Moving to the Philadelphia Area: West Chester

Are you thinking about moving to the Philadelphia suburb of West Chester? If you plan to work in center city, it’s about an hour’s drive, though the northern most areas have access to the train and there are express trains at certain times of the day. Similar to Media, West Chester is less of a suburb of Philadelphia and more of a city in its own right. With a thriving downtown and a very large geographic footprint, this college town is no bedroom community.

To read more about West Chester, 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.

West Chester Overview

West Chester covers a huge area and while there are lots of communities (there are more traditional developments with newer construction in West Chester than anywhere on the Main Line), it tends not to have defined subsections. Much of West Chester feels quite rural and it’s common to see horses and farms. While there are old properties with barns on them, there are also lots of “middle aged” houses as well as new ones. The borough of West Chester, which is the county seat of Chester County, has wonderful vintage charm and is beautifully kept. With brick sidewalks and lots of historic buildings, it’s a pleasant downtown experience. With the art, music and events that West Chester University brings makes it an even more desirable destination.

West Chester: What it’s like to live here

For people who live in the borough, the lifestyle is small university town urban. Brick sidewalks, old, gracious houses and a healthy dose of charm are the highlights. Of course, parking can be a challenge and the lots are rather small. If you are looking for new construction with walk-in closets and two-story family rooms, the borough will not be a good fit. Don’t worry, though, West Chester, from north to south and east to west, offers plenty of newer developments with those features. Some are rather remote, but the ones located near major roads offer shopping that meets most basic needs. Of course, it’s not all either old or new. As West Chester grew over a long period of time, homes were built at all different stages. There are ranches and colonials as well as split levels and farm houses. Most lots are fairly large, but some communities have lots under a quarter of an acre. Most people who want to live in this area are able to find a property that meets their needs.

Read more about West Chester on Wikipedia. Also, take a look at the list of retail shops.

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