will work in Philly - is PA or NJ better to live?

[ajscherer]

I've lived in both NJ and PA and favor PA mainly because I really disliked going over the bridges for my commute. There are areas along the train route in Montgomery County that would also work for you. Jenkintown has a great school system (very small schools) and is on the train stop. A train commute from Bucks county, where I live, will take you about 1 hour (as Jenkintown is closer, your commute will be less). Bucks has a more country feel than the places between it and Jenkintown.

[jazz03a]

I live in the Yardley (PA) area. Its close enough to Philly to make
a daily commute bearable. Trenton and Princeton are also very close.

As far as housing my thinking is that you'll have the same mortgage
payment (principal+interest+taxes) for comparable houses in both
states, but since taxes are lower in PA and house prices are higher in
NJ, more of your monthly payment is going to paying off your house.

I think gas and liquor are cheaper in NJ, but if you live near the border
in PA you can still take advantage of that.