Relocating w/in 45 minute commute time to Philadelphia international Airport. (Chester: for sale, low crime)

[ShortSkirtLongJacket]

Hello all,

we have two young children, seven and four. We currently live in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. We are looking to relocate because it is too expensive to live here (we currently pay 15k in property taxes).

We are looking for a town that has (in no particular order)
-a good, solid school system;
-moderate politics – not too conservative, not too liberal or a healthy mix of everyone along the spectrum (though if pushed, we prefer too liberal over too conservative)
-a bit of a nightlife – good, varied restaurants (we love Thai, Indian, sushi etc.) bars/pubs, coffeehouses, independent bookstores, art-house movie theater, non-chain retail shops, theater and small music venues.
-a sense of community
-safe; low crime
-ethnic diversity; we are a biracial family
-economic diversity
-something quaint; we don't like feeling we are in Anywhere, USA; neighborhoods not cookie-cutter developments or McMansions
-public utilities
-people who are not the keeping up with the Joneses type

We would like a four bedroom, two bath home with .5 acres or more. We can spend $450K. We need to be within 45 minutes commuting time of Philadelphia international Airport, including traffic (1 hour at the very most).

This is a dream list. I know there's probably not one single town that can meet all or even most of these criteria. This place does not exist in New Jersey, as far as I know. Is there a place in Pennsylvania that can meet many of things on this list? We have wiggle room in pretty much everything except the school system, safety, spending limit, and commute time.

I have not visited the area yet. Since we have about a year I wanted to start making weekend trip to towns. Was wondering if you guys could help point us to which towns to visit first.

Much thanks in advance for any feedback!

[frankgn87]

The first problem you will have is if you spend $450k for a home around here the taxes will be darn close to what you were paying in North jersey.. Unless you bought in the city then you have the crime issue. Look at the Narberth/Havertown area.. Very nice there..

[Ms_Christina]

Look into West Chester PA and the surrounding area. Good schools, college town so lots of diversity. old and new eclectic houses, a nice downtown with lots of shops and restaurants. Good schools, and moderate politics. And the Exton mall is a short drive if you need a healthy dose of commercialism I used to live in Downingtown and commuted to PNC training center at the airport and it only took 45 min with traffic and Downingtown is farther away than WC.

[ShortSkirtLongJacket]

Frankgn87: really? $15,000 in property tax for a $450,000 house? Oh noooooo! Say it ain't so.
Ugh. The 15K we pay now is for our $575,000 house. So PA's prop taxes are actually worse.
Thanks for input. How does Pennsylvania calculate their property tax? Do they go by market value or assessed value? If assessed do they assess high or low? Or is it different from county to county, town to town?
Thank you for the Haverford recco.

Ms_Christina: thanks for Wst Chester. I have starting points

Any thoughts on Media?

[ShortSkirtLongJacket]

I meant Havertown. Whoops.

[frankgn87]

Originally Posted by ShortSkirtLongJacket

Frankgn87: really? $15,000 in property tax for a $450,000 house? Oh noooooo! Say it ain't so.
Ugh. The 15K we pay now is for our $575,000 house. So PA's prop taxes are actually worse.
Thanks for input. How does Pennsylvania calculate their property tax? Do they go by market value or assessed value? If assessed do they assess high or low? Or is it different from county to county, town to town?
Thank you for the Haverford recco.

Ms_Christina: thanks for Wst Chester. I have starting points

Any thoughts on Media?

Pa's are not worse they are comparable. They go by assessed value. Every area is different. Ya want great schools, and clean safe locations, you are paying the most taxes.

update: I just looked homes for sale in Havertown for $475k and the taxes are 14,400, and a $425k home is 13,600. So maybe Havertown is worse then North Jersey

[maf763]

And here's a place in Havertown priced at $450K with 4/3 for just over half the taxes ($7700) that the previous poster 'found'. OP, don't believe everything you read here.

[frankgn87]

Originally Posted by maf763

And here's a place in Havertown priced at $450K with 4/3 for just over half the taxes ($7700) that the previous poster 'found'. OP, don't believe everything you read here.

The tax for that home in 011 was $8300 not 7700.. The other homes I looked up were most likely assessed for more? They were 100% legit.. no bs.

[Avalon08]

OP, I was thinking Media as soon as I read your criteria. I just randomly checked a couple houses in the $460K range and their taxes were about $6800. I know Delaware County is known for high property taxes, but I still don't think they compare to New Jersey, which is notorious for its high taxes.

[ShortSkirtLongJacket]

Thanks for all the input. Avalon08, you mentioned that you thought of Media right away. Can you elaborate? Which of my criteria does Media possess?