Relocating to York, Pa?? (Harrisburg, Parkville: new home, teaching jobs, school districts)

[sl73]

I'm a single mother of a 12yo and currently lives in the Owings Mills area. I'm thinking of moving to York, Pa due to the crappy school system here. I will still need to commute to OM for work. I would like to know about the school system and the communities in York. I would like to be near 83.
I'm also AA and would also like to know how diverse york is, not so much for myself, but for my daughter diversity is important...
Also I hear taxes ( housing/school) are really expensive, does anyone know the taxes in Pa compared to the taxes in MD.?????

[Gil3]

Originally Posted by sl73

I'm a single mother of a 12yo and currently lives in the Owings Mills area. I'm thinking of moving to York, Pa due to the crappy school system here. I will still need to commute to OM for work. I would like to know about the school system and the communities in York. I would like to be near 83.
I'm also AA and would also like to know how diverse york is, not so much for myself, but for my daughter diversity is important...
Also I hear taxes ( housing/school) are really expensive, does anyone know the taxes in Pa compared to the taxes in MD.?????

SL73,

If you really want to have an easy commute to work, then your best bet would probably be to live in the Stewartstown/Shrewsbury area which is not only adjacent to 83, but offers a lot in the way of retail and some dining options. As you may know, a large amount of people who have moved from Maryland, the Baltimore area in particular, have settled in this area. When I occasionally shop there, I have noticed an increasing number of blacks and hispanics who both shop, eat and work at the main shopping center in Stewartstown, especially the Wal-Mart and Giant.

If diversity is really important, then you may want to live closer to York, preferably in the South York area along Queen Street which is adjacent to 83 as well. Most of the county's minority residents live in York city, on it's fringes and to a lesser degree out in the suburbs and outer boroughs. There are also quite a few black-owned businesses in York and Harrisburg, which of course has a much larger minority population. I will say York has definitely become more and more diverse in the last 20 years since I first moved here from the Deep South.

With any growth comes problems and adjustment, but for the most part, people tend to get along. This is no racial utopia, but I feel for the most part any person of color will fell at home here after a while. I am black and have had little, if any problems. I have gone a few places and gotten that "look", but I ignore it. I treat people with respect, and most of the time I get it back. You have ignorant people no matter where you go, but the vast majority are decent and the racial climate here is a lot better than many places.

As for taxes, compared to Maryland, relatively low. I left York for 7 years and lived in the DC area, then moved back recently. I don't have to tell you that DC and the surrounding areas are pricey, but there is so much to do. I guess that is the trade-off. It is definitely a much lower cost of living here. It's not cheap, but you can live comfortably. Plus if you want to visit friends and family in B'more, then it's a quick trip.

Schools, I don't have experience or expertise on, but in relative comparison to the Baltimore region, I would venture to say they are somewhat better. You could probably do some more extensive research and see what's best for your child.

Good luck!

[Orion17]

sl73 - I am a transplant from Nottingham/Parkville and working in Towson (live in Red Lion)
Along with what Gil3 said, the stewartstown/shrewsbury/new freedom area is pricey compared to just a couple miles up the road in area like Jacobus, Dallastown, Red Lion (not as close to 83), York Suburb and even cheaper in York City.

Since many people from MD are moving to PA for cheaper housing, they mostly settle in the area gil3 suggested and the homes prices have gone up as a consequence. You can move farther North up 83 for cheaper home prices than near the state line and still find diversity. I would say that if you are living in a new home community, you are more likely to find friendly faces who do not discriminate, because diverse people are moving into these communities. If in an older/already established area, like in town along some main streets, they may be less likely to be friendly. Although I am white, I have been looked at as an outsider in these areas when people know I am not an original native PA'er.


Taxes are different here in PA. In MD they have one property tax which they apply to many different things. In PA there is a small property tax (1/4 what I paid in MD) but there is a large school tax, which is dependent upon which school district you live in. Since we live in Red Lion our school taxes are close to $4000, but in some ways that is a good thing.

In MD a county, state, local or property tax can be earmarked for anything from roads, to schools, to other infrastructure. And it can be reallocated as the politicians see fit (RE: Baltimore City Schools). In PA the separate school tax is dedicated to the use of the school system. This is good because the influx of residents helps build new schools to handle them. The teachers are paid well, and are unionized which makes PA a very competitive place for teaching jobs. It also helps to give students teachers who are good at what they do.

Living in an area off of 83 north of the state line communities of Shrewsbury etc will add maybe 15 minutes to your commute. But my particular home which cost 245,000 in Red Lion would cost above 300,000 near the state line. So the extra gas and time may be well worth it.

You can search on the school districts of York and check their diversity stats here LOCAL SCHOOLS IN YORK

[WoodturnerMike]

Hi
I can't answer the questions regarding York but I can give you this link to compare total tax burden, you'll find Pa is rated a bit better than Md. As someone who lived in Pa for years, moved to Cape May NJ in '03 I can say that I can't wait to get back to Pa. We're paying $5900 property taxes, a comparable home in Pa. would be in the area of $2500 - $3000. We're hoping to move in the next few months, just need to sell this one first. Good luck!
StateMaster - Total tax burden (per capita) (most recent) by state

[WoodturnerMike]

Oh yeah,
Here's a cost of living table too:
Cost of Living 4th Quarter 2007

Mike

[tiffan28]

Originally Posted by sl73

I'm a single mother of a 12yo and currently lives in the Owings Mills area. I'm thinking of moving to York, Pa due to the crappy school system here. I will still need to commute to OM for work. I would like to know about the school system and the communities in York. I would like to be near 83.
I'm also AA and would also like to know how diverse york is, not so much for myself, but for my daughter diversity is important...
Also I hear taxes ( housing/school) are really expensive, does anyone know the taxes in Pa compared to the taxes in MD.?????

Growing up, I remember hearing about a lot of racism in the York area and surrounding towns. I don't know what it's like today.

[sl73]

Thanks for all the info everyone has given me, it has been really helpful...