Kennett Square Apartment Renter's Guide
Kennett Square Apartment Renter's Guide
Overview
Kennett Square: The mushroom capital of the world, producing over one million pounds of the tasty fungus every week.
An agricultural suburb of Philadelphia, Kennett Square has become a hot destination for folks who want to live near the city but enjoy a laid-back, semi-rural atmosphere
Kennett Square: The mushroom capital of the world, producing over one million pounds of the tasty fungus every week.
An agricultural suburb of Philadelphia, Kennett Square has become a hot destination for folks who want to live near the city but enjoy a laid-back, semi-rural atmosphere. It's the town that mushrooms built, and the business still plays a big part in life. It is also somewhat bipolar for the town - the center part is hip and urban, while the outer ring is a bit more countrified.
Moving to Kennett Square
What You Need
You'll need a flexible budget and long lead time to lock down a place in Kennett Square. It is a top destination in the region, thanks to being convenient to Philadelphia, and it is constantly attracting new residents. The competitive rental market means you may need two to three months of lead time to find what you are looking for, and it also means that landlords are demanding in terms of paperwork and references - be on top of it, or they will pass over you quickly.
What You'll Get
Half of the units in Kennett Square are single-family, detached houses. That being said, most of these units are in the more suburban areas of town - if you want to live in the middle of everything, you'll be stuck with rowhouses or apartments. Wherever you look, make sure to do a thorough inspection before you rent - 65% of the buildings were built before 1969. Older buildings can get drafty, leading to higher heating bills. Older buildings also mean a shortage of modern, open layouts and conveniences, but that's made up for with plenty of charm!
Neighborhoods of Kennett Square
The neighborhoods of Kennett Square all offer their own charm and amenities.
Borough Center: The downtown is urban, with a solid mix of owners and renters, along with lots of restaurants and little shops. It's fairly walkable for leisure activities, but you'll need a car to get around for business and work - there's no handy public transportation. This part of town doesn't have many large apartment buildings or condominiums, with most rentals being privately owned. It's a great place to look for a centrally located studio apartment for the urban sophisticate, though.
South Kennett Square: Similar to the borough center, but lacking in the leisure activities and historical buildings, the southern part of Kennett Square is almost exclusively residential. This means it also is the best spot to start a search for a studio apartment or one-bedroom apartment in Kennett Square. Juniper Hill Apartments offers condos for rent and is close to downtown, while Center Square Apartments is down toward the bottom end of the neighborhood.
Five Points: This neighborhood actually surrounds the Borough Center and South Kennett Square, which makes it hard to characterize. It has more industry than either of those neighborhoods, and has more single-family detached housing. You've got room to stretch. You also will definitely need a car living out here; it's not walkable and is only biker-friendly in some spots. Take a look at the apartments for rent at Cedar Woods, a great place to start if you're on a budget.
Living in Kennett Square
The yearly Mushroom Festival puts the "fun" in fungus, shutting down the whole town for arts and crafts, parades, entertainment, and more. While this might be the most well-known festival, the folks of Kennett Square don't stop there. The usual holiday parades are there, plus the Kennett Brewfest held every fall. The downtown hosts First Friday Art Strolls every month, with art galleries, studios, and boutiques all chipping in for a long night of art, entertainment, food, and drinks.
Kennett Square might be famous for mushrooms, but that's not the only thing growing. Just outside of town is Longwood Gardens, one of the premier botanical gardens in the United States. With over 1,000 acres of gardens and woods, it's a place that Kennett Square residents cherish and take advantage of. It is also home to events, performances, workshops, and other activities throughout the year. Of course, staring at flowers isn't for everyone. If your choice of outdoor activities involves a set of clubs, Kennett Square Golf and Country Club is a top-notch course.
The Brandywine Valley Wine Trail runs right through town, with local vineyards like Paradocx and Flickerwood having tasting rooms downtown, and Galer, Va La Vineyards, and more close by. Just remember, get yourself a designated driver, and don't go too heavy on the chardonnay, or you may not be able to find your way back to your new apartment.
Of course, Historic Downtown Kennett Square is a daily hotbed of activity, with boutiques offering locally crafted goods, markets offering organic produce, and restaurants turning out great food. The Half Moon Restaurant and Saloon is noted for its creative dishes made with wild game meats, while Lily's is a sushi destination. Talula's Table has received recognition for its innovative farm-to-table menus, as well as its market, which carries local foods to take to your new home.