Moving to the Philadelphia Area: Chadds Ford

Are you moving to the Philadelphia area but don’t want to live in the city? Are you happier in a much less busy, more rural environment? Depending on where your commute requires you to be, Chadds Ford might be a good option. While not geographically far from the Main Line, the personality of this genteel area is much slower and calmer. Lots are typically generous and retail is sparse; Chadds Ford is almost exclusively residential. It it too remote and secluded for some people, but for others, it’s an oasis.

To read more about Chadds Ford, please click here. If you are interested in learning about other Main Line Philadelphia towns, please see my Main Line Neighborhood Guide.

Please contact me for more information at 610 308-5973 or jen@jenniferlebow.com.

Chadds Ford Overview

Chadds Ford is not, by strict definition, the Main Line, but it’s a very nice alternative for the right person or family. With very highly rated schools, it’s attractive to people who value education, yet also want to live in the gorgeous landscape that inspired Andrew Wyeth’s paintings. Part of what makes the area so beautiful is the Brandywine river, that winds through Chadds Ford and offers canoeing, kayaking and tubing adventures. Further “nature appreciation” awaits just up the road at the world famous Longwood Gardens. There are wineries in the region as well as some art museums. Chadds Ford was the location of some battles during the revolution and there are some war monuments and a historic district with buildings from that era.

Chadds Ford: What it’s like to live here

Until the last twenty years or so, Chadds Ford was a sleepy town but it has grown. As urban sprawl has made many of the communities closer to Philadelphia more crowded, builders have moved west and Chadds Ford now has some substantial, lovely new homes. They tend to have a lot of acreage as well. Calling Chadds Ford a town is a bit of a misnomer; there is not much of a town center, though what there is can be found on route 1. Again, retail and dining are not the mainstays of the area.

There are several small (often 5-10 house) streets that builders have developed in Chadds Ford. They don’t often have sidewalks and there isn’t much to walk to in any case. These are not what most people would consider true “neighborhoods”, but, again, the lifestyle in Chadds Ford is decidedly less suburban than on the Main Line. There are, to be sure, some lovely homes in this area, and for the buyer who is cut out for living in Chadds Ford, there are plenty of options.

Read more about Chadds Ford on Wikipedia.

If you are relocating to the Philadelphia/Main Line area, please go to my blog page and search for posts using the relocation tag. Contact me to discuss your Philadelphia area relocation! jen@jenniferlebow.com/610 308-5973

Relocating to the Philadelphia Area: Haverford

Should you move to Haverford? The Main Line lifestyle isn’t for everyone, but many transplants to the Philadelphia area choose to buy homes in this area. Haverford might be a great fit if you are interested in living in an area with very well-respected schools, a non-urban feel and attractive historic buildings in beautiful natural surroundings. It suits people who like windy roads and mature trees but would like to be able to access the the cultural, shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities the city offers.

If you just want a quick overview, I encourage you to take a look at my “Neighborhood in a Nutshell” series. For the Haverford post, click here. To read more in depth about Bryn Mawr, and see some pictures of the area, click here. If you are interested in learning about other Main Line Philadelphia towns, please see my Main Line Neighborhood Guide.

Please contact me for more information at 610 308-5973 or jen@jenniferlebow.com.

Haverford Overview

While geographically quite small, this Main Line community has it all, in terms of housing: some of the most desirable estates, some very affordable housing and some lovely, single family homes set on ample lots. As far as location, it’s hard to beat Haverford. Traveling to center city is easy by train and not difficult by car. Residents enjoy access to lots of shopping and dining on Lancaster Avenue and with Haverford College’s open-to-the-public walking trail and speakers/performances, there are cultural offerings as well. Traveling to center city is easy by train and not difficult by car. More shopping and dining both east (Ardmore) and west (Bryn Mawr) make for very easy living.

This tiny town has the distinction of being home to two elite golf clubs that have both hosted the US Open more than once.

Haverford: What it’s like to live here

Families often gravitate to the Coopertown neighborhood of Haverford (located in the Havertown Township section). This area is a very tight knit community. The streets, (Deer, Doe, Fawn, Buck, etc.) offer small and medium sized homes. Many are stone and most are colonials, though there are some Capes available as well. With very little pass through traffic, it is safe to walk a stroller or jog. Lots of dog walkers, too. If you are looking for a bit more space, you might choose Merion Golf Manor, an older, established neighborhood adjacent to the Merion Golf Club. There is more affordable housing in the areas surrounding major roads like Lancaster Avenue and County Line Road, many of which are twins. Another option is Haverford Reserve, a new 55+ community of well-appointed townhouses on lovely grounds.

On the Lower Merion side, most of the properties that fall within the Haverford zip code are relatively expensive. Home to the storied Merion Cricket Club, Haverford has an impeccable pedigree.The streets surrounding the cricket club contain some of the most sought-after estates on the Main Line. While most of the properties are not necessarily enormous, many of the houses are spectacular, in a historic, Main Line fashion. Perhaps because they are often set relatively near the road, these grounds are often beautifully landscaped. These are not flashy modern homes, but elegant, tasteful residences.

Read more about Haverford on Wikipedia.

If you are relocating to the Philadelphia/Main Line area, please go to my blog page and search for posts using the relocation tag. Contact me to discuss your Philadelphia area relocation! jen@jenniferlebow.com/610 308-5973

Relocating to the Philadelphia Area: Devon

Moving to the Philadelphia suburb of Devon? Looking for information about this town, so that you can make an informed decision? You’ve come to the right place! Devon is one of Philadelphia’s western Main Line communities. The train is a good option for people working in Philadelphia, though the commute by car is around an hour in traffic. Attractions of living in Devon include a relaxed, non-busy feeling and some of the most gracious properties around. While the southern section is a bit removed from retail and services, the northern section caters to active families with good access to shopping, dining and entertainment.

