Commute from Center City to Woodbury NJ? (Audubon, Westmont: credit, month-to-month)

[CityChic9]

Hello, I am interested in moving to Philly (either Clark Park, Center City or Mt. Airy) and am considering applying to a job located in Woodbury NJ. I assume Center City would be the best departure location for the commute. What would that commute be like? Short, long, troublesome? Would I want to keep my car or would there be a public transport option? Alternately, is there a town in NJ somewhat equi-distant from Woodbury and Philly, and somewhat similar to Mt. Airy, where I could get used to things for a year, and avoid city tax, before figuring out the best place for my move into Philly? (NJ is not a permanent option.) Thanks in advance for your comments.

[Tangled Threads]

I would say your best bet would be Clark Park since it would be an easy trip to the Walt Whitman Bridge (it is currently under construction but if you're working traditional business hours you'd be doing a reverse commute and it wouldn't be horrible). If you wanted to live in NJ temporarily I'd look in Collingswood or Audubon.
Good luck.

[CityChic9]

Thanks. I'll look into those.

[tom_567]

I'd lean towards NJ in your situation. Definitely check out Collingswood and Haddon Township. Both of those towns are along the PATCO line that will get you 24/7 access to Center City (and Old City if you walk a few blocks). You can connect to the El (Market-Frankford Line) as well at 8th street and get to Northern Liberties or University City quickly if you time the connections right.

Westmont has a few cool night life places - Pour House, PJ's, Treno. Pour House gets a young crowd. It's even an option on weekends if you don't feel like going to the city. Collingswood has lots of good amenities too - farmer's market on Saturday mornings, May Day, 2nd Saturdays, etc.

A few disadvantages to living in the city:

1.) Wage tax
2.) Bridge Tolls (This is $5/day, which equates to $1533 yearly pre-tax in the 25% Fed tax bracket assuming 45 work weeks per year).
3.) More gas expense
4.) Parking (you will pay to park your car almost anywhere in Center City, unless you want to try gambling with street parking)
5.) PA State tax is flat, NJ's is tiered with a personal exemption and renter's credit (you may end up ahead in NJ)

That said, the city is doable, but if you're not from the area, I'd advise going month-to-month, 6 months, or a year in NJ until you figure out if you like the new job, find some neighborhoods in city that are within your price/safety comfort levels, etc. If you do opt for the city, I'd advise against Mount Airy. The train stops running in Mount Airy at midnight on weekends, so you'll have better access to Center City from Collingswood, NJ than Mount Airy.

Also, there is a NJ transit bus that runs from Philly to Woodbury (I think it's the 406 or the 408, don't quote me), but I have no idea if it will get you to and from work at reasonable hours and in a reasonable amount of time. Check out their website to get the schedule.

Good luck!

[CityChic9]

Thanks for the details!