Should we live in the city or suburbs? (Philadelphia, New Castle: for sale, houses)
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NJ is always the butt of peoples' jokes - that's the way it's always been. The truth is, putting property taxes and congestion aside, it's a great place to live. I've lived in NJ all my life and am only looking to move to PA to escape the high property taxes, and yet, I have discovered in my research that it is not a given that property taxes will be lower in PA. It's true in many cases, so I am concetrating my search to those areas, but there are plenty of towns (some of which I really like) where I'd be paying just as much as I am in NJ, and in other cases close to as much.
While congestion is bad in parts of NJ, it's certainly no worse than the Main Line area and other Philadelphia suburbs close to the city. In fact, I was just driving through the Main Line yesterday at 3:30 p.m. which is a little before rush hour (Bryn Mawr, Ardmore, Wynnewood) and HOLY COW - the traffic was WORSE than what we have in Cherry Hill. It took me a half hour just to get through and out of the Main Line.
It's definitely (without a doubt) easier and faster to commute to Philadelphia from Camden County, NJ suburbs, especially those on or near the PATCO line than the surrounding PA suburbs. And if you want to drive, the NJ roads are wider and faster to drive on as well. NJ is generally more spread open than packed in like PA. I take PATCO into the city, but about once a week or so I drive in and in the middle of rush hour it takes me 30-40 minutes to get from Cherry Hill to University City (West Phila). Outside of rush hour, it takes 20 minutes. The commute from Haddonfield would be faster (if you take PATCO because there is a train stop in Haddonfield) and about the same as me if you drive.
Finally, there are towns in Camden County that are very picturesque and quaint, such as Haddonfield and Collingswood. In Burlington County, off the top of my head - Medford and Riverton come to mind. Contrary to what NJ-bashers will say, NJ is not one big strip mall. There is plenty of charm to be found. In fact, the house I live in (we sadly, we are selling) is 1920s center hall colonial in a really quaint neighborhood. Not what people would picture when they think of Cherry Hill.
So, after all this discussion, I think I need to do more research! We are leaning towards renting for a little while to investigate the areas more fully before committing to buying. We'd likely rent in Center City somewhere. Are there resources that anyone can suggest for us to find good rental properties?
Thanks!
You cant post direct links on this site but I would look into Philadelphia Weekly,City Paper,Philadephia Inquirer, Tone mentioned Allen Domb, Weichert has a good rental site,Craigslist of course.
Anyone can name 50 towns within an hour of center city. Unfortunately, towns like Princeton, Moorestown, Haddonfield, Mount Laurel, Marlton, Voorhees, Cherry Hill, Medford, Ocean City, pretty much define the stature and vibrancy of the greater region, then you get into some of the better known main line towns and other burbs in PA. Plus nobody has ever heard of these PA towns. You don't see stories on the them in the NY Times like you do the NJ towns.
"Just any towns" laughable. Of those 50 towns I listed I would wager that 45 of them have a higher household median income than Moorestown NJ. In South Jersey Moorestown is the big shark, if it were in the Pa burbs it would be a minnow.
How long are you going to live off of that 2002 fluff piece about Moorestown being the most livable city in the usa? Who knew they would create a monster with that innocent piece of literature.You're a real piece of work.
Here are some examples to give you an idea of what your money can rent.
3 BR in Center City 12th + Locust- $2500
Walk to work , incredible amount of amenities, cultural historic attractions nearby. Not a good place to have a car.One of the top 5 walkable neighborhoods in the usa.
Autocentric, bucolic, safe, great schools. 5 minutes to town which Media has a great little downtown area as well as nearby shopping malls, lifestyle centers. parks etc. Media is home to Ridley Creek State park which is a 2500 acre outdoors area with hiking biking fishing horseback riding etc. Media is about 20-25 minutes west of Center City and sits on a rail line(R-3) that takes you right into center city
3 br in St. Davids(mainline) $2500
St Davids is on the R-5 and is approximately 25 minutes into the city.
Location: Wynnewood, PA/Philadelphia, PA (Temple U)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sassygirl18
While congestion is bad in parts of NJ, it's certainly no worse than the Main Line area and other Philadelphia suburbs close to the city. In fact, I was just driving through the Main Line yesterday at 3:30 p.m. which is a little before rush hour (Bryn Mawr, Ardmore, Wynnewood) and HOLY COW - the traffic was WORSE than what we have in Cherry Hill. It took me a half hour just to get through and out of the Main Line.
"Just any towns" laughable. Of those 50 towns I listed I would wager that 45 of them have a higher household median income than Moorestown NJ. In South Jersey Moorestown is the big shark, if it were in the Pa burbs it would be a minnow.
How long are you going to live off of that 2002 fluff piece about Moorestown being the most livable city in the usa? Who knew they would create a monster with that innocent piece of literature.You're a real piece of work.
Rocker, we've been through this all too often. Over the many months I proved that the average income of Philly/PA is 60K, NJ is 80K, in addition, I showed you that the average estate in Moorestown is priced roughly 15-20% higher than comparable homes on the main line. I showed you the location differences to centers of influence that result in the higher housing costs and higher incomes in NJ. You go 2-3 miles outside of Villanova you are in west conshohocken. You go 20 miles north you are basically in North Carolina. I go 2 miles I am in Mount Laurel or 20 miles north I am in Princeton with easy train access to NYC. I showed you that NJ burbs are closer to center city, closer to the NJ shoreline and AC. It's location. It just isn't an argument.
Moorestown's #1 ranking has to do with wealth, prestige, schools and location - which was also detailed in the NY Times well before the Money ranking. In addition, the largest estate in the mid-atlantic and one of the largest in the country was just built in town, that would be literally the most expensive piece of property in the region. The most expensive property sets value of the rest of the property. I showed you job growth in the NJ burbs have exceeded PA, plus we have the added benefit of northern and central NJ transplants looking for quality of life. It is what it is. I should write a book on the differences in the region and how the PA chamber has misled various publications on incomes and housing costs. You delude yourself into thinking you can buy a house in NJ for 200K. Go shopping for a 4 bedroom house plus consider taxes and tell me what you find out. It is what you get for the money, not what it costs. Princeton and Haddonfield were also ranked very high in that Money issue, higher than any suburban PA town. That issue focused on small town USA.
Plus nobody has heard of the PA towns. There is no moxy. Most people do not even know Villanova U is in Villanova, PA. Gladwyne is unknown. Unfortunately, Philly is not well regarded nationally. Philly is the only major center of influence for the PA burbs. I told you before, move from PA to NJ then you'll be a tier higher up on the scale of life. People are moving to PA from NJ for lower taxes and cost of living. Ironically, those NJ folk tend to be the lower middle class that can't afford the taxes while south jersey gets the higher income NJ folks from other parts of the state and higher income PA folk fleeing Philly for quality of life. NJ will always be PA's big brother. Unless NJ falls into the ocean, it will never change.
Last edited by MoorestownResident; 05-02-2009 at 03:57 PM..
Dude, it is what it is. What you are saying is a tiger is a lion. A tiger is not a lion. You shouldn't take it personally. Rocker insists on fighting a losing argument. I am here to tell you a tiger is a tiger and a lion is a lion even though we are in the same zoo. That is all I am saying. You enjoy PA, I will enjoy Moorestown. Honestly both areas offer high quality of life. The region as a whole is more desirable than any major region in the US in my opinion.
Last edited by MoorestownResident; 05-02-2009 at 03:52 PM..
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