Active Duty Military Headed to McGuire... (Marlton, McGuire AFB: for rent, car insurance, condos)

[Sgt Roy]

Hello everybody,

My name is Bryant and this is my first post here. I am currently on Active Duty in the the US Air Force and am being relocated to the Garden State in March at McGuire AFB from Tinker AFB, OK. I am bringing my wife and two small children with me for a three-year tour. I am very much looking forward to it as I am originally from the East Coast (West Palm Beach, FL) and have good memories of traveling to visit family throughout the northeast... However, my wife has NEVER lived outside of Oklahoma City so I am sure she is in for a big culture shock. To be honest, the NJ car insurance rates shocked the heck out of me as well when I called for a quote earlier today.

Overall though, we are very excited about the experience and am looking forward to living in a busy area where I can do some fun things with the family.

At any rate, my question for the board is concerning housing. I really want to live off base to get the local experience with the family, but the areas seem hit or miss with the overall neighborhood quality. My housing allowance (BAH) that the military pays for McGuire AFB is a tax-free $2000 of which I would like to not exceed by more than $100 to $200. As of right now, I am budgeting $1600-1800 for rent and $400 for utilities and am expecting to get a 1600-2000 sq foot house or townhouse. I am specifically interested in the area west of the base towards Philly; areas such as Cherry Hill, Marlton, Mount Laurel, and Mount Holly. My wife will be a stay-at-home mom with my infant son and we will be sending my older son off to elementary school. There seems to be pros and cons with all of these areas and was wondering what you locals thought.

Thanks for your assistance and Happy Holidays!

[MoorestownResident]

Originally Posted by Sgt Roy

Hello everybody,

My name is Bryant and this is my first post here. I am currently on Active Duty in the the US Air Force and am being relocated to the Garden State in March at McGuire AFB from Tinker AFB, OK. I am bringing my wife and two small children with me for a three-year tour. I am very much looking forward to it as I am originally from the East Coast (West Palm Beach, FL) and have good memories of traveling to visit family throughout the northeast... However, my wife has NEVER lived outside of Oklahoma City so I am sure she is in for a big culture shock. To be honest, the NJ car insurance rates shocked the heck out of me as well when I called for a quote earlier today.

Overall though, we are very excited about the experience and am looking forward to living in a busy area where I can do some fun things with the family.

At any rate, my question for the board is concerning housing. I really want to live off base to get the local experience with the family, but the areas seem hit or miss with the overall neighborhood quality. My housing allowance (BAH) that the military pays for McGuire AFB is a tax-free $2000 of which I would like to not exceed by more than $100 to $200. As of right now, I am budgeting $1600-1800 for rent and $400 for utilities and am expecting to get a 1600-2000 sq foot house or townhouse. I am specifically interested in the area west of the base towards Philly; areas such as Cherry Hill, Marlton, Mount Laurel, and Mount Holly. My wife will be a stay-at-home mom with my infant son and we will be sending my older son off to elementary school. There seems to be pros and cons with all of these areas and was wondering what you locals thought.

Thanks for your assistance and Happy Holidays!

IMO, your best bet is renting in Mount Laurel, there are a ton of condos and townhomes and the schools are good. You don't want to be in Mount Holly though it would be closer to the AFB. Lots of military folk rent or live in neighboring Lumberton which is a decent town with a decent elementary school. Cherry Hill and Marlton are great areas but even farther from the AFB. Good luck.

[hikinman63]

i cant help you where to live ,but want to welcome you and your family to our state ,i hope your stay is a memorable one

Merry Christmas


and ty for your service ,to our country ,stay safe out there

[sligogirl]

Sgt Roy:

Welcome to New Jersey, but honestly, consider your low rent whilst staying on base at McQuire, you're also closer to the commissary, and medical center.

Best of luck, and Thank You!

[Lucky Lady123]

Welcome Sgt. Roy and I hope you and your family will adjust fairly quickly to our state. Cherry Hill is nice but as mentioned above by another poster it is alittle far from the base. I too would like to say THANKS for serving our country and wish you all the best. Keep us posted on your housing search.

[shannybannany]

Hi Sgt. Roy,

My husband is retired from the AF and we live in Cherry Hill. I go to the base for medical and to use the commissary/exchange, etc...

For me, it is a 45 minute door to door experience but please remember:

I travel off-peak non-commute times so that is why I can get there in that time frame.

Basically you travel up 295 to exit 54 (McGuire/Ft.Dix) then you get on 206 to 68...it's not right off of 295, it is very inland.

May I suggest living ON base intially until you really get to know it here.

I am originally from NJ but my hubby is from LA. He likes it but had some adjustment issues.

Good luck and thank you for your service.

Shanny

P.S. The medical services at McGuire are superb.

[shannybannany]

I believe your car insurance will be a lot cheaper if you live on base too.
I guess they feel McGuire is its own little country within the state of NJ....seriously

Shanny

[Sgt Roy]

Thank you for your well wishes and solid advice... Just to address a couple points that some of you brought up:

1. We considered living on base, but there is a year waiting list to get on there. I absolutely hate moving as well, so I would have to really dislike the area we eventually settle in to pack all my stuff up (again) and move to the base for two years before we have to pack up again... We added our names to the waiting list in the meantime then that way we at least will have the opportunity to reconsider.

2. We looked closely at Lumberton and Mount Holly, but the elementary schools didn't seem to have very good ratings. I am willing to commute a ways (I currently commute about 40 minutes one way here in Oklahoma) if my boys can attend a good school. I guess that's why I was leaning towards Cherry Hill or Mount Laurel, but if the drive from Cherry Hill is an hour than that is pushing it. I guess Cherry Hill was looking appealing due to the close proximity to Philly and mass transit, but maybe Mount Laurel is the way to go... Hmmm...

3. Car insurance definitely would be lower living on base because the annual mileage would go way WAY down, but I think I have found some ways to keep the insurance rate more palatable by changing our driving habits.

4. We still plan on taking full advantage of the commissary as I usually do all of the grocery shopping during my lunch break and then keep the cold stuff cold in my refrigerator at work till I drive home. I hear that food and clothes are tax-free... Is that true?

5. I hear that all the gas pumps are full-service. That is awesome!

[lindsaybeth]

Hello!

My husband is actually stationed at McGuire right now. He likes the work environment there a lot better than any other base he's been on, so that's a plus .

We live in Brick, which is about 45 min away from McGuire, by the shore. Since you said you don't mind a commute, I'd recommend looking in this area...the schools are good (I went to Brick schools my whole life!) and there's tons to do...the beach is 10min away and we're close to trains to NYC and Philly. My husband's commute is very simple, with no interstate driving (no tolls!). Let me know if you'd like more info

Lindsay

[MoorestownResident]

Recommend against Cherry Hill since there is normally a ton of traffic on the local roads. Mount Laurel is your best bet for a suitable, family location with good schools. There's also a ton of shopping and restaurants in Mount Laurel and neighboring Moorestown.