How One Growing Family Found Their Fit in the Philly Suburbs
Sometimes the right move is the one you didn’t see coming. And for Sarah and Andrew, moving from NYC to the suburbs began as a simple question about space, pace, and what their next chapter could look like.
By the summer of 2024, Sarah and Andrew were deep into a familiar urban-parent conundrum: two kids (one toddler, one on the way), a Manhattan apartment that suddenly felt like a shoebox, and a sense that the clock was ticking.
“We knew we needed to leave,” Sarah says. “We were on the Upper East Side, and it just wasn’t aligning with how we wanted to live anymore.”
When they first started thinking about moving from NYC to the suburbs, their initial plan was simple enough: head to Westchester, rent first, then buy once life settled. But like so many NYC-to-suburbs stories, their path took a few turns and ultimately led them somewhere unexpected, supported by a Suburban Jungle team that helped them rethink not only where they lived, but how they wanted to live.
Realizing NYC Was No Longer the Center of Gravity
Andrew, a Brooklyn native, was even more ready to leave the city than Sarah was, and when they found out she was pregnant with their second child, the timeline to relocate suddenly got very real. At the same time, they knew they didn’t want to be “rent-poor” in the suburbs while still commuting back to the city. “We didn’t want to find ourselves in that position all over again,” she says.
After touring Westchester, the couple still wasn’t feeling a pull towards any particular town. At first, that was scary, Sarah admits.
“It took me a few months to get the courage to say it out loud,” Sarah says. “But nothing was tying us to New York anymore except our jobs. All of our family is in Delaware and Philly.”
Once that truth landed, they pivoted from their NYC suburbs search and started looking into the Philadelphia suburbs — closer to family, closer to help, and much closer to the lifestyle they envisioned. What they discovered is something many families learn when moving from NYC to the suburbs…the town you expect to love isn’t always the one that feels most like home.
Considering making a move? Read more: Should I Stay or Should I Go? How to Tell It’s Time to Leave the City.
Enter Suburban Jungle…Round Two
After the initial Westchester exploration, the New York strategy team connected Sarah with Jodi Bloom, Suburban Jungle’s Philadelphia strategist. They began exploring three key regions: The Main Line, Chester County, and Ambler/Upper Dublin. Despite their list, Sarah assumed they’d land in the Main Line. But even so, Jodi encouraged them to do their due diligence.
“When Sarah and Andrew came to me, they were incredibly thoughtful,” says Jodi. “They weren’t just looking for a town, they were looking for the right life. My job was to help them explore with clarity and calm, especially during such a major transition.”
But the process wasn’t linear. Busy season schedules and holiday travel made Ambler tours tricky. They focused first on Chester County and the Main Line, quickly weighing long-term fit, cost, and culture.
The Market Reality Check
By spring 2025, with a newborn in tow, house hunting on the Main Line intensified. But Sarah knew she had the Suburban Jungle team – including her partner agent – in their corner. Together, they navigated each twist and turn. With every decision, every in-law Facetime, and every critical moment, they leaned on the team’s expertise, insights, and support.
“Big moves come with big emotions, especially when you’re leaving the city with a newborn and a toddler,” Jodi says. “Part of my role is reassurance. I remind families: you’re not doing this alone, and you’re not expected to have it all figured out from day one.”
That emotional grounding became a pivotal part of their search.
“Jodi was part strategist, part therapist,” Sarah jokes. “She’d check in and tell me, ‘It’s going to be okay. You’re going to love it.’”
Revisiting Ambler with Fresh Eyes
As the search continued, Sarah decided to revisit Ambler, and everything changed. The agent introduced Sarah to local families who could share firsthand insights on schools, community culture, day-to-day lifestyle, and more – and, suddenly, things started falling into place.
“It was really sweet,” Sarah says. “They helped us understand the community on a deeper level.” And the very first house they toured in Ambler? It was the one.
“Ambler wasn’t our first choice when we started searching,” Sarah admits. “But when we came here, it just clicked. It was low-key. It felt accessible. It felt like a real shift, in a good way.”
Ambler, and neighboring Upper Dublin, checked every major box: A+ schools, good price point, and proximity to both grandmothers. Here, they could settle into a great house with a yard, fewer close-set neighbors, and plenty of room for kids to run. Plus, Sarah says, the intangibles were undeniable: “There are deer in the backyard every morning. My son loves to look for them. We have a swing set. And downtown is adorable. But five minutes away, there’s Target, Costco, Trader Joe’s…everything you need. It’s like the perfect little town for us,” she says.
Learn more about how we pick our partner agents here.
Why Suburban Jungle Made the Difference
For Sarah, one theme kept coming up: partnership.
“I never felt alone,” she says. “Everyone just got it – what a big shift it is to leave the city after living there your whole adult life. They understood, and they supported us. It felt like a full team. And that made the whole process feel manageable.”
Looking back, Sarah and Andrew have some advice for city families considering making a move to the ‘burbs – and we couldn’t agree more.
- Ask every question (early and often)
- Be open to pivoting. The first plan isn’t always the right plan.
- Don’t write off towns that aren’t on your radar
- Prioritize lifestyle fit over the “name-brand” suburbs
- Work with people who understand the emotional and logistical layers, not just the real estate
A New Chapter in Ambler
Now settled in, Sarah and Andrew are building the community they once imagined, with family close by, a home that feels right, and a town that meets their needs without overwhelming them. Their search wasn’t linear, but it led them exactly where they were meant to land, a reminder that moving from NYC to the suburbs is less about checking boxes and more about finding a community that feels like home.
For more client stories, visit Suburban Jungle’s blog page on our website.
Ready to explore your own next chapter — whether it’s Westchester, Philly, New Jersey, Connecticut, or beyond? Schedule your free initial strategy call today.
