Many Philadelphia homeowners or even renters find themselves moving to the suburbs vs city. Although there are plenty of advantages to living in the city. Philadelphia is considered one of the most walkable cities in America. The city has also added many bike lanes on the city’s streets. Allowing people to get from place to place with no issues. But after some time, you may desire a more laid-back environment.
If you are in the process of wanting to move to the suburbs vs city, you may be interested in this article. Therefore, we’ll discuss all three counties that touch the city and the process of picking the right area to match your needs.
Moving to Bucks County: Suburbs Vs City
Bucks County mainly touches the Northeast section of Philadelphia. Plenty of people move here from the city every single year. We have seen values basically skyrocket in the surrounding counties. In 2020, when COVID hit the city hard, many people flocked to the suburbs. Therefore, this caused a very high demand for homes in the counties. Bucks County has large farm-style homes with a lot of land.
With a population of 645,000 people, it is the second-largest county surrounding Philadelphia. Bucks County has plenty to offer, including many great neighborhoods.
How is it living in Bucks County PA?
New Hope is a very popular area in Bucks County, with an average home price of $841,000. This makes it a higher-end market than the rest of the country. New Hope has a vivacious downtown area running right through the heart of it, with plenty of restaurants and shops. Additionally, you will find Peddler’s Village in New Hope, a small area packed with stores and shops. You can also cross the new Hope – Lambertville Bridge on foot and find yourself in New Jersey.
With plenty of convenience, this area is considered a very popular area. You have large upscale homes in New Hope, but you also have your more urban feel with their main street. Giving you the luxury of an urban and rural feel.
Quakertown in Bucks County is a popular area. Its average home price is just around 400k. If you want an area cheaper than New Hope but still as lively, you can move to Quakertown. The Quakertown farmers’ and flea market is a very popular destination. They also have the Warehouse Outlet, another popular area for local shoppers. Quakertown is a very spread-out area. While still under an hour’s drive from the city. If you have plans of moving farther up in Pennsylvania, but still want to be close to the city. Then Quakertown might be a good option.
Benefits of Living in Montgomery County PA
Montgomery County is the most populated county of the three. It has just over 860,000 residents. It touches mainly the north section of Philadelphia as well as the northwest. Montgomery County is home to plenty of urban-feeling areas such as Norristown, Bridgeport, Conshohocken, and Lansdale. But you also have plenty of upscale rural areas. Montgomery County is the start of the mainline. Which, at one point, was the wealthiest area in America.
A popular area in Montgomery County is Ardmore. It also touches Delaware County. It is home to an average home price of $472,000. Montgomery County is a very popular area in which to live. You have a very popular suburban square with plenty of stores and restaurants. Suburban Square is visited by people from all over the city as well as the county. There are plenty of hospitals and specialists in this area as well. Also, with proximity to the city, they have plenty of public transportation to get you there. So, you’ll have no problem getting to Philadelphia by bus or high-speed rail.
Conshohocken is a very small section of Montgomery County—only one square mile—but it is home to Fayette Street, which is very popular among residents. There are many restaurants and bars to choose from. The average home price is about $450,000. It is very popular with row homes and twin-style homes. In addition, you’re also very close to the city, literally outside of Manayunk and Roxborough. Therefore, Conshohocken gives you a very city feel, even though it’s in the suburbs. Plenty of people from Philadelphia have already made the transition to this area. Based on how easy it is to get to the city.
How is it residing in Delaware County Suburbs Vs City Living?
Springfield, Delaware County, is one of the hottest real estate markets in the Philadelphia area, with an average home price of $475,000. You have Springfield Mall, which has plenty of stores to choose from. In addition, it is also nestled between Township Line Road and Baltimore Pike. Two large strips of roads that have stores and restaurants. Also, you’re right by Interstate 476. Furthermore, allows for easy travel to the Turnpike and I-95. If you want to move here, you should have a skilled realtor to help you search.
Upper Darby is a populated area that touches West Philadelphia. Its population of 80,000 makes it a very popular section of Delaware County. The average home price is $245,000, making it a very affordable place to live in the county. With excellent access to the city with 69th Street Station, you have no problem working in the city if you want to live here.
There have been plenty of investors who have bought up property in this area. It is a larger rental market than the rest of the county. So, if you are considering renting first to see if you like Delaware County. Then Darby might be the area for you. Since rental rates are also much lower than the rest of the county. Making it extremely affordable to rent.
Considering Moving to the Suburbs Vs City?
If you currently own a home in Philadelphia and are considering moving to the suburbs vs the city, you need a game plan. If you sell and buy a house simultaneously, you will be contingent on selling your home. Unless you have a place to go temporarily after selling your primary residence. If not, you’ll need an experienced real estate agent who has helped people out before.
An experienced agent will know to use a larger deposit if you can. A larger deposit helps get your contingent offer accepted. Also, you can waive certain inspections. The less you do, the more appealing your offer will be. You can use an inspector or experienced contractor to come out to the property while doing a walkthrough to help you feel more comfortable waiving an inspection. A professional agent will make all the difference when moving from the city to the suburbs.
Important to hire an Agent familiar with both suburbs and city living
You want an agent who’s familiar with working in the city and the suburbs. The city can be a much tougher market to sell a home because of so much more competition. But buying a home in the suburbs could be challenging as well. Because of low inventory but high demand. If you work with an agent who understands and knows how to help you navigate the local market. Then you should be fine and can be living in the suburbs vs city in no time.
We always recommend that you are not too familiar with an area, or if you are not sure you will like the area. You should always rent for a year if that is a possibility. That way, you get a feel for where you plan to buy a home. With renting, you will also not be tied down as if you were to buy right away. Always weigh out your options before making the massive decision on where to reside. Discuss it with a loved one to determine what living arrangement best fits your needs.