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Thanks for responding! We really like the New England charm of MA, how clean it is, the economic outlook, the school ratings, general density, progressiveness, and I even like the locals. We traveled through mid to upstate NY and MA a couple years back, and it was a no brainer that MA just seemed to be better (for us) in every aspect.
My spouse's family is in the greater Philly area. We aren't super close with them since we live so far away, and there are no grandparents left, just aunts/uncles/cousins. Originally we didn't think we needed to be that close to them, since our kids basically didn't even know them. However, we visited a couple weeks ago and our kids had such a blast playing with all their cousins, we realized the kids would be a lot happier if we could see them more often.
Our budget is up to 900k right now, for a 4+ bedroom on 1+ acre in a good school district (7+ ratings are ideal, although our eldest is current in a 6/10 school in CA and is doing great, so we would consider a 6). Ideally we find something in the 700-850 range, but we could also stretch the budget to 1M if we really loved a place. We want to be careful though and have reasonable mortgage payments, in case either of us are laid off from our remote jobs and we lose our bay area salaries.
I'd suggest Guilford, CT. You have an Amtrak option from New Haven to Philly 30th Street Station and all metro Philly commuter rail goes to 30th Street Station. Acela is less than 3 hours. Cheaper regional train is around 3 1/2 hours. If you pick your time, you can drive it in less than 3 hours. It's a nice coastal town and the white collar professional bedroom town for all the Yale people. Yale-New Haven is a top hospital. You can certainly find a house at your price point though a 4+ on an acre would probably be north of I-95 rather than in the higher walk score older coastal village area.
Connecticut property taxes by law appraise at 70% of market rate so the headline mill rate is misleading.
You have local rail to New Haven and then the New Haven Line to Grand Central so day trips to Manhattan are a normal activity but you're beyond the worst of the NYC tri-state congestion.
You're priced out of anything in Lower Fairfield County.
I am a female but yes, we are also considering CT. I know Fairfield County has some nice areas, but that it's considered pricey due to the proximity to NYC. It doesn't seem that expensive to me though...but maybe I'm missing something. If there are any areas you recommend we visit in the fall, please share!
The governor of CT. was on CNBC this morning saying how CT taxes have been lowered and lots of young people are moving in. NY has a property tax reduction program called The Star program, the discount is given if your income is under a certain amount (you can research the details on-line). I don't know how convenient areas of CT or NY are to Penn, so I can't comment on it, but I agree with the poster who said driving to visit your family might get old and inconvenient, so you shouldn't base your decision on them. What if they move? I had relatives move back to NY from Baltimore and was so excited about it, but they only invited me to their home once (an hour drive), after I entertained them in my home so many times, and it caused hurtful feelings, so your plans of being close to family may not work out.
I prefer Westchester County, NY to CT, the medical facilities here are better and more numerous, closer access to NYC, lighter traffic (the I95 corridor in CT through Greenwich, Stamford is a traffic nightmare, the 3rd busiest in the U.S!)
I have lived in PA (Philly) and grew up not too far in MD, I love Philly, but outside of that, the rest of the state of PA never really grew on me. A few cities not too far from Philly that you may want to check out are Media, PA and Westchester, PA. They kind of remind me of (at least what I picture) New England to be like. Really nice suburbs, pretty lively feel, town centers, pretty diverse, reasonable COL.
For me, I'd probably look at Connecticut from the list. It's a great location that kind of sits at the intersection between the New York region and New England. Really nice suburbs, nice look and feel, lively town centers, kind of a nice blend between picturesque New England, traditional suburbs, and close to urban cities. I've always really liked Connecticut.
*Edit: I see Westchester NY mentioned. That is a nice area too and actually reminds me a lot of what I've seen of Connecticut.
For me, I'd probably look at Connecticut from the list. It's a great location that kind of sits at the intersection between the New York region and New England. Really nice suburbs, nice look and feel, lively town centers, kind of a nice blend between picturesque New England, traditional suburbs, and close to urban cities. I've always really liked Connecticut.
*Edit: I see Westchester NY mentioned. That is a nice area too and actually reminds me a lot of what I've seen of Connecticut.
The only thing I would say is, at that point, why wouldn’t the OP simply live in MA if that’s where they wanted to move?
Again, I’m of the opinion that PA easily checks all of the boxes and gets them next to family. There are some pats of Jersey that’d make sense too. Beyond that, OP should just live where they want.
I am a female but yes, we are also considering CT. I know Fairfield County has some nice areas, but that it's considered pricey due to the proximity to NYC. It doesn't seem that expensive to me though...but maybe I'm missing something. If there are any areas you recommend we visit in the fall, please share!
I suggest West Hartford, Avon, Glastonbury, Newington, Berlin, and Windsor in the Capital region. Even more affordable than FFC. This put you 20 minutes from the MA border and about 3.5 hours from Philadelphia. Blue Back Square is nice. Go to West Farms Mall to get a feel for the populace in the region. Bears Smokehouse is one of my favorite chain BBQ places in the Northern US.
The blindspot is the high taxes.
Also- check out New Haven County, in particular? North Haven, New Haven, and Wallingford.
The only thing I would say is, at that point, why wouldn’t the OP simply live in MA if that’s where they wanted to move?
Again, I’m of the opinion that PA easily checks all of the boxes and gets them next to family. There are some pats of Jersey that’d make sense too. Beyond that, OP should just live where they want.
MA is more expensive than anywhere listed here- at leas the part everyone want to live in, and its far from PA. Although the Springfield area might be okay if you need to commute to Hartford CT.
I suggest West Hartford, Avon, Glastonbury, Newington, Berlin, and Windsor in the Capital region. Even more affordable than FFC. This put you 20 minutes from the MA border and about 3.5 hours from Philadelphia. Blue Back Square is nice. Go to West Farms Mall to get a feel for the populace in the region. Bears Smokehouse is one of my favorite chain BBQ places in the Northern US.
The blindspot is the high taxes.
Also- check out New Haven County, in particular? North Haven, New Haven, and Wallingford.
Yes yes yes.. OP
I think CT would be ideal for you. CT is often slept on... my parents wanted MA, but found CT as similar vibes, nicer towns/amenities for less money and overall.. just better. I prefer suburban CT over suburban MA anyday. They absolutely love it (60s-70s) and I absolutely love visiting them (Mid 20s).
I'd opt for Philadelphia or its suburbs since family was such an important factor. Maybe an area in one of the surrounding states if it's right on or near the border.
For Philadelphia proper, given what you said you're into, I'd look at Northwest Philadelphia neighborhoods like Chestnut Hill or Mt. Airy. These places are cute as ****.
I think CT would be ideal for you. CT is often slept on... my parents wanted MA, but found CT as similar vibes, nicer towns/amenities for less money and overall.. just better. I prefer suburban CT over suburban MA anyday. They absolutely love it (60s-70s) and I absolutely love visiting them (Mid 20s).
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but yes, we are also considering CT. I know Fairfield County has some nice areas, but that it's considered pricey due to the proximity to NYC. It doesn't seem that expensive to me though...but maybe I'm missing something. If there are any areas you recommend we visit in the fall, please share!
