Mulling a move Cumberland County/Harrisburg Suburbs (Wilkes-Barre, Carlisle: apartment complex, rental)

[Magritte25]

When are you moving? Anywhere from late fall to next year, depending on finances and ability to find suitable housing
Where are you coming from? Wilkes-Barre, PA
Why are you moving? Husband's work, save on commuting, seems like a nice area. I like living in Wilkes-Barre but if we have an opportunity for my husband to advance in his career, we want to take it. We don't want to miss advancement due to a "fear" of moving away
Where will you be working? Carlisle
Have you been here yet? Yes, quite a few times

Will you buy or rent? Rent
If buying, are you looking for a house or a condo? How much can you spend? n/a
If renting, are you looking for an apartment, a townhouse or loft? How much can you spend? Either an apartment or half double. Would like a house, but probably won't be able to afford one right off the bat. We can afford about $700-$800 per month. We would prefer a managed apartment complex, but we aren't sure if we can afford that right now.
Do you prefer hi-rise or walk up? Either

Are you married or single? Do you have children? Married with 2 school aged children
Do you prefer public or private schools? Public. We are very adamant about being in the Derry Township School District if we relocate
Do you have pets? None
Do you want or need a yard? We would like one, but it's not a deal breaker to go without one for now
Are you keeping a car? Yes
Do you prefer bustling activity or calm and quiet? We prefer a town with sidewalks and walkable areas with city parks

What do you want to be closest to?
Grocery store
Library
Public Transportation

Do you want to live with people of a similar age, race, religion or sexual preference or do you prefer a diverse neighborhood? We are fine with either

Phillies, Pirates or Orioles? Phillies!

[ki0eh]

A few thoughts I have about this is that we have traffic down here so a day shift commute from Derry Twp to Carlisle would be pushing an hour in routine traffic and it gets worse with incidents. I have had 1.5 hours before going just to Camp Hill.

We are in Derry and have friends in Carlisle Area and honestly the friends kids of same age (now 4th grade) seem to be more challenged. Carlisle Area is a larger and more socioeconomically diverse district, also all of Cumberland Valley, Camp Hill, and Lower Dauphin would be closer and each of these three by some measures point out better than Derry. Carlisle is much more walkable and budget-friendly as well, with aspects of genuine quaint, and a relatively safe area other than a couple of blocks on the north side. South Middleton Twp (Boiling Springs and south suburban Carlisle) is well worth a look too.

But as you say you're adamant about Derry so working from the western extremity there is 02 Madison Corporate[id]/24517/ which is more coin than your desired budget, but at least walkable to Gelder Park without coming out onto the busy Middletown Road;

Alpine Heights at Hershey Harrisburg,PA apartment community details and pictures which is closer to your budget but not really walkable to anywhere;

and Welcome to Briarcrest Gardens, Hershey, PA which is walkable to the Medical Center, Hershey technical center and the Reese plant, and the limited service of http://www.cattransit.com/routes-schedules/ (see Route 322) but not to parks or shopping. Crossing to the bike path by the Medical Center would be a doable bike ride to Shank Park or grocery shopping at Karns for some folks, or on back streets to the library.

[ki0eh]

double post

[Magritte25]

Hmmm. We have thought about Carlisle too. I am only adamant about Derry Twp. School District (as opposed to Williams Valley or Susquehanna Township SD) if we were to reside in the Hershey area. But you've given me more food for thought. Thank you!

[MatildaLoo]

Hi Magritte!

Have you thought about Mechanicsburg? It's a really nice area not far from Carlisle. I know a few people who live out there, and they really like it.

I believe it is Cumberland Valley S.D.

There's also a Wegmans nearby!

[Magritte25]

Originally Posted by MatildaLoo

Hi Magritte!

Have you thought about Mechanicsburg? It's a really nice area not far from Carlisle. I know a few people who live out there, and they really like it.

I believe it is Cumberland Valley S.D.

There's also a Wegmans nearby!

Hi Matilda!

Yes, Mechanicsburg is on our list of places to consider. Does Mechanicsburg have good transportation, library system, etc?

From what I've read Cumberland Valley SD seems like a very good school district. If you were me, why would you choose Mechanicsburg over Carlisle? (I know that sounds a bit snarky, but it isn't. I wish you could type tone on message boards!)

[Magritte25]

I just looked it up and Mechanicsburg has it's own school district which is still very good.

[MatildaLoo]

To be honest, I was only in Carlisle once, so I don't really have too much experience in the area. It's just that Mechanicsburg is a bit closer to Harrisburg and anything you might want to do there.

[ki0eh]

Mechanicsburg Borough and some areas south and east are in the Mechanicsburg Area SD, many areas with a Mechanicsburg postal address (north and southwest) are in Cumberland Valley. The borough of course would be the more walkable area. The Wegmans area in Silver Spring Twp is not walkable. It's far west enough in suburbia that it's not unreasonable to drive over from Carlisle Borough for shopping.

[Magritte25]

Ok, a few questions from someone who has never relocated before:

What is the best way to find a rental property? We would like to live in a managed complex, but due to a rough few years our credit isn't very good. We are on our way back up, but we did take a bit of a beating in that department.

How do you find out which streets/neighborhoods are in which school districts?