Nice, affordable family towns within an hour of the ocean? (Annapolis: low crime, find a job)

[LaughinWillow]

Hello all! My husband, 3 kids and I are currently living in PA (lived here most of my life), but we both dream of living within driving distance (an hour or so) of the ocean. We're working on a plan to leave PA within the next 12-24 months to move closer to the coast. We don't want to move too far south, so we can stay close to PA family, so MD seems like the best option (and I've always loved the beaches there). We aren't wealthy by any means - but I have a masters in counseling and my husband does electrical work, so we're both employable and can probably make around $40,000 each.

Anyone have suggestions for affordable, family-friendly places to live within an hour of the coast? Good available jobs are obviously important, as well as good schools, low crime, affordable decent housing, etc. I'd really appreciate any input! Thanks!

[North Beach Person]

Pocomoke City, Berlin, Snow Hill, Fruitland, Salisbury, Crisfield-most near the Atlantic, a couple near the Chesapeake. All on the Eastern Shore. Get a job offer before moving. Get ready to jump through hoops on both your professional licenses. Depending where in PA you're from be prepared for housing price shock, property taxes are generally lower as a proportion of property value. Personal income tax is also higher but we don't have the nuisance taxes PA does.

[kjg1963]

Crisfield and Pocomoke City might be fine to move to but don't look for jobs there. You would need to look in Easton, Cambridge and Salisbury for that. Alot of the eastern shore is rural and the towns are small. My boyfriend's brother moved to Crisfield and it took him months to find a job. Luckily, his wife got her teaching degree and was able to find a job very quickly with the public schools.

[Njrover0216]

You can check the Salisbury, Cambridge and Easton areas...Easton will put you half way between Annapolis and the ocean scenary. You can also look in southern Deleware.