Weather | | How much crime? | | What are the neighborhoods like? | | What are the people like? |
The summer months are mild. The town sits inland off the east coast, and maintains a relatively stable humidity throughout the year. In winter months, Swarthmore is noticeably warmer than nearby Philadelphia. The town has many open spaces such as parks and gardens; sunlight isn't blocked by skyscrapers and high-rises. Plus, the wind doesn't tend to get trapped along building-encased metropolis corridors the way it does in Philadelphia or NYC. | | Crime is low. Swarthmore's small population of approximately 6k is comprised of upper-middle class and wealthy families. It maintains a strong intellectual and fine arts culture, mostly due to the influence of a handful of elite colleges. Most crime is drug- or alcohol-related: underaged students trying to purchase alcohol, driving while intoxicated, or using illicit drugs. Violent crime and fatality due to crime are both extremely rare. | | The town of Swarthmore is quite homogenous. The overwhelming majority of residents are white, upper middle class professionals. Within the colleges there is wide ethnic diversity, however class stratification remains tights. Areas to the west of Swarthmore: West Philadelphia; Chester, PA; and South Philadelphia,are home to poor or working class communities. All three of these areas have high rates of gang activity and violent crime. Since it doesn't share a public transit system with Philadelphia or Chester, Swarthmore is somewhat geographically isolated from those areas. As a consequence, residents are insulated from most of the effects of criminal activity in neighboring towns. | | Young , liberal middle class or upper middle class college students will feel most at home. Families with two professional working parents and school aged children also will feel quite comfortable. Hippies, activists, and others with left-leaning politics will fit in. Older people, particularly people of color or the conservative-leaning, are not likely to feel at home. Immigrants hailing from the educated elite in their native land will fit well; whereas those immigrating from resource poor communities are lovely to experience some cultural clashes. |
Downtown Area | | Restaurants | | Schools | | Single life |
There is no downtown area in the traditional sense. There's Main Street, which serves as a kind of living museum, featuring antique shops, the original post office, and a few business services such as Kinko's FedEx. For shopping, there's Springfield mall. It's a large complex housing department stores, specialty shops, and restaurants. | | I prefer the restaurants along the South Street Corridor in Philadelphia. Swarthmore restaurants are almost exclusively of the "family dining" variety: Applebee's and a Ruby Tuesday and such. | | The public schools are good. Teachers enjoy higher than average compensation. Schools tends to offer lots of rich extracurricular activities, and much family social lifer evolves around school functions and activities. | | I'd be disinclined to move to Swarthmore as a single in my mid-twenties or older. In order to really feel home at Swarthmore, you need to be rooted in so,e family relationships or institutional setting. Most activity is geared toward families, couples, or students. Singles tend to prefer Philadelphia for social and recreational outlets. |
Noise | | town comparison vs. | | Best hospital | | Tourist attractions |
Occasionally you hear planes coming in to the international airport. | | Philadelphia has a much more urban metropolis feel. It's got higher population density, more class and economic diversity, and better public transportation. It also has a higher crime rate, a higher cost of living, and all the noise and crowds that make city life kind of annoying. I prefer the quite openness of Swarthmore's green spaces. If you're the type of person who needs a good strong dose of "the real world," you may find Swarthmore a bit too permissive and strange. | | The nearest full service hospital is Riddle Memorial Hospital, located in the nearby town of Media, PA. It's a mid sized hospital known for strong support staff and good administrative support. | | Favored tourist attractions include the Scott Arboretum, Renato's Pizza, the Swarthmore Town Center, and historic mansions and estates. |
General comments | | | | | | |
Swarthmore is a haven for young liberals and progressive intellectuals. It's a very permissive culture, permeated by the institutions of higher learning to which it is home. Residents are generally polite and hospitable. The grocery stores source organic, locally grown produce at premium prices. People ride bikes and walk a lot. Residents sometimes exude a sense of entitlement and pride over this cherished status as a small town. Children are well-integrated into the community: attending cultural events, present when their parents host, and familiar with their neighbors. It's a great town for young adults and/or young families. | | | | | | |