Help with relocation to York/Harrisburg area...

[Hemingway]

Does anyone know anything about Manchester?

[sixbrocks]

We're looking at a fantastic classical Christian school in northeast Harrisburg: Covenant Classical Academy. Very warm school culture and unparalleled academics IMHO. It's so good that we're considering moving down from Northeast PA.

Check them out on the web.

[trlstreet]

I would second Elizabethtown, it is a great town 20 mins south of Harrisburg and close to the Airport. If you are looking close to York and south of Harrisburg, I'd also take a look at some of the towns on the Lancaster side of the river (Marietta, Mount Joy). As far as York is concerned, there are some nice small towns. I'd second Mount Wolf. I'd also suggest taking a look at East Berlin. I think its actually in Adams Co. but is a great little town w/in 25 mins of York and 40 mins of Harrisburg.

[shenny86]

If your heart is set on York Country Day School (a good school, with a very small student population), then you should look at the areas just to the south and west of York city, as this is where the school is located. Jacobus, Loganville, York New Salem, and Seven Valleys, will all give you easy access to I-83 without be terribly far from the school. These are all pretty small towns and the surrounding areas are fairly rural. Leaders Heights and Reynolds Mill are more specific neighborhoods in that area to consider. They are a nice, safe area (my dad grew up there, and my aunt lives there now). Dallastown and Red Lion would certainly be other possibilities. Being close to I-83 also would make for an easy drive to BWI if neccessary.

Elizabethtown, Rheems, Salunga, Mount Joy, and all nice places, in Lancaster County with that quaint, small town feel and rural surrounding area, that are right off of 283 which goes directly to the Harrisburg airport. Hope this helps!

[teachbeach]

Don't know if you've made your move or decision yet, but I live in east York area and use H-burg airport exclusively (a little more expensive than B-more, but as far as convenience and parking, it's a dream). There is also a back way up along the river (look at 441) that's a great alternative to Route 83. I've used both and can make it door to terminal (with parking the car and shuttle) in under an hour.

All of the public school systems (in York County) will bus your daughter to private school of choice, so transportation to YCD will not be a problem, but she may be on the bus for an hour or more, or have to change busses at another pickup.

You should be able to find a house in your price range, but taxes are going to be btw 3-4K for most of the area with 200K homes. Housing market right now is soft, so it is a buyer's market, but the tax people still charge based on assessment. Consider the southeast quadrant (83 intersects with 30) for ease in getting to 83 or 441 for quick trip to airport. If husband has to fly out of B-more, it's about 60-90 minutes (and never predictable because of traffic).

York has many good features; malls, restaurants, family friendly activities, community activities, fine and performing arts, two good colleges, 2 big hospitals and tons of medical facilities--with specialties in Baltimore or Hershey if necessary.

[Marodi]

Hanover is within an hour of the airport, and uses route 15 and the turnpike so you wouldnt have to deal with 83 traffic although you would have a 1 dollar toll. It's supposedly (according to wikipedia) the 7th largest retail area in PA and has most lower to middle level stores and is somewhat rapidly expanding. Housing is costly for new construction, but I believe it's a reasonable tax rate. It's about a 30 minute drive to the edge of york. There are 3 catholic schools in the area, although I don't know of any private schools in Hanover.

York Springs is a signficiantly more rural area than York/Hanover but I believe about the same travel time to york in comparison to Hanover.