Middletown (Wilmington, Hockessin, New Castle: house, neighborhood, buy)

[SHOCKOMO]

Tired of Jersey's bull**** property taxes. I want to move to Delaware and was told Middletown might be a good choice. I have 4 year old twins and can afford around $350,000.00 for a home. I'm looking for a predominantly white neighborhood with excellent schools. My wife has already researched schools on the internet and is less than impressed. Can anybody help? If not Middletown, where? I work in Philly and want to keep the commute to 45 minutes max. Any and all help is appreciated.

[doctorjef]

At your price point for a home you could buy in suburban North Wilmington/Brandywine Hundred. However, people here are going to tell you the schools aren't as good as in the Appoquinimink district that covers Middletown. If I were in your position, I would do some real research regarding the Brandywine and Red Clay school districts here in northern New Castle County before definitely ruling out North Wilmington or Hockessin (yet another possibility given your price point). I know lots of completely normal people who attended public school up here and went on to university, so please don't listen uncritically to the naysayers. You would have a shorter commute to work up here and you would have a lot more amenities and resources. Middletown would be better, however, if you don't want to be in a more highly urbanised area. However, especially out in Hockessin you would be living a thoroughly suburban life.

[jdoll]

Unless you are looking at So Philly, you'd be hard pressed to keep your commute at 45 min or less from anywhere in the Appo school district. Odessa (immediate Rt 1 access) to PHL airport is 45 mins/no traffic. $350k buys a lot of house in Appo, and the district is as good as it's reputation, but Center City is 1 hour in my experience.