Reading & surroundings (Washington, Columbia, Wyomissing: crime, daycare, cheap home)

[Negotiator75]

My wife and I and 3 small kids are moving from Seattle, WA to Reading, PA in the summer of 2008. We have some questions for you out there with the knowledge, some may be pretty tough to answer, but whatever you can answer would be most helpful and appreciated.

Just want to compare

In your opinion, where are the best, safest elementary schools in the Reading area? (In Seattle it's in the area East of Lake Washington)

What is the current price of Gas for the cheap stuff, the 87 grade?
(In Seattle its $3.50 a gallon)

What are the average weekly daycare costs for a 5 & 3 year old, both "potty trained"? (In Seattle its like $700-$800)

Are there certain items in the grocery store that seem over-priced or too expensive? (In Seattle area, Milk is about $3.89 a gallon, 12-pack of Sam Adams is $16.99)

What would be the most dangerous areas to stay away from in the Reading area, Philadephia area etc? (In Seattle it's Everett, Columbia & White Center)

Thanks for your help! Please feel free to add anything else

[hc7612]

Hi,
I live in the Reading area and will try and answer at least some of your questions. We are actually being relocated from the area to central New Jersey. In my honest opinion, most of the schools around Reading are terrific. We have a Reading mailing address, but live in Exeter Township, which in actuality is about 6 miles to the west of the city itself.(And a world apart!) Exeter township schools are ranked 3rd in Berks county I believe. A great and SAFE school system. My son is in 2nd grade at Jacksonwald elementary. I have nothing but good things to say about the staff there. I know that Wyomissing schools are good too. Reading city center, is ok during the day. It seems as if there is a small pocket of crime that happens at night(7th and Spruce streets). The majority of the crime is Hispanic on Hispanic crime. Sad but true. We live in an upscale development that is almost rural. And that is what you find outside the city. Beautiful countryside, with little to non-existent crime.

As far as cost of living goes. I think you will find that the Reading area will be much cheaper than Seattle. For example, when I purchased gas this week I believed I paid $3.09/gallon. A gallon of milk runs about $3.29, housing prices should be significantly less than where you are now. I cannot give you the rundown on daycare. My son was in preschool when we moved here. Hopefully someone else has those numbers. If you go to a cost of living calculator site such as: bankrate.com or cityrating.com they will give you a good idea of your savings.

I hope I have helped you somewhat. Please disregard what you read about Reading being unsafe. The city is having a rebirth of sorts with places like the Goggleworks, and now there is going to be a Children's musuem built. And outside of the "pocket of crime" in the city itself, the outlying areas are totally safe. DM me if you have any other questions and I will be happy to help. Good luck with your move!

[tomahawk]

I live in Lower Alsace. It takes me 10 minutes to get to downtown Reading where I work.
The cost of living here is much cheaper than the Seattle area.

My house is within a half mile from the daycare, primary school, elementary school and high school. Extremely convenient no matter what age your kids are.
All the schools dismiss within 10 minutes of each other so no kid has to stand around waiting to be picked up.

Coincidentally I will be selling my 3 bedroom 2.5 bath home this summer.

Interested?

(I'm moving out of state)

[hc7612]

I wanted to ammend the above gas price I quoted earlier. I filled up this morning and I paid $3.15 a gallon.

[karen_s]

This is certainly NOT typical for the Reading outlying areas, but unfortunately there was a school stabbing incident today:
Newsvine - 3 Students Stabbed; Pa. School Evacuated

[hc7612]

Originally Posted by karen_s

This is certainly NOT typical for the Reading outlying areas, but unfortunately there was a school stabbing incident today:
Newsvine - 3 Students Stabbed; Pa. School Evacuated

Yes, this happened in Lower Alsace Township. I am unfamiliar with that School District, however, it is rare for anything like that to happen. Unfortunately, we are seeing incidents like this at Junior High and High Schools across the country. It is a shame.

[Negotiator75]

Originally Posted by hc7612

Hi,
I live in the Reading area and will try and answer at least some of your questions. We are actually being relocated from the area to central New Jersey. In my honest opinion, most of the schools around Reading are terrific. We have a Reading mailing address, but live in Exeter Township, which in actuality is about 6 miles to the west of the city itself.(And a world apart!) Exeter township schools are ranked 3rd in Berks county I believe. A great and SAFE school system. My son is in 2nd grade at Jacksonwald elementary. I have nothing but good things to say about the staff there. I know that Wyomissing schools are good too. Reading city center, is ok during the day. It seems as if there is a small pocket of crime that happens at night(7th and Spruce streets). The majority of the crime is Hispanic on Hispanic crime. Sad but true. We live in an upscale development that is almost rural. And that is what you find outside the city. Beautiful countryside, with little to non-existent crime.

As far as cost of living goes. I think you will find that the Reading area will be much cheaper than Seattle. For example, when I purchased gas this week I believed I paid $3.09/gallon. A gallon of milk runs about $3.29, housing prices should be significantly less than where you are now. I cannot give you the rundown on daycare. My son was in preschool when we moved here. Hopefully someone else has those numbers. If you go to a cost of living calculator site such as: bankrate.com or cityrating.com they will give you a good idea of your savings.

I hope I have helped you somewhat. Please disregard what you read about Reading being unsafe. The city is having a rebirth of sorts with places like the Goggleworks, and now there is going to be a Children's musuem built. And outside of the "pocket of crime" in the city itself, the outlying areas are totally safe. DM me if you have any other questions and I will be happy to help. Good luck with your move!

Thanks for the great post. This is very helpful!

[hc7612]

Originally Posted by Negotiator75

Thanks for the great post. This is very helpful!

Please continue to ask questions as they come up. I will try my best to answer. Good luck on your quest.

[Negotiator75]

Originally Posted by hc7612

Please continue to ask questions as they come up. I will try my best to answer. Good luck on your quest.

Thanks for that. I asked this in one of the other posts too, but here is a more specific question. Douglassville seems to be a nice find in regards to cheap homes, nice schools, safe living.

I am wondering what other cities can be compared to Douglassville that are in a 30 mile radius to Reading?

[hc7612]

A lot of the towns around Reading are affordable and safe. Obviously, I push Exeter Township, because it is what I know. But there are other small towns like Birdsboro. Morgantown is another one that springs to mind. It is at the end of the 176, which is only about 12 miles to Reading and a pretty straight shot. Oley and Fleetwood are other smallish communites that are nice. I think that you will find that there is quite of bit reasonably priced housing in nice, safe areas. Besides the City of Reading itself, I believe all of the surrounding schools are good. I hope that helps.