. Try Aardmore near Suburban Square. I believe it’s zoned for Lower Merion, which is an excellent school district. There are other walkable areas in Narberth and Radnor. Septa stations nearby to get you into town.

Lawyer Merion.
Philly suburbs every time, OP. The best. Would move in a minute. Good luck.

It’s cold there, the state universities are absurdly expensive, less diversity, less walkability, and high inequality. No thanks.

Compare to…Richmond? LOL.

Yes?

There are one or two diehard Richmond supporters here. It’s a small city with a population of 250,000, Philly is four times as big and consequently has more to offer, if that is important to you. I’d pick Philly suburbs for access to airport alone.

[Anonymous]

We live in the Philly suburbs having moved from upper NWDC. We really enjoy it here and have a comparatively walkable life to when we lived in DC. We live in walking distance to the high street, the library, restaurants and my son walks to middle school. It’s not cheap; but DC was not either. Diversity is definitely not the same but it’s also not awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in Philly suburbs and would move back in a hot minute. Main line public schools are excellent. Districts are small. Try Aardmore near Suburban Square. I believe it’s zoned for Lower Merion, which is an excellent school district. There are other walkable areas in Narberth and Radnor. Septa stations nearby to get you into town.

Lawyer Merion.
Philly suburbs every time, OP. The best. Would move in a minute. Good luck.

It’s cold there, the state universities are absurdly expensive, less diversity, less walkability, and high inequality. No thanks.

+1 If you're used to the diversity and the public school systems in this area, go to Richmond. Access to Virginia's colleges and universities at in-state tuition rates. Housing stock is more affordable.

I have a sibling who settled on the main line outside of Philly, and nieces/nephews who are in a well-regarded public school system there. Agree with PP that PA districts are small. In practice, these incredibly small districts splinter larger communities by socioeconomic status, and public school kids generally aren't going to school with kids from different backgrounds from their own. The neighborhood that they live in is gorgeous, but I wouldn't want to be part of this type of public school system:

https://www.civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/news/press-releases/2015-press-releases/decades-of-inaction-lead-to-worst-segregaton-in-pennsylvania-schools-in-two-decades

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in Philly suburbs and would move back in a hot minute. Main line public schools are excellent. Districts are small. Try Aardmore near Suburban Square. I believe it’s zoned for Lower Merion, which is an excellent school district. There are other walkable areas in Narberth and Radnor. Septa stations nearby to get you into town.

Lawyer Merion.
Philly suburbs every time, OP. The best. Would move in a minute. Good luck.

It’s cold there, the state universities are absurdly expensive, less diversity, less walkability, and high inequality. No thanks.

Compare to…Richmond? LOL.

Yes?

There are one or two diehard Richmond supporters here. It’s a small city with a population of 250,000, Philly is four times as big and consequently has more to offer, if that is important to you. I’d pick Philly suburbs for access to airport alone.

Poor PP, stuck in time. We do offer Stats for the elderly at the community college, so please come over to educate yourself.

The population of the Richmond Metro Statistical Area (MSA) is over 1.3 million and a growing international community adds to the area’s cultural diversity and cosmopolitan character. Richmond, Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico account for 79 percent of the Richmond MSA’s population, with the population growth rate slightly higher than the Richmond MSA’s growth rate. The Richmond MSA is the nation’s 45th largest metro area."

What Philly has and we don't is violent crime. Even in the city, the violent crime rate is 24.6. In Philly it is 50.8.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in Philly suburbs and would move back in a hot minute. Main line public schools are excellent. Districts are small. Try Aardmore near Suburban Square. I believe it’s zoned for Lower Merion, which is an excellent school district. There are other walkable areas in Narberth and Radnor. Septa stations nearby to get you into town.

Lawyer Merion.
Philly suburbs every time, OP. The best. Would move in a minute. Good luck.

It’s cold there, the state universities are absurdly expensive, less diversity, less walkability, and high inequality. No thanks.

Compare to…Richmond? LOL.

Yes?

There are one or two diehard Richmond supporters here. It’s a small city with a population of 250,000, Philly is four times as big and consequently has more to offer, if that is important to you. I’d pick Philly suburbs for access to airport alone.

Poor PP, stuck in time. We do offer Stats for the elderly at the community college, so please come over to educate yourself.

The population of the Richmond Metro Statistical Area (MSA) is over 1.3 million and a growing international community adds to the area’s cultural diversity and cosmopolitan character. Richmond, Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico account for 79 percent of the Richmond MSA’s population, with the population growth rate slightly higher than the Richmond MSA’s growth rate. The Richmond MSA is the nation’s 45th largest metro area."

What Philly has and we don't is violent crime. Even in the city, the violent crime rate is 24.6. In Philly it is 50.8.

I love Richmond, but this is not true. Sadly, there is violent crime both in the city and the counties.

[Anonymous]

Richmond native here. My parents are still in the area, so we visit often.
OP, you want to look at the western suburbs, but not too far west. Stay in Henrico County’s west end. Excellent schools, great healthcare options in the Richmond area, special needs support in that part of Henrico should be very strong.
The western part of the city itself may also be a good fit, but a I can’t personally attest to the schools there. I’ve heard a mix of both very positive and very negative things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in Philly suburbs and would move back in a hot minute. Main line public schools are excellent. Districts are small. Try Aardmore near Suburban Square. I believe it’s zoned for Lower Merion, which is an excellent school district. There are other walkable areas in Narberth and Radnor. Septa stations nearby to get you into town.

+1. Grew up in the same area and would go back instantly if I could get a job there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in Philly suburbs and would move back in a hot minute. Main line public schools are excellent. Districts are small. Try Aardmore near Suburban Square. I believe it’s zoned for Lower Merion, which is an excellent school district. There are other walkable areas in Narberth and Radnor. Septa stations nearby to get you into town.

Lawyer Merion.
Philly suburbs every time, OP. The best. Would move in a minute. Good luck.

It’s cold there, the state universities are absurdly expensive, less diversity, less walkability, and high inequality. No thanks.

Compare to…Richmond? LOL.

Yes?

There are one or two diehard Richmond supporters here. It’s a small city with a population of 250,000, Philly is four times as big and consequently has more to offer, if that is important to you. I’d pick Philly suburbs for access to airport alone.

Poor PP, stuck in time. We do offer Stats for the elderly at the community college, so please come over to educate yourself.

The population of the Richmond Metro Statistical Area (MSA) is over 1.3 million and a growing international community adds to the area’s cultural diversity and cosmopolitan character. Richmond, Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico account for 79 percent of the Richmond MSA’s population, with the population growth rate slightly higher than the Richmond MSA’s growth rate. The Richmond MSA is the nation’s 45th largest metro area."

What Philly has and we don't is violent crime. Even in the city, the violent crime rate is 24.6. In Philly it is 50.8.

You’ve got to compare apples to apples. The numbers I gave were the populations of each city,, not metro area (if you want to look at that, Philadelphia remains 4x the size as Richmond, as its greater metro population is in excess of 5 million). Having lived in both Philadelphia and DC, Richmond felt comparatively sleepy especially given the early closing times of many restaurants when I visited. The city essentially closes down at 10 pm.