Move to Pa. or NJ? Looking for GoodSchools/Safe/Quaint Town HELP!!!! (Fairless Hills: condo)

[sparklegirl_19]

Am planning on moving to/near Princeton, NJ for job. I've never been there so was hoping those who have lived either in NJ or Pa would know of towns that would be nice for a family with younger kids.

We're looking for a town with:
1. excellent schools for my preschoolers
2. low crime, safe to walk around at night
3. somewhat near a highway to get to Princeton (traffic in the am/pm?)
4. good /convenient shopping/activities for the kids (swimming, dancing, community rec ctr offering kids programs)
5. that quaint small town friendly feel (where the drycleaner, grocery clerk, pharmacist acutally knows your name and smiles at you)

I know that's quite a laundry list, but that's our ideal. But, most importantly it's the schools and proximity to hwy to get to work that's paramount here.

We're moving from Charlotte, NC (via California). We have a 3500sq ft home, for $400K on 1/2acre wooded lot in NC. Property taxes are about $1.2K. I hate to leave after being cramped in an 1,100sq ft condo in Ca. for $700K...moving to NC was a dream. So, we're accustomed to high housing and outrageous gas prices but not necessarily high income taxes or property taxes.

I've heard that property taxes & income taxes are high in NJ and housing is a little more expensive then in NC. So, we're also considering Pennslyvania near the border with NJ.

Are property taxes high in Pa? What other cost of living issues make Pa. costly?

Anyone, have any thoughts on:

A. The difference in income / property taxes between NJ & Pa

B. Any nearby towns that fit our criteria
-(eg. specific town names or subdivision developments)
-Have read some posts regarding New Hope, Newtown & Doylestown?
-How about Yardley, Pineville, Woodside, Woodbourne, Fairless Hills, Langhourne?
-Are there new subdivision/developments along the river? (flooding a problem?)

C. What's the best public and private school in Bucks County?

D. General appeal between NJ or PA towns and the people, preferably from someone who has lived or worked extensively in either states.


Sorry for all the questions. I've posted on the NJ site as well but so far not many responses...maybe Pa. residents are nicer. We're just trying to decide whether it's finacially/socially better to live in NJ or Pa.

Any help or advice would be so appreciated. HELP! HELP! HELP!

[newmarlig]

Newtown, and Yardley would both be excellent and convenient choices. In both cases, your husband could easily drive the short distance to the Trenton train station and take NJ Transit to Princeton.