montgomery vs bucks (Philadelphia, Doylestown, Swarthmore: best schools, tax, living in)

[lovingvb]

hi! We are moving back north from a fun 5 years in Virginia Beach. Husband took a job in Camden NJ but I want to live on the PA side in either Montgomery or Bucks County. I hope someone can help me fill my needs! Great Schools are first priority (got a real smart 11 year old!) with involved parents (I'm currently the PTA VP) great sports programs (husband coaches soccer and bball for our 8 and 11 year olds) and I was hoping to eventually run for School Board and am used to a substantial size 'city'..being here with 500k people has me used to lots of politicing and big ideas! I really love Doylestown (from what I see on line) but not sure about the commute since Mapquest cant tell how congested it is! Thanks for anyones advice!

[frankgn87]

Doylestown to Camden is a long commute. An hour or more one way.. 40 miles one way. Id find an area closer to the bridge..

[buckscountyer]

Doylestown and the Central Bucks School District do have all of the academic, athletic and political opportunities that you seek. Sadly, FrankGN87 is correct -- the commute would be quite long from here to Camden. Not as much due to congestion as due to sheer distance and lack of any direct route(s). Maybe it would help to ask for suggestions as to comparable school districts/communities closer to Camden. Good luck!

[lovingvb]

sigh...what a bummer...thank you for replying...

Anyone know of any towns in Montgomery Country that would work?

[frankgn87]

the problem with Montgomery county for you is that Philadelphia is between Mont county and Camden. No way around it. You either have to drive completely through the city(traffic) or around it (distance)..
I know you are looking in pa but seriously you should be looking in NJ. There are many wonderful areas near Camden that are even nicer the Montgomery county.

Originally Posted by lovingvb

sigh...what a bummer...thank you for replying...

Anyone know of any towns in Montgomery Country that would work?

[orrmobl]

Best schools in the general area:
Lower Merion
Radnor (though too snobby to recommend)
Unionville-Chadds Ford
Wallingford-Swarthmore
Rose Tree Media
Garnet Valley
Harverford

In Jersey, I know some good towns, not sure on schools:
Haddonfield
Cherry Hill
Collingswood
Swedesboro

[frankgn87]

all these are an hour or more to camden.. The ones in pa that is..

Originally Posted by orrmobl

Best schools in the general area:
Lower Merion
Radnor (though too snobby to recommend)
Unionville-Chadds Ford
Wallingford-Swarthmore
Rose Tree Media
Garnet Valley
Harverford

In Jersey, I know some good towns, not sure on schools:
Haddonfield
Cherry Hill
Collingswood
Swedesboro

[lovingvb]

thanks! My biggest hangup is the tax rate. I'm spoiled down here ..rate is .88! cant beat it compared to 5.5 in Cherry Hill... I've checked all the schools vs. the tax rate and I figure Moorestown and Voorhees seem to give me a good combo but all my family is in PA and NJ so the more north I go the better. Just humor me for a moment...back to the Doyletown idea...is there a difference in living in the southern end (near Chalfont) vs more north East as far as sports programs, gov. etc? they have 2 different zip codes and one is called doylestown Twp and the other is Doylestown borough...... I know the schools are the same, but it seems like the housing is more reasonable in the southern part and it would be closer to get to Camden. Are they truly two different 'towns' thanks again everybody!

[frankgn87]

like I told you before... Doylestown (and Doylestown borough) are over an hour away from Camden. I would never want to travel that every day. TRUST me on this

[orrmobl]

You are looking at Delaware County, PA or South Jersey...maybe Langhorne and surrounding areas off 95 there.

SV State Ranking Increases — Seneca Valley School District

Link to PA school district rankings to help you decide.