Bangor vs. Mount Bethel vs. Warren County, NJ (York, East Stroudsburg: sales, real estate)

[jerseygirlInTN]

Hello,
My family and I will be moving back North (yeah!) this fall and my husband will be working in East Stroudsburg. We wanted to know about the Bangor, Mount Bethel areas in terms of family friendly neighborhoods, public schools, traffic, kid's recreation activities. Is there a PA school report card like NJ has? We don't want to put our three children in private school and want a neighborhood where we could go for walks and the kids would have friends to play with outside.

We also like Warren County, NJ for its good schools and quaint quiet areas. We want to be close to I-80 so we can travel back to Bergen County, NJ (where my husband is originally from) regularly to see family and go to our church in Passaic County, NJ on weekends. Our price range is up to $600K and I would like to get together with other stay at home moms.

We looked at some areas in Mount Bethel/Bangor, but most were out of our price range or situated on a cliff or in a golf community. Does anyone have kids in these schools?

I know that the East Stroudsburg schools are fair, so we don't want to live there. Also, we can't be more than 30 minutes to Pocono Medical Center in case there's an emergency and my husband has to go in.

Preferably we want to be as close to I-80/NJ border as possible so that our commute to Bergen/Passaic County is within 1 hr.-1 hr. 15 min. We love Warren County, especially Blairstown and Hope and liked those areas.

What is the state income tax in PA? Is it graduated like NJ? What about the excise tax? What is taxed in terms of groceries, clothing, etc. Any information is appreciated!!! THANKS!

[Cougargm]

Your real estate taxes and auto insurance will be higher in NJ, as will be the housing. Crossing the Delaware River into PA will make a difference in the overall cost of living. THe Pa income tax is a flat 3.07%. Sales tax is 6% and doesn't tax food or clothes. You only need to drive to the Crossings Factory Outlet in Tannersville and you'll see more NY and NJ license plates in the parking lot than PA ones due to the difference in sales tax.
If you're husband will be working in East Stroudsburg there are quite a few nice towns that you can live in and still be within a half hr. Guess it depends on if you want a more rural/ country feel or more of being in town. Olde Mill Run is a 'neighborhood' of very nice homes with a suburban feel to it that's just minutes to the mall and downtown Stroudsburg. Bartonsville has some nice country lots on side roads and yet is intersected by rte 80 and is just 10 minutes to the bridge and Stroudsburg. a knowledgeable realtor will definitely be an asset to you.
East Stroudsburg school district has two high schools, south and north. South (actual east burg area) actually has a fairly good rep so I wouldn't dismiss it. North (up rte 209) has its problems and their scores,etc pull down the district in general. There is a PA report card for school districts but unfortunately I don't have the web address.

[toobusytoday]

Here is the PA school report card: http://www.paayp.com/

But I think www.schoolmatters.com has more information. You can also compare different states schools or districts. Since you have an idea of your own school now you could also plug that in to get a comparison to make sure that your new schools will be as good or better.

[annyl]

Hello future neighbor,
I'm very glad that you'll be moving close by soon. I am a new resident to the Mt Bethel area myself coming from L.I, NY. I still commute into NYC twice a week. I was a little reticent about putting my kids in the Bangor schools. They are very happy there though and with parental involvement they are fine at the elementary level. We are keeping our options open for secondary schools. Both my husbansd and I are educators and I am in process of starting my own business in PA. Please email me if you have anymore questions related to this area.
Ann
Rachid61@epix.net

[wannabemt]

Dear jersey Girl,

My wife and I lived in western New jersey and moved to eastern pa 9 years ago. We presently live in washington township pa. It is right next door to mount bethel and Bangor. I might see things different than other people because I grew up in Hope and lived in blairstown.
If you can afford 600K I would look at Warren county. The difference in the taxes will be worth it. The changes that are taking place in western pa are in leaps and bounds where that part of Warren is preserved by preservation laws and property value.
The school system I grew up in Hope has 2 or 3 of each grade and the Bangor has 12 of each and growing. Bangor is a great school district however it is scheduled to double in the next 5 to 10 years. Hope and Blairstown won't therefor keeping the comunity and the taxes in check. We are looking west ourselves too busy here even now. God bless and good luck

WannabeMt

[Tmistee2007]

Hello Everyone,

What I need to know is How is Mt. Bethel school district as far as elementary, middle schools and colleges for CNA Training courses ,and RN nursing colleges or programs for nursing . IF ANYONE CAN HELP OUT WITH INFORMATION ,IT WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED.

