Possible Move to Philly

Bucks County and the Main Line are indeed beautiful locations, however there are a few small towns that get overlooked like Rydal and Meadowbrook. If you go to realtor.com and enter zip code 19046 and your price range you will find beautiful farmhouses on large wooded lots, right in Montgomery County - convenient 30 minute train ride to Center City and about 45 minute drive to Trenton (NJ Transit). Great public elementary schools as well as private (Abington Friends School and Meadowbrook). We moved from the Main Line to Elkins Park five years ago. I thought I would really miss the Main Line but I haven't looked back (or been back). Gook luck!

Doylestown (located in Bucks County) and surrounding area have trains into Philadelphia and are also fairly close to Trenton if you wanted to take a train into NY. It's a beautiful area with many homes that should fit what you're looking for.

The best website I know of for looking at houses in the Philly area is Everyhome.com. You can search for houses by school district or city AND by price range. I look at this site often just to keep informed of real-estate info in my area.
FYI...I am not a realtor or affiliated in any way with this site.

Bryn Mawr, Radnor, Wayne, Newtown Square, Edgemont... those areas are beautiful and are in your price range. I am pretty sure. (I am right nearby in Havertown) I don't know if you are to far from NY though. I would guess it is about 2 1/2 hrs to NYC.

if you need to be close to NY you would want to move to bucks county in the yardley, richboro, or newtown sections. The council Rock School district is excellent. It is a convenient train ride to both philly(40-60 mins depending on traffic) and NYC (an hour or less and many people live here for an easy commute). If NY is not a concern and being closer to philly is a priority, I'd say live on the mainline in ardmore or bryn mawr or on the other side of the river in springfield township in MONTGOMERY county (not delaware county) or lafayette hill. Lafayette hill and springfield are much more affordable and very nice areas. Hope this helps. You may contact me if you need more info. Good luck!