For more about Devon, click here. If you are interested in learning about other Main Line Philadelphia towns, please see my Main Line Neighborhood Guide.

Please contact me for more information at 610 308-5973 or jen@jenniferlebow.com.

Devon Overview

Devon, like many of the other Main Line towns, was originally populated by wealthy Philadelphians looking for summer homes to escape the heat of the city. Therefore, you’ll find some stunning estates in Devon and some horse farms and very large parcels. There are some lovely streets in this area that make you feel like the city is very far away. However certain neighborhoods cater to families looking for a sense of community. If you are looking for new construction but not necessarily a development, there have been several “one-off” homes built recently in Devon. There are even a small number of condos (like the French provincial Arbordeau) and some carriage homes, like those in Sugar Knoll.

Devon: What it’s like to live here

Like so many Main Line towns, Devon is split between Tredyffrin-Easttown and Radnor school districts. Both rank extremely high, so if public schools are important to you, you can’t go wrong in Devon. If you are looking for that “neighborhood feel”, consider the Shand Tract, Devonshire, Devon Downs and Pheasant Run. All of these communities are at least 35 years old, so they definitely have a neighborhood flavor vs. a development one. The trees are established and the houses don’t have that “cookie-cutter” feel sometimes found in recent new construction. Within these neighborhoods, there are traditional colonials as well as Capes and ranches. Many are stone, but some are brick and others have siding, so there’s a wide variety of styles. You can find often baby sitting groups, neighborhood jogging clubs and even block parties and holiday celebrations in these neighborhoods.

In the southern portion of Devon, you tend to find fewer sidewalks and a bit less interaction between residents.  South Devon might be a good fit for you if you want some elbow room and don’t mind a bit of a rural feel.  If you’re looking for a grand home, certain streets, like Waterloo Rd., showcase some lovely, elegant old mansions on large properties. For those who don’t live on large lots, Jenkins Arboretum provides a wonderful opportunity to lose yourself in lovely gardens and beautiful natural surroundings.

Read more about Devon on Wikipedia.

If you are relocating to the Philadelphia/Main Line area, please go to my blog page and search for posts using the relocation tag. Contact me to discuss your Philadelphia area relocation! jen@jenniferlebow.com/610 308-5973

Relocating to the Philadelphia Area: Havertown

If you are moving to the Philadelphia suburbs but are looking for a very down-to-earth, tight-knit community, Havertown might be for you. Never snooty, always neighborly, Havertown residents often have very strong roots and lots of friends and family members who still live there. Located just to the south of Ardmore, Haverford and Bryn Mawr, it is still fairly central, but not quite in the heart of the Main Line. The vibe, however, is quite different. As a generalization, work and family are more the focus than material possessions,

For more about Havertown, click here. If you are interested in learning about other Main Line Philadelphia towns, please see my Main Line Neighborhood Guide.

Please contact me for more information at 610 308-5973 or jen@jenniferlebow.com.

Havertown Overview

Havertown is not usually considered part of the Main Line, but is just to the south of it. All of Havertown is served by the Haverford School District (except for a few homes that are districted to Upper Darby). Houses in this community are often on smaller lots and many are older, though there are several newer construction homes where others have been razed (beware of high taxes on these). Twins (often known as duplexes elsewhere) are very common. There are also many older, three-story Dutch colonials as well as small brick colonials. The location is very good in terms of access to the airport, University City and downtown Philadelphia by car. While there is a train, the 100 line’s route isn’t particularly direct.  The average home price in Havertown is a bit less than on the Main Line, though taxes, relatively, may be a bit higher.

Havertown: What it’s like to live here

Like the city of Philadelphia, Havertown is comprised of several distinct neighborhoods. Penfield is located very close to the train station and is a heavily treed “storybook” neighborhood with older, mostly stone colonials. Lots here are somewhat on the larger side for Havertown and people of all ages and wide variety of professions live here. The Brookline neighborhood has a lot of Dutch Colonials and residents enjoy the proximity to Darby Rd. shopping, the library and the middle and high schools. Woodmere offers Dutch colonials as well as Capes and a few colonials thrown in, too. The lots are small, there are sidewalks and not as many trees as in some other areas, so it has a bit more of an urban feel. People sit on porches and talk to neighbors.

Oakmont has wide, winding streets and feels a little more like a traditional suburban spot. The houses are not quite as old as in other sections of Havertown and the lots are a bit larger. These homes are mostly Capes. Paddock Farms offers some of the largest homes and biggest lots in Havertown. There is very little traffic here and lots of dog walkers and joggers. Like Oakmont, but even more so, this area feels suburban. In contrast, some of the most urban feeling sections are Chatham Park and Chatham Village which are located very near City Ave.

Marilyn Park has large, split level homes on large lots and all the streets here are named after women. It is fairly hilly and few of the yards are level. Manoa and Lynnewood are neighborhoods separated by Eagle Rd., but similar, with mostly smaller, often brick houses. There are singles as well as twins and the access to shopping on West Chester Pike is a benefit of living here.On the south side of West Chester Pike, you’ll find West Gate Hills and Richland, which deliver a little more house for the money, but are far from the train and the rest of the Main Line. People who live here tout the friendliness of the people and there are book clubs and some seasonal gatherings.

Havertown is a large area, and there are few lots over .3 acres, so the population is fairly dense. Many of its residents were born here and have lots of family in very close proximity. Havertown has a “no nonsense” kind of feeling to it and many people describe it as “real”.

Read more about Havertown on Wikipedia.

If you are relocating to the Philadelphia/Main Line area, please go to my blog page and search for posts using the relocation tag. Contact me to discuss your Philadelphia area relocation! jen@jenniferlebow.com/610 308-5973