Philly or Jersey?? (Philadelphia, Chester, New Castle: sales, condos, safe neighborhoods)

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by janny

In the meantime, the OP isn't really getting his/her original question answered. He/she specifically asked about Cherry Hill vs. living in the Philly suburbs and how he/she would get the best value for his/her money while living in a safe neighborhood. Instead, it has turned into a "my-state-is-better-than-your-state-nyah-nyah-nyah

I agree with your point but in defense of the direction that this thread has taken there are a few warranted reasons as to why.

1. The OP hasnt posted in 2 months so if he/she has no longer has any interest in the thread then its kind of a moot point to be answering his/her question. The original question was answered to the best of its ability.

2. MoorestownResident then needlessly and falsely started belittling the Pa.suburbs. If MoorestownResident was correct in his assessment then you sit back and you take your medicine but MoorestownResident in fact is 100% wrong. His/hers facts are completely backwards and therefore he needed to be addressed.

http://www.2006buyersmarket.com/downloads/chester.pdf (broken link)

2006 Median Home Prices (Philadelphia suburban metro)

Chester County(Pa) $303,000
Bucks County (Pa) $287,000
Montgomery County (Pa) $270,000
Burlington County(NJ) $241,000
Gloucester County(NJ) $209,000
Delaware County(Pa) $204,000
Camden County (NJ) $ 195,000
Salem County (NJ) $170,000

[BPP1999]

We all know Moorestown is a wonderful place to live (though I've never been there, I'll say this based on what I've heard and Money Mag's rating). That being said, MoorestownResident took this entire thread way down. I'm not sure why there's so much insecurity and desire to prove that NJ is more expensive, though there can be a tendancy of NJ residents to enjoy the "bragging" rights that come with being the most dense state: We have more traffic than you. Our houses are more expensive. We have high taxes, etc.

Why not brag about things that actually make NJ nice, instead of talking about home prices and how you feel superior to PA? That would help the original poster of this thread more.

Here's a list of 4-5 pros of each area:

NJ suburb pros: better infrastructure (highways), better proximity to CC Philadelphia and the shore, good job market, no city wage tax if you live and work in NJ

Philadelphia pros: museums, restaurants, walkability, public transportation, etc.

PA suburb pros: more suburbs that have a sense of place, historical sites, good job market, no city wage tax if you live and work in the 'burbs

[vizanje]

Originally Posted by billb7581

I would hate city living, but like having the city convenient to me.


Nothing sounds like more fun, after a long day of work than riding around the block 6 times , looking for a place to park

Yeah. I was spoiled. I lived in NYC...no need for a car. I'd wake up at 8am, quick shower and at work by 8:30am...it was sweet. But in other cities the public transport was not so good, or things to do were far away. NY is unique in that it is all on your doorstep, not that there aren't other issues

[MoorestownResident]

Chester County

South

Chadds Ford

$2,650,000
6 Bed, 8 Bath
11,883 Sq. Ft.
3.5 Acres

Price per square foot = $223

North

Malvern

$4,950,000
5 Bed, 5.5 Bath
7,000 Sq. Ft.
12 Acres

Price per square foot = $707, including 12 acres

Devon

$6,995,000
5 Bed, 7.5 Bath
10,254 Sq. Ft.
6.21 Acres

Price per square foot = $682, including 6.21 acres

Moorestown:

$4,295,000
5 Bed, 5.5 Bath
3,370 Sq. Ft.
7.09 Acres

Cost per square foot = $1,274 including 7 acres.

Burlington County:
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2005: $4,589

Chester County:
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2005: $3,785

% greater property tax = 21%

[MoorestownResident]

Originally Posted by BPP1999

We all know Moorestown is a wonderful place to live (though I've never been there, I'll say this based on what I've heard and Money Mag's rating). That being said, MoorestownResident took this entire thread way down. I'm not sure why there's so much insecurity and desire to prove that NJ is more expensive, though there can be a tendancy of NJ residents to enjoy the "bragging" rights that come with being the most dense state: We have more traffic than you. Our houses are more expensive. We have high taxes, etc.

Why not brag about things that actually make NJ nice, instead of talking about home prices and how you feel superior to PA? That would help the original poster of this thread more.

Here's a list of 4-5 pros of each area:

NJ suburb pros: better infrastructure (highways), better proximity to CC Philadelphia and the shore, good job market, no city wage tax if you live and work in NJ

Philadelphia pros: museums, restaurants, walkability, public transportation, etc.

PA suburb pros: more suburbs that have a sense of place, historical sites, good job market, no city wage tax if you live and work in the 'burbs

Just having fun. Main Line is great, love visiting over there. NJ has more to offer to my opinion. That should help the OP

[MoorestownResident]

Sure, actually the 2007 average is higher since many towns have been revalued in the past couple years. It is not uncommon to see town property taxes up 15%-20% over the past two years. In PA you don't pay nearly as much for schools at the local level.

[rainrock]

Average median price of houses sold in 2006. Highest 3 towns in each county.

http://www.2006buyersmarket.com/downloads/chester.pdf (broken link)

Pennsylvania

Chester CountyThese must be some seriously suped up trailers.

Eastown- $750k
West Vincent-$595k
Birmingham Twp-$575k

Bucks County

Upper Makefield-$630k
Solebury-$588k
Buckingham-$550k

Delaware County

Radnor-$550k
Thornbury-$542k
Edgmont-$534k

Montgomery County

Lower Merion -$546k (60,000 people)
Lower Gwenydd- $440k
Lower Moreland-$428
--------------------------------------------------------
South Jersey

Burlington County

Moorestown-$485k
Mansfield Twp.-$380k
Medford- $380k

Camden County

Haddonfield-$439k
Voorhees-$290k
Cherry HIll-$279k

Gloucester

Woolwich Twp-$392k
South Harrison-$382k
Harrison Twp.-$370

[MoorestownResident]

It's what you get for the money, not how much it is. Apparently, these towns haven't held their value too well. Below is a sampling of current median values, not 2006.

The current median prices:

West Vincent, PA

$474,000

Lower Merion, PA

$494,820

Upper Makefield, PA

$489,634

Birmingham Twp, PA

$476,855

Moorestown, NJ

$522,330

Princeton, NJ

$628,261

[rainrock]

You put both feet in your mouth and got busted. Take your medicine and be done with it. South Jersey is a nice area but its not as affluent as the Pa. suburbs. Its not even close at this point. Maybe in 20-30 years it will be as prestigious as SE Pa, but not today.

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by MoorestownResident

It's what you get for the money, not how much it is. Apparently, these towns haven't held their value too well. Below is a sampling of current median values, not 2006.


Princeton, NJ

$628,261

Haha. Princeton definitely isn't in South Jersey. It's Central Jersey at best:




Anyhow, even though I used median home price appreciation to demonstrate the economic strength of SEPA, that's not necessarily a GOOD thing. If you have two homes with the same square footage in two different townships, who would want to pay more for the same sized home? For someone hunting for a good buy on a home, you sure aren't selling them on a deal -- and with today's buyer's market, that makes many areas of PA look particularly attractive.