moving to wheeling from upstate ny (suburbs, charge, mechanic)

[CTMountaineer]

Originally Posted by cherish_lily

Is Washington PA only 15 minutes from Wheeling cause google maps says 30 mins. Looking at areas to live so Washington PA is one of them and if it's really 15 mins I will definitely look more into that. Are there any toll roads between Wheeling and Washington PA?

No, Washington is about 15 minutes from the Valley Grove/Dallas Pike area. It is about 30 minutes from "Downtown" Wheeling and 20 minutes from Elm Grove on the Eastern edge of town. Interstate 70 goes between Wheeling and Washington as does the National Road (US Route 40). Niether is a toll road.

[spldcnd]

We know exactly how you feel, we also are thinking of moving to WV, like you we live on 1 ac. with a older home and pay $3,300 property taxes a yr. I moved here from the west coast about 4 yrs, ago and never saw such high taxes...it's a shame it has to be like this. My husband has lived his whole life here, and we are very unhappy to live to pay taxes. I would love to go back west and see my family but this state makes it impossible to do the things you enjoy in life..life is too short, i think it's time to start enjoying life.I wish you and your wife a safe and smooth move..

[rcwallace]

I want to thank all of the folks who have responded to my questions. I am sorry I havent been on the computer as I have been on the road/ This has been a tough decision for us as my wife has never been out of NY other than a short vacation here or there. I am still waiting to hear from my corprate office as to when and if my transfer will take place. I know Valley Grove will be our base to work from and am so totly confused on where to live. I am familiar with Pa. but not so much with Wv an Ohio so I want to make the right decision. We have moved around this state almost 26 times and I hate moving!!! So again to all you folks Thank You!!!! Bob

[kookamus]

Please don't bring any of them crazy New York ideas like gun control and high taxes.

[ki0eh]

Nunda to New York City is about as far as it is from Chas to Fairfax VA. That's in distance, the cultural gap is probably greater. He'll do fine, just will wonder where the snow is.

[CTMountaineer]

I lived in the northern NYC suburbs for 15 years. Upstate NY is virtually identical to WV culturally, and the Appalachian portion of NY State is actually more conservative than West Virginia. Much more conservative.
They don't have the union influence there to the same degree, so you don't have a Jay Rockefeller hanging around. Those folks are glad he is in WV instead of hanging around the old family homestead.

[rcwallace]

dont worry about that i have guns and dont want high taxes!!

[rcwallace]

I bet!!!

[rcwallace]

We are going to be looking for rent to own homes in and around Wheeling it will be my wife and I and 2 dogs and 2 cats. If you or someone you know have a home you would like to sell let me know. I can give a small downpayment of around 2000 and payments up to 800 so let me know!! I will be working in the valley Grove area but I do ot have my start date as of yet. Corporate of dragging their feet!! Thanks bob PS if you have pics of the house or houses my email is rcwallace@rochester.rr.com I could really use one with a garage or barn.

[Nick538]

RC Wallace

For $800/month you can find a good place for renting. However, many places do not allow pets and others only permit cats, no dogs. Those that do permit pets may require a pet deposit, and possibly monthly pet rent.

Housing in Wheeling is overpriced relative to the economy. West Virginia's economy is dead. State income taxes are progressive, though not as high as New York. Valley Grove is not a bad place to live. The Highlands development is in Valley Grove. They have a Cabela's, Super Wal-Mart, Target, Kohl's, JC Penney, Best Buy, Fashion Bug, Old Navy, Books a Million, Petco, a Cinema and about 25 other assorted stores and food joints. In Valley Grove, you are about 25 minutes in either direction from the Washington Crown Center mall and the Ohio Valley Mall, which is west of Valley Grove in St. Clairsville, OH. If you need a good vet, try Town and Country Animal Hospital in Sherrard, which is about 15 minutes from Valley Grove. Flooding? Only if you live in low lying areas along Wheeling Creek.

There is a great deal of political corruption here but crime is relatively low. I would venture to say that you will not be a victim of violent crime unless you venture in East Wheeling at 3 am on a Saturday morning. Even then, you probably will not be attacked.

The area is Democrat but mostly old-school Democrat. Very few West Coast types here. You learn to ignore them. Most of these folks are West Virginia Democrats, which means Gods, Guns and Country.

Jamboree In The Hills, a long running 4-day country music festival, takes place in July out in Belmont County, Ohio. It is probably 35 minutes from Valley Grove to the Jamboree site.

For health care, Wheeling Hospital is moderately good and it is located along I-70, about 6 minutes from Valley Grove. OVMC is along Route 2, in downtown Wheeling. Neither hospital is as good as UPMC or West Penn in Pittsburgh, or even Ruby in Morgantown but they should serve 95% of your needs.

Education. One public high school for the whole county. Private schools are Wheeling Central Catholic and Linsley. Colleges are Wheeling Jesuit (where I graduated) and West Liberty and WVNCC, the local community college. Bethany College, affiliated with the Disciples of Christ, is about 15 minutes north of Valley Grove.

Wheeling Park, along National Road (Route 40), is a fairly nice park. Oglebay Park, along Route 88 up in the hills, is, perhaps, the finest park in the country. It is not very level in most places but its' natural beauty, and the fact that you cannot walk or take a bus from lowlife neighborhoods to get there, keep it beautiful.

There are numerous cultural festivals throughout the year. There are many food joints and bars. There are great options for hunting, fishing, skiing, boating and hiking.

The downsides? Entitlement mentality, union dominated, politically corrupt, economically depressed and not able to change to attract good paying jobs.

If you have any more questions, drop me a line. I hope your move works out.

BTW, the newspaper website is News, Sports, Jobs - The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register. You can find rentals on Real Estate Listings, Homes for Sale and Rental Property Listings – REALTOR.com® or Apartments.com | Find Apartments for Rent, Houses, Condos and Townhomes | Rental Listings, I believe. Also, check Craig's List. See if you can find the local Green Tab online. If all else fails, look up local realtors and ask about rentals. Local realtors include Howard Hanna Valley offices, First Choice Realtors, Harvey Goodman Realtors, City Wide Realty, Sun Valley Realty and others.

Good luck to you!

Nick