Live in Easton PA, work in NJ - Tax advantages (Budd Lake: transplants, car insurance)

[ag11]

Does anyone know if there are any tax advantages for living in Easton PA and working in NJ for a salary range of around 105,000 gross per year?

I currently live in NJ and wanted to explore the PA option if there are any advantages

Kindly appreciate your input.

Thanks,
AG

[mczabe]

There are big property tax advantages. We did this for 8 months before an unexpected relo across country. I don't remember there being any income tax benefits...dh is snoring on the couch next to me, so I'll check on that when he wakes up.

[MoorestownResident]

Originally Posted by ag11

Does anyone know if there are any tax advantages for living in Easton PA and working in NJ for a salary range of around 105,000 gross per year?

I currently live in NJ and wanted to explore the PA option if there are any advantages

Kindly appreciate your input.

Thanks,
AG

Your state income tax is probably less in PA. However, Easton is a brutal place to live, any nominal tax savings is not worth it IMO. And don't forget the cost of gas on your commute.

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by MoorestownResident

Your state income tax is probably less in PA. However, Easton is a brutal place to live, any nominal tax savings is not worth it IMO. And don't forget the cost of gas on your commute.

I would tend to agree... I would look south of Easton along the Rt 78 corridor. There are some really nice areas out that way. Areas north of Easton are experiences property tax increases equivalent to those of NJ. Most likley due to the amount of transplants from NJ and NY moving to that area overwhelming the school systems, etc. But south of Easton would be my recommendation

[Calico696]

Originally Posted by wileynj

I would tend to agree... I would look south of Easton along the Rt 78 corridor. There are some really nice areas out that way. Areas north of Easton are experiences property tax increases equivalent to those of NJ. Most likley due to the amount of transplants from NJ and NY moving to that area overwhelming the school systems, etc. But south of Easton would be my recommendation

Agree 100%. North of Easton, especially the Stroudsburg area, is fairly depressed and the taxes are fairly high for PA. There are some nice places to live in the Bethlehem area.

[MoorestownResident]

Car insurance will be high in a place like Easton because of the high crime rate. I suggest looking around lopatcong along 78 as Wiley suggested. It is affordable out that way.

[mike0421]

My brother in law does this. His salary is about the same as yours. They pay 8700 a year in taxes, and it goes up on the level of NJ. Northampton County is essentially what I would consider PA in name only. It's NJ in every other aspect. Everyone on his McMansion block commutes to NJ every day, no one goes towards Allentown. Soulless neighborhood put up in the middle of what was once a farmer's field. Basically "Los Angeles east". Same lifestyle, same stress level: longer commute. He doesn't see his home until its dark out, unless its summer. I wouldn't want that lifestyle. But that's just me. I'd rather take a modest Cape Cod or smaller home somewhere like Budd Lake or Netcong than deal with his crap.

As Waylon Jennings once said: "We've been so busy keeping up with Joneses, four car garage and we're still building on, maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love." Or something like that.

[MoorestownResident]

My ex-in laws live in Palmer Twp, probably the exact same development. They are retired and did it to save on housing, the housing is affordable and taxes of 8,500 aren't that bad on their 3,500 square foot house. But you have the stigma of living near Easton and everything is a drive. There is a strip mall with a Wegman's near them which they think is the bomb. Around me that is but one of many options.

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by MoorestownResident

My ex-in laws live in Palmer Twp, probably the exact same development. They are retired and did it to save on housing, the housing is affordable and taxes of 8,500 aren't that bad on their 3,500 square foot house. But you have the stigma of living near Easton and everything is a drive. There is a strip mall with a Wegman's near them which they think is the bomb. Around me that is but one of many options.

That seems high for PA? You can get the equivalent just over the border in NJ. I'm about 2700 SF - new construction and paying 6400/yr property taxes. I believe Palmer is one of those Twps. in PA who is about to get hit with Jersey Size property tax bills!!! But the Wegman's shopping area is the "bomb" . It's about a 15 min. drive from where I am now... not worth moving over the border for . Rumor has it that we may be getting either a "Super Walmart or a Wegmans" soon. My twp. is a bedroom community aka commuter town...population 5300 / 11.5 square miles. There's plenty of shopping and things to do. I'd take Jersey over PA in a heartbeat!! Although PA, I believe, at least the area we are talking about, is under rated.

[MoorestownResident]

I just looked it up on Zillow, their taxes are $8,000 for 3,500 square feet. Around me that would be a bargain. I actually think that area of Palmer is a bit more expensive than many areas of Warren.