Where to live in Philly?

Moving to Philly area need advice where to live?

• I am Coast Guard and my wife and I will be moving to the Philly area. She will be commuting to Schnecksville, PA for College. I would like to be closer to work since I will be there for 3.5 years and her school is only a year to finish. Where are good areas that I can live that is safe and affordable? I would say my max for rent is about $1700 per month.

• Answer:

  Do you mean Schwenksville? Like in the Collegeville area? That's going to be a brutal commute day in and day out from Center City or South Philly. It should end up being like an hour or so, and that's with some light/moderate traffic, but I-76 isn't known for that as much as crippling traffic jams. Have you thought about the 'burbs at all? I don't know who will need to do the most commuting (like who needs to be closer to where they need to get to in other words), but those areas probably have a lot of rentals from people who bought during the housing boom, but have decided not to or can't sell. I know my buddy lives out in Collegeville and got a deal on a house, but also have the SEPTA Regional Rail line out there to make getting back into the city very easy. It could work in reverse, and that may be the train line for your wife to take out there, but I don't know what college it is or how easy it is to get to. The 'burbs are going to be more friendly to you than the city is too in regards to ccp or whatever.