Orange County, NY (New York, Monroe, Warwick: school districts, university, taxes)

[1stTimeDad]

I plan on moving to orange county. I need to know which town is better, Monroe, Blooming Grove, Chester, or Washingtonville. I also want to know about the taxes. Are they paid monthly or annually. Any help would be most welcome.

[zwartra]

When do you plan to move to the area? Each area you mention have very unique and different charactisics. Taxes are paid typicaly through an escrow account nad paid 2 different times a year. Town and County taxes in January, School in September. As a Realtor and a lifelong resident of the area Moderator cut: realtor soliciting

[Jdawg8181]

Originally Posted by 1stTimeDad

I plan on moving to orange county. I need to know which town is better, Monroe, Blooming Grove, Chester, or Washingtonville. I also want to know about the taxes. Are they paid monthly or annually. Any help would be most welcome.

Orange County is too country-ish for me...

[Fred314X]

Here's another question: why is Orange County in a New York City forum?

[Desnik]

Originally Posted by Fred314X

Here's another question: why is Orange County in a New York City forum?

This is a New York forum, we are talking about Orange County NY. I don't get your point. There is a NYC specific board with a link at the top of this page.

OP, someone else already answered about the taxes. So I won't go into that. As far a s towns, you should be more concerned with school districts, even if you don't have kids, for resale purposes. Out of the towns you suggested, Monroe has the better schools. But, it is very congested, has a huge community of Hesidics and on the weekends is packed with traffic from Woodbury Commons. Blooming Grove I believe some parts are Monroe schools, while other parts go to Washingtonville schools. Which I would avoid. Chester schools aren't great either. If I were you I would take trip to see all the areas, go visit the schools and read all the school reports. If you have any other specific questions, let me know.

[LSLE]

Originally Posted by Desnik

This is a New York forum, we are talking about Orange County NY. I don't get your point. There is a NYC specific board with a link at the top of this page.

OP, someone else already answered about the taxes. So I won't go into that. As far a s towns, you should be more concerned with school districts, even if you don't have kids, for resale purposes. Out of the towns you suggested, Monroe has the better schools. But, it is very congested, has a huge community of Hesidics and on the weekends is packed with traffic from Woodbury Commons. Blooming Grove I believe some parts are Monroe schools, while other parts go to Washingtonville schools. Which I would avoid. Chester schools aren't great either. If I were you I would take trip to see all the areas, go visit the schools and read all the school reports. If you have any other specific questions, let me know.

I would strongly disagree with you about Washingtonville school district. Yes, Monroe has better schools, but the school taxes are higher, the school district is so crowded that it’s hard for the teachers to notice a gifted child, so no matter how good the student is he/she will wind up in a regular class with a regular teacher. This is not a case in Washingtonville where kids are getting more attention, and if the child is above average he gets noticed almost immediately. Besides, on the money we saved on school taxes we are able to afford on-line classes with JH University that I think are much more valuable then graduating from Monroe-Woodbury school district. Also, if we are to compare school districts Monroe is very far behind Cornwall and Warwick.

[Desnik]

I was giving my opinion on the school districts on the towns the OP was looking into, he didn't mention Warwick as an option. You are right about Warwick schools being better than Monroe and everything you said about Monroe is true to a certain extent. Having said that, statistically Monroe schools score very well, and many kids do very well there. I am sure you would disagree with me on Washingtonville schools because you have a child in that school. I still stand by my opinion from experiences of friends of mine. There is no perfect school out there and there are some better than others. That is why I gave the advice I did to the OP and I'll quote myself here, " If I were you I would take trip to see all the areas, go visit the schools and read all the school reports. "

[OCNYISHOME]

Anecdotes are by far the worst way to choose a school district. Families are different, children are different, and each school has it's own atmosphere, stats, and comfortability. Agree that you must visit............your children are different then your neighbors and therefore require different settings and programs. Had a client who was anxious re a move to PB schools.....children were enrolled in leading Manhattan private institiutions with children of other high level executives.....made the move after extensive investigation and the children thrived..........were happier and achieved beyond the parents expectation. Unfortunately, this is also anecdotal evidence.........the key...hands on research. There are many affordable, easily accessible, and beautiful areas in OC that do not carry the rep of Warwick and MW.....please take a look...........

[tambre]

It was in The Times Herald Record today, that the Washingtonville graduating class of 2008, have received a record of 5.2 million dollars in scholarships. There are 429 kids in the graduating class. Not too shabby!

[jharris213]

My Sister works as a teacher in Monroe and she said it is a good school. Her husband is a teacher in our district Pine Bush. Our son loves it here. We live in the Town of Crawford which is Pine Bush Schools. Nice town, nice people and more affordable than Monroe. I have heard of problems in Washingtonville schools. Check out zip codes in Pine Bush and 12549 (also Pine Bush schools but more land per house). W have lived here for 4 years and are only moving because my husband got a job in NC.