<p>Doylestown is a great little town with a bunch of local food and shopping options. You’re also right at the end of a train line. I know it is a bit on the expensive side, but I think a bit of it depends on how large of a house you want. There lots of newer houses that are pretty large on well more than an acre, and they’re pretty pricy. Land is also becoming a bit of a premium since the area is becoming heavily developed, and there’s a strong push to retain green space (I know there are a number of farmers that have given their land to the town/county with the restriction that it’s never developed for residential homes).</p>
<p>Oh, if you’re visiting during a warm week, it might be relaxing to take a ride on the river at the Bucks River Country. :)</p>
<p>I know some nice areas in Doylestown and Paoli that I might recommend. How about out past Lansdale? (though I don’t know the public transportation options out that way)</p>
<p>I used to live in Huntingdon Valley, which is practically unknown in the greater Phila area, but there are some lovely, almost-rural-feeling areas around there.</p>
<p>If you work in the city of Philadelphia, and thus have to pay a large wage tax anyway and you have no kids to send to school, look no further than the Chestnut Hill neighborhood within the city limits of Philadelphia. </p>
<p>Chestnut Hill is a great suggestion - lovely area. Poetgrl, Chestnut Hill sort of reminds me of the Beverly neighborhood (south end of Chicago), if that gives you some context.</p>
<p>That’s great, really. I am going to look at Chestnut Hill, for certain. I have a feeling it will be between chestnut hill and someplace out in bucks county that my husband will like best, though I will still take a look at some of the towns like Bryn Mawr, just to get a feel for what I think.</p>
<p>I’d be interested to hear more about huntington, if it’s slightly more rural, but has a town.</p>
<p>The trick with that seems to be to make sure you don’t get caught too far from any kind of worthwhile town where you can at least have the occaisonal edible restaurant meal.</p>
<p>Huntingdon Valley is just north of Philadelphia, on the border between Montgomery and Bucks County. Bryn Athyn is pretty as well, though don’t know if there is enough “town” in either place to suit you.</p>
<p>Some of the inner suburbs are very nice! Lafayette Hill and Springfield (Montgomery County) are right outside of Chesnut Hill. Easy commute via train or bus into center city.
The Andorra and Roxbourough sections of the city have a nice surburban feel. East Falls (where Grace Kelly is from) is another possibility
Mt. Airy which borders Chesnut Hill also has many historic homes and diversity.
All of the above might be too urban for the OP but worth a look.
Im a native Texan but have come to love Philadelphia-where I’ve lived now for 27 years. There are wonderful museums, historical sites, theater (a lot of great theater), and art-as well as lovely parks.
When I first moved here years ago-I did find East Coasters a little rude. I do believe people are getting nicer over the years-more friendly and polite!
Do miss TexMex though!</p>
<p>I would say anything past Doylestown or Lansdale is out of commuting range for most people as that is where public rail service ends and the drive from there down is not a pretty one. Bucks is known moreso for it’s good schools anyway - not it’s bargain land.</p>
<p>Of all the areas, Bucks and the part of NJ across the river are the prettiest. They also have a lot of cultural fabric because they’ve long been escapes for well off people from NYC and Philly.</p>
<p>I’ve lived in chester county for 20 year and in philadelphia and other western suburbs before that. Philadelphia area has pretty reasonable house prices. Yes, there are main line homes for several milllion but you can find 4 bedroom colonials on an acre of land for 500,000 in chester county.</p>
<p>For better commutes into town look along the septa train lines. In west chester area, you can get several acres and be close to the Paolo local train line. If you want more land you can go further west toward Lancaster. That may be worth it for you to have a longer commute into town for a few years, but you;d have the property you want for the long term.</p>
<p>The schylykill expressway is not a fun commute, but probably no worse in rush hour than other big cities. I love Philadelphia as a city, lots to do, easy to get around, and great people.</p>
<p>The Schuylkill is actually worse than most other cities because it has so few lanes. </p>
<p>I grew up in Delaware County (between Media and Bryn Mawr). My sister and her family are now in Collegeville, but they don’t commute to center city. That is a rough commute. From there, best bet is to get the train in Norristown.</p>