[scared_teacher]

I have a job interview for a teaching position in Benton Harbor. I'm 34 years old and single. My family lives about two hours from there. I don't know anyone around the area. However I have friends in Grand Rapids... Anyway, I'm wondering where I should live and if this is a good idea. I've read about how bad Benton Harbor is and I should live in St Joseph instead. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks so much!

[esnox82]

Personally, I would concentrate my search more in St. Joe, Coloma, Baroda, Berrien Springs, etc... all have nice areas without the hassle of Benton Harbor. I have a cousin who commutes from South Haven to Benton Harbor for work and doesn't mind it.

[analog_kid86]

Yeah, Saint Joseph, Stevensville, Baroda, and Coloma may be your better bets. Benton Harbor is a rough place.

[swishur]

Benton Harbor is sort of an awful place to live. Stevensville, Berrien Springs, St. Joe- all of those places are close by and considerably safer.

[timeofseasons]

Three metros are within an hour of Benton Harbor: Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and South Bend. I would look at towns outside these cities and commute for work to Benton Harbor. You would be a lot happier.

[notdeconcentrate]

I would not commute from GR or Kzoo to BH unless my circumstances required it. Example: My coworker who lives in GR area lost his job in the GR area, was unemployed for over a year, got this job in BH/St Joe and now makes the commute strictly because he has a mortgage. I drive from South Haven area to St. Joe and it's not bad most of the time, but I would prefer to live closer to work. It's not just about the commute but also about making appointments after work, if you have kids the ability to take them to and from after school activities, and the time it takes just to start your evening before doing it all over again.

If I were to live in BH I would choose either: somewhere close to downtown (near the arts district), somewhere with a Benton Harbor address but in St. Joe township, somewhere near Harbor Shores (new golf course), or maybe some less congested parts of Benton Township.

There aren't many places in St. Joe I would want to live either. It is ok, but much like Benton Harbor, it lacks diversity--just my opinion.

[nidex]

I was just in Benton Harbor this past weekend. Yes, the area is poor and rundown, but I did talk to a lot of people there and everyone seemed nice. I had a few people come up to me and ask if I needed help when our truck broke down. St. Joseph is nicer to look at, but BH is nowhere near as bad as say... Detroit or the south side of Chicago.

[chicosbailbonds]

Originally Posted by nidex

I was just in Benton Harbor this past weekend. Yes, the area is poor and rundown, but I did talk to a lot of people there and everyone seemed nice. I had a few people come up to me and ask if I needed help when our truck broke down. St. Joseph is nicer to look at, but BH is nowhere near as bad as say... Detroit or the south side of Chicago.

The locals there are ok for the most part. Town is full of thugs from Chicago and other bigger cities who use BH as a meeting point for trafficking. Best places for the teacher to live would be St Joe, Stevensville, Bridgman, Coloma.

[analog_kid86]

I would look toward Coloma, Bridgman, Watervilet or Stevensville. Saint Joseph is a nice town, but you'll have it in the summer. The tourists are great for the town, but awful for parking. In addition to that, housing would be cheaper in those other cities.