[Summering]

Originally Posted by jerseygirlInTN

Hello,
My family and I will be moving back North (yeah!) this fall and my husband will be working in East Stroudsburg. We wanted to know about the Bangor, Mount Bethel areas in terms of family friendly neighborhoods, public schools, traffic, kid's recreation activities. Is there a PA school report card like NJ has? We don't want to put our three children in private school and want a neighborhood where we could go for walks and the kids would have friends to play with outside.

We also like Warren County, NJ for its good schools and quaint quiet areas. We want to be close to I-80 so we can travel back to Bergen County, NJ (where my husband is originally from) regularly to see family and go to our church in Passaic County, NJ on weekends. Our price range is up to $600K and I would like to get together with other stay at home moms.

We looked at some areas in Mount Bethel/Bangor, but most were out of our price range or situated on a cliff or in a golf community. Does anyone have kids in these schools?

I know that the East Stroudsburg schools are fair, so we don't want to live there. Also, we can't be more than 30 minutes to Pocono Medical Center in case there's an emergency and my husband has to go in.

Preferably we want to be as close to I-80/NJ border as possible so that our commute to Bergen/Passaic County is within 1 hr.-1 hr. 15 min. We love Warren County, especially Blairstown and Hope and liked those areas.

What is the state income tax in PA? Is it graduated like NJ? What about the excise tax? What is taxed in terms of groceries, clothing, etc. Any information is appreciated!!! THANKS!

Why don't you try around Hackettstown, Mansfield area. The homes should be in that price range. There is the Hackettstown Hospital and in a bad situation they do have a helicopter pad to Morristown Memorial.........
You won't notice the grocery or other goods tax that much. I really don't........Property taxes, with school taxes you will notice. You can then be close enough to E. Stroudsburg. Hackettstown now has some larger stores and it also has a great amount in the Trade Zone area. Hope and Blairstown are nice but further from a hospital then if you were in Hackettstown ...or out a bit from there.
another choice would be by the Pleasant Valley Schools in Brodheadsville......large homes and property........and using the Pocono Medical Center, for big emergencies...the Lehigh Hospitals.....This school system has good reviews and is just 10 min. to Stroudsburg.....You'd be the hour 15 or so to Bergen........Its one hour and a half to NYC on a good day.........

[Cowgirls_love_cowboys]

Hi JerseygirlinTN

Bangor isn't that bad of a town for your family. It's close to your husbands soon-to-be job, and It does have a few recreational activities. Ok, pretty much just the park and the bowling lane. There isn't that much traffic in either Mt. Bethel or Bangor. If you want to go for walks and stuff, I suggest one of the more rural parts of the bangor/mt bethel area. I mean you can go for walks in town but if you are looking for nice scenic walks, you probably won't find it in town. If you live somewhere in Mt. Bethel in either one of the developments springing up everywhere you can walk along the road/sidewalk there and it can be very nice and there should be plenty of other kids there, most of which who are from New York or New Jersey.

You will Probably want to be in the lower Mt. Bethel/Portland area. That's another town to look into, Portland. They have the same school as bangor and mt. bethel, and is VERY close to I-80 and the Delaware river, which would be great for family activities (tubing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing ect) if you're into those kinds of things. I think for all you want you should stick to lower Mt. Bethel or Portland.

The school is, well, Bangor. I think you'd have to live here and have went there/have kids who go there to understand. It's not a "bad" school, necessarily. I don't want to scare you off or anything, if your kids went to bangor they would probably turn out just fine. I did. It just Bangor is one of the lesser schools in the area, IMHO. They either don't get enough spending money from the government, or they arent spending it right. They are trying to expand because the influx of student from New york/New jersey that are moving in is enormous. (at least you don't have to worry that you're kids will be made fun of b/c they arent from the area...a growing number of kids have just moved here in the past 5 years or less) My dad always told me New Jersey schools are better, but he's biased because he went there. Just be prepared to deal with some people in the school system who don't know what's going on or are not doing their jobs up to their potential. (most of those people aren't the teachers. It's the administrative people or guidance councilors most of the time)

Hope I helped!