Moving to the Eastern Panhandle. . . (Martinsburg, Charles Town: apartments, rental, work)

[bigbrowneyes3586]

I'm not moving yet, but i plan on moving to the EP after college graduation. I like the urbanization in that area and I hope to work in Maryland where teacher pay is significantly higher.

What town should I live in that might be commuter friendly? How's the cost of living?
Is it difficult to find apartments or rental homes here? What can I expect living in the Eastern Panhandle?

I'd really appreciate your input.

[Threerun]

It depends on where in Maryland you want to teach as to where in WV would be the best to live.

If you plan to work in / around Hagerstown MD then Martinsburg to Falling Waters is an easy commute. Affordibility is so-so..

Of you plan to work in Hancock or the western Washington County area of MD then Berkeley Springs and Morgan County are closer. Affordability is better.

If you plan to work in Frederick MD then Harpers Ferry / Jefferson County is the better bet. Affordability is a bit worse than the other two..

[Janipoo]

Originally Posted by Threerun

It depends on where in Maryland you want to teach as to where in WV would be the best to live.

If you plan to work in / around Hagerstown MD then Martinsburg to Falling Waters is an easy commute. Affordibility is so-so..

Of you plan to work in Hancock or the western Washington County area of MD then Berkeley Springs and Morgan County are closer. Affordability is better.

If you plan to work in Frederick MD then Harpers Ferry / Jefferson County is the better bet. Affordability is a bit worse than the other two..

I just asked this on his/her other thread just for this reason.

[bigbrowneyes3586]

I didn't mean to do 2 threads. . . i just tried to edit the name ( i thought WV betrayal might be a little extreme). Any way, i was thinking of working in Frederick, which pays around $39, 000 starter teacher salaries. Does that sound reasonable for Jefferson county?

[Janipoo]

Originally Posted by bigbrowneyes3586

I didn't mean to do 2 threads. . . i just tried to edit the name ( i thought WV betrayal might be a little extreme). Any way, i was thinking of working in Frederick, which pays around $39, 000 starter teacher salaries. Does that sound reasonable for Jefferson county?

I believe you can get to Frederick faster from Jefferson County, someone else might know better and can respond. Frederick is around 30 minutes from Falling Waters. I believe that Berkeley County would have cheaper housing as well.

I know that teachers have pretty good hours but really.....39K for education molding our little monsters .

[Threerun]

To get to Frederick from Falling Waters you would have to go 81N to the US70 interchange and head east. It's a bit longer than living in Jefferson County and using Rt. 340. (At least 15 years ago it was like that).

My wife and I lived in Kearneysville WV (Jefferson County)when we first moved to WV and we both worked in Frederick MD. It took us about 40 minutes one way.

[bigbrowneyes3586]

Thanks for the input. It's really helpful. I just found out that the MARC train also picks up Martinsburg and Charles Town. This plan just keeps looking better. Ummmm. . . i know that this question is probably getting old and that it ruffles some feathers, but i can't help it. How are the race relations? I'm a single, african american girl and that already adds to the concern of just being alone in a strange place. Thanks again guys. . .

[David Kennedy]

Race Relations? Forget about that crap those liberals touted at FSU...If you have a winning personality, you will gain friends wherever you go...this is America not Germany...and you are only going over the hill to work...not the other side of the planet.

[Janipoo]

We just moved to the EP last August and I find that the people here are very friendly. David is right, if you have a good disposition than you will not have a problem.

I don't think it matters where you go, there are always going to be people who don't like others for various reasons. They are just lonely souls and I personally don't choose to get sucked into their world.

[bigbrowneyes3586]

Point well taken. Thanks for your advice.