Media or Wallingford would be my rec - friendly, down to earth, good commute, good schools.

What's your price range? There are lots of places, and you only have to commute an hour of you want to.

I grew up in hatboro. The schools are good. There's a lot of new housing developments but the old houses are nice. You can take the train in...but parking at the station sucks.

Norristown is not on the main line and NOT a good area. Chestnut Hill is a part of Philly, so bad schools (everyone goes private), and is expensive. I question if that poster knows what they're talking about. Bucks County is too far out for a reasonable commute IMO. Upper Dublin and Wissahickon school districts are good and are an ok commute using the train. The Main Line is also good, but has more of an old money vibe.

We really liked Hatboro.

Along the main line. Bucks County is a longer commute.

Once I hit "submit", I remembered Chestnut Hill is part of Philadelphia. So yes, you are correct. It's nice, though. And Yardley is a bubble. I've met a lot of people who like that, though. Not for everyone.

Just so you know, Chestnut Hill is not considered "the main line" since it is in Philly proper.

Anonymous wrote:Anything on the Main Line would work, right?

I think Wayne and Berwyn are lovely.

+1

Anything on the mainline would work, right?

I think Wayne and Berwyn are lovely.

Grew up in Yardley, PA in the Pennsbury School district. It was a nice suburban bubble if that's what you're looking for. Mix of high SES and mid SES, no real diversity though. The school was huge, graduated with almost 900 students which some people here think is crazy, but that's just how it was. Definitely much more local character than DC.

Good school districts with easy commute to the city (including train access on Septa R5 line): Lower Merion School District, Tredyffrin/Easttown School District.

Where do you live now, OP?

Council Rock School System: Newtown, PA, Bucks County - it's maybe more rural and smallish than what you are used to, but everyone is so unbelievably nice, the schools are top-notch. Or Pennsbury School System: Yardley, PA.

Some people prefer to be more in the mainline zone: think Conshohocken, Chestnut Hill, Norristown - that's where most of the private schools are, and neighborhoods that look a lot like NWDC and CCMD (and are priced accordingly).

NJ is lovely, but the property taxes are much higher. If you can swing that, go for it, just be sure to look at that when you are looking at housing prices (it's easily 3x what you pay in DC property taxes). Also, unlike DC, there is a commuter tax when you work in Philly.

Philadelphia is different than the DC area, so be ready, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.

Good luck

Haddonfield, NJ

We are thinking of moving to Philly and I am looking for information about neighborhoods with a decent commute to the city (less than one hr), good school systems and nice, friendly down-to-earth neighbors. Any information would be appreciated.