Where to move betweeen NY and DC? (Wilmington: sales, crime)

[courtneybm]

Help!

My husband and I live in San Francisco but we are planning to move back east to be closer to family. My family is in NYC and his is in DC. We hope to geographically speaking - find a middle ground. We need to live within an hour of a major city/airport. We also love the outdoors and would prefer a place with a bit of culture. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

[Joe84323]

Wilmington - Rockford Park/Trolley Square (relatively affordable, nice parks, right on 95, smack dab between NYC and DC)
West Chester, PA - Same as above, but farther from 95.
Collingswood, NJ - Nice town feel, more expensive, higher property taxes, near 295 and NJT
King of Prussia/Valley Forge PA Huge hilly parks, relatively more expensive, farther from 95.

Not sure what you mean by culture, but you'll find a little of each in all the above. Wilmington is the most that is actually like a city, and because of that, has a crapload of crime in every area except what I listed, but it has a little Italian neighborhood, Polish neighborhoods, festivals all around the year, cute restaurants, a riverfront with clubs, bars, etc.. West Chester and Collingswood also have nice smaller towns with stuff to do. They have negligible crime issues.

King of Prussia, on the other hand, mainly revolves around the mall, which is the 2nd largest in America.

If you didn't mean to count out Philly, I would try out East Falls or Manayunk. Philly is fun, but to live there is draining due to the 'tudes the residents have.

Good luck!

[armx]

Delaware is strategically situated, almost halfway, between DC and NYC with easy access, short runs to Philly and Balto.

In addition, there is no sales tax, prop. taxes are low, schools are good, crime is low. There are plenty of things to do but need the attitude to enjoy rather than expecting spoon-fed, run of the mill attarctions.

In spite of being a small state it is very progressive, fairly cosmopolitan, thanx to Dupont, Astra-Zeneca and, formerly Hercules, research centers.

[doctorjef]

If you fancy the train, as I do, Wilmington also has the advantage of being an hour and a half from both NYC and DC via the Amtrak Acela Express.

[doctorjef]

Any of the close-in suburbs of Wilmington (talking of the city proper, which is overshadowed in size by its suburbs) will also be very close to I-95 and to the Philadelphia airport. Distances here are very short and traffic minimal (I-95 aside).