Sparta, NJ move to Milford, PA - Morning Commuting Conditions to get to Rt. 15??? (Wall: houses, buy) - Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Pocono area - City-Data Forum

mbrogz3000 · 11-27-2007, 02:20 PM

Hello,

I am pretty much going to look and buy a house in the Milford, PA area within the next 6 months. I do not want to pay the exorbitant NJ taxes, nor pay $100k+ more for a house in NJ, when I can find something equivalent in Milford. I need to maintain a comfortable living lifestyle, and less hustle and bustle is a big plus for me.

I am highly concerned with what the extra intermediate commute time will be like in the morning from the local roads which hook up with Rt. 15, to then get on I-80 in NJ. I know that during the summer, the Rt. 15 commute is breeze since there are no school buses. But, as soon as school starts, a commute which is about 15 minutes to Rt. 80 becomes about 30 minutes. According to a simple mapquest mapping, Milford, PA is about 15 miles further than I drive already. But I'm sure its not that easy.

My job is pretty flexible with starting times. Does anyone have a feel for the peak traffic times in the morning between Milford,PA to Rt. 15? I need to start 'mentally preparing'.

poconosmama · 11-27-2007, 02:42 PM

Not sure which way you're thinking of picking up 15...206? That gets a bit congested at commute time. The problem with those little roads is that you get behind one slow poke and you're stuck. My husband commutes from Lake Wallenpaupack to Vernon NJ and he just continually tried new routes and different times to leave. It's amazing what leaving at 7am instead of 7:15am can do for the ride!

ff18wife · 11-27-2007, 04:10 PM

My husband commutes to Saddle Brook, NJ. Some days he takes 206 to 15 to 80..others he takes 84 to 23 to 80 but I think he leaves much later than most. He leaves anywhere between 8 to 10 am and very rarely complains about traffic unless he gets behind a slow poke or something happens on Route 80.

Good luck with your move. If you need a good realtor in this area, let me know and I'll PM you the info. Our realtor was great.

griffit34 · 11-29-2007, 02:51 PM

We do that commute daily, crossing the dingmans bridge to 206, on 206, and 15 into sparta is a breeze(with a few exceptions) but most of the time fine. The problem is the congrestion on 80 at the rockaway mall exits backs up traffic to Jefferson, about where the pathmark is, sometimes further back, sometimes further up, but its usually stop and go from there to what ever your destination is.

Summering · 12-01-2007, 06:08 AM

When I lived in NJ for 30+ years route 15 was known as a bad route to take, backed up for miles. Many a time trying to get to the fair, we'd just turn around and go back home.
There was no movement on the highway.
I remember seeing long lines of traffic during commute times.
For some reason reading the posts above, it sounds like things got better.
Have they?

mbrogz3000 · 03-18-2008, 01:25 PM

Well, I'm back into re-considering this area. My fiancee and I can afford various Sussex county towns to live in, but we definitely don't want all of my income to go towards living here (with the mortage+taxes+house operating costs possibly digging into her income). The rate at which taxes raise (about $400-$500 per year) is pretty scary. To get into the type of house we want, the listing prices start at $380,000, and sellers would rather have their house sit on the market rather than come down more than $10,000 of the listing price. Even though MY math says we can afford it my gut is telling me not to spend that much on a house.

Montague which is reasonably priced has crappy schools and bully problems from what I've read, which means we would only be able to live there for about 5-6 years before living having to move again to a place with a good school district. My fiancee will be working in Hackettstown, NJ, and I have to get to 80. Does anyone have realistic commute times for leaving at say 6 am in the morning?

Also as a side, would we have to pay NJ AND PA state income taxes from our paychecks? I never can get a straight answer to this question...

Summering · 03-18-2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbrogz3000

Well, I'm back into re-considering this area. My fiancee and I can afford various Sussex county towns to live in, but we definitely don't want all of my income to go towards living here (with the mortage+taxes+house operating costs possibly digging into her income). The rate at which taxes raise (about $400-$500 per year) is pretty scary. To get into the type of house we want, the listing prices start at $380,000, and sellers would rather have their house sit on the market rather than come down more than $10,000 of the listing price. Even though MY math says we can afford it my gut is telling me not to spend that much on a house.

Montague which is reasonably priced has crappy schools and bully problems from what I've read, which means we would only be able to live there for about 5-6 years before living having to move again to a place with a good school district. My fiancee will be working in Hackettstown, NJ, and I have to get to 80. Does anyone have realistic commute times for leaving at say 6 am in the morning?

Also as a side, would we have to pay NJ AND PA state income taxes from our paychecks? I never can get a straight answer to this question...

I think my SIL pays the both taxes NJ's and Pa's......So the answer is yes.
Did you think of living in Hackettstown, close to where your husband works.
Just the savings in gas per month would be a good thing. From there it is a quick hop onto route 80 for you.
There are some nice homes there in your price range.
PA is not all that great with taxes either......School and Town tax can go from 4,000 to 7,000 also.......I pay in the middle of that.
I love Pa........but it doesn't solve some of the problems. Commute would be worse, heating costs are very high, gas to commute, time lost........
You might want to still try to look into a NJ town.

nolat · 03-25-2008, 10:03 AM

The commute from Milford to Rt 80 (via 206 & 15) is easy IF YOU LEAVE AT 6 AM. If you wait another 20 minutes, you'll run into traffic. I also moved to Milford from Sparta. It's a nice change, but taxes have gone up since I moved here. (I'm sure they have in Sparta, too.) Montague does have crap schools, so don't go there. Before you buy anthing in PA, ask to see their utilities bills for a year. I'm in a zone where the electricity doubled overnight, but there are better zones. Good luck!!

poconosmama · 03-25-2008, 11:18 AM

No! You do not pay NJ and PA taxes if you work in NJ and live in PA. They have a reciprocal agreement. You just have to make sure to fill out the right forms when you start the job. We screwed up the first paycheck of 2007 and paid NJ, and I had to jump through hoops just to get the $ back from NJ.

I think moving to PA is a great idea if your salary is worth the commute. Depending on where you are here does make a difference though. To move over the border and be in Delaware Valley SD and pay the highest taxes of the Pike County area may not be worth it in the long run though. We live in Wayne County, total taxes $2300 a year, small community and water fees. Yes, gas costs alot, but the salary very much off sets that and we still are able to live a very comfortable life here that wouldnt be possible if we went to NJ or Orange County NY.

nancy n · 06-24-2008, 05:19 AM

I have similar questions. I will be moving up there from N.C. (Husband's job changed). I need to know about the commute to rt15 also. I'm looking at houses in Pike county but need as much info. as I can get about housing and schools. We have an elementary aged child too. I have read that Delaware co. schools have good ratings. I don't want my child to have a long bus commute though. Can some one give me some advice???