Lower Merion, or other family friendly areas?

canesbaby

Hello! I looked through the past few pages of posts, and you all seem very helpful! I hope you don't mind another question about Philly.

I am considering a job at Temple, and we are trying to figure out where to live. I found a house for rent in Lower Merion (by Gladwyne elementary), and was wondering what the commute time into Temple would be? Driving or public transportation would be great! 

Any suggestions for other places to look? We are willing to go up to $2,000/month (although would love something closer to 1500), but have pretty specific needs: 3 bedrooms (or 2 with office), at least a small yard or very close dog park, parking, and family friendly neighborhood. I am hoping for as short of a commute as possible.

Thanks for any help!  

eSynergy

You could take the R5 train line (it's the Paoli/Thorndale line) to Temple:

http://septa.org/schedules/rail/index.html

I take that train from Ardmore to Market East Station everyday and it's a 30 minute ride. We just moved to Lower Merion Township and absolutely love it. I imagine if you drove, it would take 30 minutes to an hour, depending on what time of day you traveled. It's not an awful commute, but the train would be less stressful and maybe faster.

eSynergy

eSynergy:

You could take the R5 train line (it's the Paoli/Thorndale line) to Temple:

http://septa.org/schedules/rail/index.html

I take that train from Ardmore to Market East Station everyday and it's a 30 minute ride. We just moved to Lower Merion Township and absolutely love it. I imagine if you drove, it would take 30 minutes to an hour, depending on what time of day you traveled. It's not an awful commute, but the train would be less stressful and maybe faster.

I wanted to add...any neighborhood along that train line would work well for you. So, Bryn Mawr, Ardmore, Narberth, Wynnewwod...any of those are family friendly. 

SteveandKris

If you need the school, lower merkin is awesome (I run with their ambulance company). If it's just you and DH, you might have luck roxborough, manayunk, but it's Philadelphia schools.

canesbaby

Thanks! It's a two year position, so DD won't be in school- I'll have to find childcare. We were on a waitlist for a year to get her in her current program, so I am not looking forward to figuring all that out... but right now I'm just trying to make the decision between this and another position in VA.

Thanks again!  

jallascalla

I live in Wynnewood and commute to work near Temple/Broad St. During non-rush hour it takes me 20 minutes, but during rush hour anywhere from 30-40 minutes. There are a few houses for rent in our area, many of our neighbors are MDs and Profs who do sabbaticals and/or fellowships for a year and rent their houses, usually to other drs who are doing fellowships at CHOP or other Penn hospitals in the area. Check out the Penn Wynne area of Wynnewood, you may find what you are looking for. Very family friendly.

lachute

SteveandKris:

If you need the school, lower merkin is awesome (I run with their ambulance company). If it's just you and DH, you might have luck roxborough, manayunk, but it's Philadelphia schools.

um all philly schools arent't bad so you get a side eye. 

 

fwiw we are looking in the manayunk/whissahickon area now, the public k-8 is rated well.  the ride to temple main would be about 15-20 mins

SteveandKris

lachute:

SteveandKris:

If you need the school, lower merkin is awesome (I run with their ambulance company). If it's just you and DH, you might have luck roxborough, manayunk, but it's Philadelphia schools.

um all philly schools arent't bad so you get a side eye. 

 

fwiw we are looking in the manayunk/whissahickon area now, the public k-8 is rated well.  the ride to temple main would be about 15-20 mins

I agree, all public schools in Philly aren't bad, however, if you aren't entering at the k level, you can be squeezed into where they have room, not always your closest school. So despite how the local k-8 may be, in the child is entering for the first time in grade 3, you might not have room in the local school. That's what we were to,d when we were checking out schools when looking into getting SS full time. If I moved into lower merion, I'd be happy with any of the public elementary schools... But H has to live in the city Please don't side eye, I meant no offense.

canesbaby

Thanks again everyone, I am really leaning toward the Temple job, so it's great to have places to look into!