Seriously considering moving from NJ to DE (Wilmington, Dover: low crime, houses) - City-Data Forum

hsteigs · 03-12-2009, 03:38 PM

Hello, I hope someone can answer these ?
My husband and I want to escape NJ ridiculous taxes and are considering Delaware. However we don't know where to start looking? In a nut shell we are looking for the following...
A nice low crime neigborhood. Homes in the 200-275k range (preferably newer). A great school system for my 10 yr old. A pop warner football program as well as lacrosse. A family neigborhood. And lastly an easy commute back to NJ for my hubby to work a couple days a week.(anyone know how the traffic is?)
We are coming down this weekend to see the Wilmington area but we are clueless in this. Please help!
IThanks so much

maryCh · 03-12-2009, 07:32 PM

Welcome to the DE forum! We moved to Kent County from NC about 1-1/2 yrs ago. We considered northern DE, as my hubby works in NY. However, we researched quite a bit and decided to go midstate, primarily for the school system. From what we found, pop warner football is very popular in this area. Don't know about lacrosse, but I do know the high school has it. We are in the Caesar Rodney district, which is just south of Dover.

Good luck in your search; hope you have a good visit this weekend, and please post when you return and let us know if you have more questions.

Mary

hsteigs · 03-12-2009, 09:47 PM

Thank you. How long is the commute for your husband if I may ask and how does he commute. My hubby will be going to NJ 2-3 days per week.

doctorjef · 03-13-2009, 01:48 AM

There have been numerous threads on topics related to your questions. Why don't you scroll through the threads on this forum if you've not done so already. These questios get addressed here constantly.

hsteigs · 03-13-2009, 05:20 AM

I have but the conversations go way off topic at times. All I need is some basic information to start me off. Again thanks to MaryCH who's been most helpful so far. I will post upon our return.

Charley · 03-13-2009, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hsteigs

I have but the conversations go way off topic at times. All I need is some basic information to start me off. Again thanks to MaryCH who's been most helpful so far. I will post upon our return.

As I was doing my research which ultimately led to my choosing Delaware, it was MaryCH - and a few others - who were extremely helpful to me as well. I am planning to move to Kent County next year.

I do not know as much about the Wilmington area as I do about Kent County. Enjoy your weekend trip and let us know what you think when you return. Good luck.

hsteigs · 03-13-2009, 06:28 AM

thanks Charly I will. Good luck to you also.

anniebleu · 03-13-2009, 08:05 AM

Hi, and I add my welcome. I grew up in NJ and have lived in other states, but far longer in Delaware--Kent County--than anywhere else. Our children grew up here, and did well until the high school years. (I do have to say that they were not happy in this location during that time.) Now that we no longer have family in DE, my husband and I plan to move, though we're still looking and expect to continue in this mode for a couple more years. We naively thought it would be easy to find a great place, but perfection is elusive!

I wish doctorjef would help out with the Wilmington area, since he is so well informed, but when I stop by here, it seems that he is often repeating information he's given time and time again--so I do understand his post. My own impression is that you are not likely to find housing and a desirable neighborhood for your family in the Wilmington area in the price range you mentioned. In fact, I've been astonished at the prices even in the Middletown area I've noticed recently.

I know most about Kent County. You can still find quite nice houses in this (Kent) area in the upper part of your price range. I'm certain houses in that range are available in Sussex as well, but you might not want to live in those towns. To the best of my knowledge, the best places to live in Sussex, and the best school systems as well, are closer to the beaches, and those neighborhoods are expensive. Also, of course, the commute to NJ would be even farther.

I would not want to commute more than occasionally to NJ from much of Delaware. My opinion. Not a fun trip. However, your husband is probably much younger and more energetic!

Perhaps you've already left on your weekend trip. In any case, good luck to you!

maryCh · 03-15-2009, 11:49 PM

Hi hsteigs,

Sorry for the delay in responding; we've been pretty tied up this weekend and I have not been online. As far as hubby's commute... he actually does not commute daily to NY; he stays with his folks during the week and gets in on weekends. Not every weekend, as he sometimes works Saturdays as well. In weighing the pros and cons when researching our move from NC, this was a choice and sacrifice we as a family made.

I do think the key to your husband's travel to NJ on a regular basis would be WHERE in Jersey he goes to. And if it is feasible to take the ferry from Lewes, DE to Cape May, NJ to access that part of the state. That can make a big difference, as well as how flexible his schedule is on the days he needs to go. If he can travel "off peak", the time to get there can be quite different than during typical rush hour. Just a bit of food for thought.

BTW... how WAS your trip to DE? Did you get a chance to explore more than just the greater Wilmington area? Sorry we could not order better weather for you... perhaps next visit, right?

Mary

Charley · 03-16-2009, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maryCh

BTW... how WAS your trip to DE? Did you get a chance to explore more than just the greater Wilmington area? Sorry we could not order better weather for you... perhaps next visit, right?

I've been checking back also waiting to see how the trip was. I hope she does come back to post.