Philly Suburbs with a 30 min train commute (King of Prussia, Middletown: school district, college)

[hollygolitely]

Originally Posted by LIGIRL08

I did not know about teachers needing to live in Philly to work there - thanks for pointing that out I will do my research.

I actually live in the Stony Brook/Pt. Jeff area now - Bucks county is definitely on my list. An hour commute is not optimal, but definitely doable for the right area.

the further you go from the city the nicer place your going to get, with more land, safer, cleaner, etc..... i think bucks county would be a good place for you based on what you say you like... but i live in bensalem (just outside the philadelphia city line and my train ride is about 40 mins (not including travel to the train, parking, walking to work, etc.- i'm about an hour door to door). but i wouldn't want to live any closer to the city than where i am now... i'm actually thinking i'd rather move alittle further out (i was in levittown before) and have alittle longer commute for nicer living... so it really depends on your priorities.

[solibs]

It used to be that you had to live in the city to apply for a job. Nutter got rid of that. Now you have a year to move into the city but even that might have changed/be different from teachers.

You might find a yard close to what you're looking for in parts of Roxborough, West Mt. Airy, Chestnut Hill and maybe even parts of East Falls. Probably in the Far Northeast as well.

I think the suburban towns along the river aren't all that nice . . . and while being further from the city might get you more land it doesn't automatically mean that you'll get a better school district. It's worth checking out NJ in Burlington and Camden Counties. South Jersey has half the people that the PA suburbs do but the same number of highway lanes into Philly - so a lot less traffic.

I would consult this map SEPTA a 30 minute ride to Center City starting with the red PATCO line and working our way around counter clockwise -

Lindenwold
Cornwells Heights
Fox Chase
Bethayres
Roslyn
Ambler
Chestnut Hill (east and west)
Conshohocken
Bryn Mawr
Media
Chester

They're all about 30 minutes drive to Center City without traffic. During rush hour they can get significantly longer.

[billb7581]

On the Jersey side you have an easy commute from areas like Cinnaminson, Delran, Riverton, or anywhere else along the River Line.

[LIGIRL08]

Thank you all for your responses!

I have been doing a little more job research for myself - it looks as if there are jobs for me in KOP as well. As for DH (teacher), i know its hard to get a job there, but he would be willing to work in Reading/Allentown (I have heard its easier to get jobs bc these arent such great places).

What areas would be commutable to KOP and Allentown can you recommend?

eta: Thank you for all the NJ suggestions, however we would rather live in PA (lower taxes!). I have family in south jersey who are looking to get out.

[Tone509]

For information on areas convenient to Allentown and Reading, you may also want to post on the Lehigh Valley and general Pennsylvania forums, respectively.

Originally Posted by LIGIRL08

Thank you all for your responses!

I have been doing a little more job research for myself - it looks as if there are jobs for me in KOP as well. As for DH (teacher), i know its hard to get a job there, but he would be willing to work in Reading/Allentown (I have heard its easier to get jobs bc these arent such great places).

What areas would be commutable to KOP and Allentown can you recommend?

eta: Thank you for all the NJ suggestions, however we would rather live in PA (lower taxes!). I have family in south jersey who are looking to get out.

[nkosiek]

There is no requirement to live in the city anymore for teachers. It was gotten rid of in the last contract, and I don't think its on the table for the current one under negotiation. As for whether or not the SD is in "need" of teachers, it depends on the subject. If your husband is a Social Studies teacher he'll have a hell of a time finding a job anywhere in the metro area as there are a ton of us. Yes, PSD does hire them but there is still a list of names they have when positions open up for that subject. That and Phys Ed would be tough gets, anything else and he can probably get a job anywhere in the area.

One note, he should check PAEducator and PAReap for postings, but also each district as many won't/don't post the positions on those sights but instead only put them up on their own sights.

I'd look into parts of Ambler, Willow Grove, Wyncote, Jenkintown, and Elkins Park as areas that may offer some/all of what you're looking for.

[billb7581]

eta: Thank you for all the NJ suggestions, however we would rather live in PA (lower taxes!). I have family in south jersey who are looking to get out.

Depends on where. I pay slightly higher property taxes for what I have, but my utilities, gasoline, and state/wage tax obligation is lower. (Non resident vs resident, Paying PA state income tax vs paying NONE)

I pay city wage tax, but it reduces your tax liability to NJ up to 100%.

Also the state refunds a portion of your property taxes but you deduct the full amount federally. I looked into it (moving to Bucks county), but moving to a comprable home in a comprable neighborhood, turned out to be a net money loser.

[toobusytoday]

King of Prussia to Allentown is about an hour commute. There are generally jobs at Allentown schools but not the suburbs. I know many people that work as aides or subs for 2-3 years in hopes of getting a full time position. Much better chance if you are a secondary (esp. math or science) or special ed teacher. I think Pennsylvania produces more teachers then any other state.

[LIGIRL08]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

King of Prussia to Allentown is about an hour commute. There are generally jobs at Allentown schools but not the suburbs. I know many people that work as aides or subs for 2-3 years in hopes of getting a full time position. Much better chance if you are a secondary (esp. math or science) or special ed teacher. I think Pennsylvania produces more teachers then any other state.

yikes. DH is a history teacher - the reason we want to leave LI is because of the corruption and impossibility of teaching in the burbs - he is starting to get burned out in NYC - sounds like PA is the same. He will not want to sub for 3 years. I think we are going to look in the Virginia area as well, I have heard that teaching jobs are easier to come by.

[nkosiek]

In general he/you do know that Social Studies/History teaching jobs are not easy to come by anywhere in the country, right? When Clark County, NV places ads all over the country it always says that they are looking for everything but Phys Ed and Social Studies. This from one of/THE fastest growing school districts in the country. They wouldn't even take my CV at a job fair.

I'm not saying he won't find anything here in Philly, he just needs to get his certification transferred to PA and start a job hunt.