Is there anything for me in Phili?? (Chester, Springfield: rent, condos)

[TrishP7]

Hey Philli,

I'm new to this forum and hoping you guys can give me some insight about your town!

I am a 34yr old female who recently moved to Orlando Fl from Jersey..and I already booked my ticket to move back to Jersey next week!! The south is not for this city chic!! I had a very difficult time getting with the groove of things.

In either case, I'm excited to move to Jersey as I've been living there for bout 20 years..but whats killing me is going back to the high rent prices! I lived in a 2 bedroom apt for 1300..insane! It wasnt worth it at all!

Sooo, I started to think aobut possibly relocating to a surrounding states/towns and Phili came to mind. I've never been there..but can you guys fill me in?

School System
Jobs
Taxes
Diverse neighborhood
Communities/Condos/Townhouses
Entertainment
Over all quality of life.

I intend on finding a great job in Jersey once I return and I would be willing to travel to and fro. As long as I can go home to a place called home. Clean, peace and quiet neighborhood..but I do like to go to the movies, party from time to time. I also have a 7 year old, what are the activities like so and so forth.

Any advice?

[solibs]

What part of NJ did you live in before? How long has it been since you lived there? Have you considered South Jersey (Philly suburbs)?

[orrmobl]

Anywhere outside the city would be good - Springfield, Havertown, Media, Wallingford/Swarthmore in Delaware County, most places in Bucks County or any place on the Main Line but you will pay dearly for that right.

The city schools are awful and you will pay extra city wage tax if you both worked and lived in the city.

Chester county is also a great place if you can find a job in the Malvern or King of Prusia/Wayne areas...

[enwalker]

Originally Posted by orrmobl

Anywhere outside the city would be good - Springfield, Havertown, Media, Wallingford/Swarthmore in Delaware County, most places in Bucks County or any place on the Main Line but you will pay dearly for that right.

The city schools are awful and you will pay extra city wage tax if you both worked and lived in the city.

Chester county is also a great place if you can find a job in the Malvern or King of Prusia/Wayne areas...

Where the city schools are awful?

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by enwalker

Where the city schools are awful?

Unfortunately, it's fairly consistent through much of the city. At the elementary school level, some positive exceptions can be found in and around Center City (Greenfield near Rittenhouse Square and another one in Society Hill. Help newmarlig!) There is also the Penn Alexander School in University City which is supervised and partially funded by UPenn. On the high school level, well-regarded schools include Central (which scores better than many suburban schools), Masterman (gifted) and various magnet schools.

Another contributing factor to the student success is the willingness and ability of parents to be involved. If you choose a neighborhood that appears to be comfortable and family-friendly to you, you will most likely find like-minded parents.

[newmarlig]

Originally Posted by Tone509

Unfortunately, it's fairly consistent through much of the city. At the elementary school level, some positive exceptions can be found in and around Center City (Greenfield near Rittenhouse Square and another one in Society Hill. Help newmarlig!) There is also the Penn Alexander School in University City which is supervised and partially funded by UPenn. On the high school level, well-regarded schools include Central (which scores better than many suburban schools), Masterman (gifted) and various magnet schools.

Another contributing factor to the student success is the willingness and ability of parents to be involved. If you choose a neighborhood that appears to be comfortable and family-friendly to you, you will most likely find like-minded parents.

Tone - you are talking about McCall. Meredith in Queen Village is also excellent.

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by newmarlig

Tone - you are talking about McCall. Meredith in Queen Village is also excellent.

Thanks a lot! At least I remembered that someone else knew.

[Hobokenkitchen]

Originally Posted by TrishP7

Hey Philli,

I'm new to this forum and hoping you guys can give me some insight about your town!

I am a 34yr old female who recently moved to Orlando Fl from Jersey..and I already booked my ticket to move back to Jersey next week!! The south is not for this city chic!! I had a very difficult time getting with the groove of things.

In either case, I'm excited to move to Jersey as I've been living there for bout 20 years..but whats killing me is going back to the high rent prices! I lived in a 2 bedroom apt for 1300..insane! It wasnt worth it at all!

Sooo, I started to think aobut possibly relocating to a surrounding states/towns and Phili came to mind. I've never been there..but can you guys fill me in?

School System
Jobs
Taxes
Diverse neighborhood
Communities/Condos/Townhouses
Entertainment
Over all quality of life.

I intend on finding a great job in Jersey once I return and I would be willing to travel to and fro. As long as I can go home to a place called home. Clean, peace and quiet neighborhood..but I do like to go to the movies, party from time to time. I also have a 7 year old, what are the activities like so and so forth.

Any advice?

Hi Trish!
I think you would really like Philly, but I am a bit concerned about the cost of living situation considering you have a child. I'm guessing you need at least a two bedroom, and in a decent area of the city (with ok schools), that's probably going to cost a lot more than the $1300 that you already mentioned you thought was high.
I'm thinking you should look ouside the city in a decent school system where your money will stretch further. Philly area is great and you can come into Center City at weekends to explore.

Good luck with your move!

[loose cannon]

Originally Posted by TrishP7

Hey Philli,

I'm new to this forum and hoping you guys can give me some insight about your town!

I am a 34yr old female who recently moved to Orlando Fl from Jersey..and I already booked my ticket to move back to Jersey next week!! The south is not for this city chic!! I had a very difficult time getting with the groove of things.

In either case, I'm excited to move to Jersey as I've been living there for bout 20 years..but whats killing me is going back to the high rent prices! I lived in a 2 bedroom apt for 1300..insane! It wasnt worth it at all!

Sooo, I started to think aobut possibly relocating to a surrounding states/towns and Phili came to mind. I've never been there..but can you guys fill me in?

School System
Jobs
Taxes
Diverse neighborhood
Communities/Condos/Townhouses
Entertainment
Over all quality of life.

I intend on finding a great job in Jersey once I return and I would be willing to travel to and fro. As long as I can go home to a place called home. Clean, peace and quiet neighborhood..but I do like to go to the movies, party from time to time. I also have a 7 year old, what are the activities like so and so forth.

Any advice?

Make sure you want to move back. I moved to AZ with a friend, wigged out, and came back. I have regretted that decision ever since and my life has been quite rocky. Im busting my but to fix my situation and I will never come back here when I do leave again. So, make absolutely sure you want to come back.

[NJ_Newbie]

If you intend to work in Jersey and live in the Philly area, then I would suggest you look to stay in the north east part of Philly Langhorne, Morrisville, Bristol. This should put in a commutable spot get to work from home.
And the rents aren't bad in these areas as compared to NJ...