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Harrisburg area Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry Counties
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Old 06-06-2015, 12:17 PM
 
3 posts, read 10,473 times
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Hello Everyone, I recently took a new job and will be relocating to Harrisburg PA. I currently live in Northern Virginia and the commute is horrible here (about an hour each way on a good day two + hours on a bad day). I really don’t know too much about Harrisburg, I will be taking a job near the capitol and want to ensure my commute is not more than an hour each way. Good schools and a rural feel are priorities. Any suggestions?

Also can anyone tell me approximately how long of a commute I would be looking at for the areas below?

Hershey, PA
Mechanicsburg, PA
Ducannon, PA (or somewhere similar north of Harrisburg)
Carlisle, PA
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Old 06-06-2015, 08:27 PM
 
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I can't help all too much, but I'm sure a few others will be able to chime in. I'll be moving to the area in a few months as well.

I have heard both Dillsburg, and Boiling Springs are pretty rural areas that are also nice. Both would be within an hour commute, I'm sure.
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Old 06-07-2015, 05:36 AM
 
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I can tell you you are looking at at least 45 minutes for any of the 4 places you mentioned. Not because of distance necessarily, but because of traffic. You said near the capital, so I'm presuming you are coming in during normal working hours. Getting in to the city in the morning is horrible at that time. I currently live in Dillsburg which is about 20 miles, and when I worked in Harrisburg, (right across the street fro the capitol actually) it too me 45 minutes to over an hours due to sitting on 581/83. And while Dillsburg is considered rural, there are a lot more people living here now than when I moved here 13 years ago. but it is still a good place to live. Do not move to Carlisle if you are looking for rural though. It is a busy area with both lots of industrial, shopping, and residential components, and it will take you at least an hour to get in to Harrisburg in the morning and just as long (likely more) to get home.
Mechanicsburg is not rural. Read what I said about Carlisle. Not familiar with Hershey, but I know it is more expensive than most areas to live there. And although I don't know anything about it, I think Duncanon might be too far for you, and once again to get in the city you would be hitting a major highway to get in the city. Do a MapQuest trip to see. Oh yeah, there are no alternate routes to get in the city. What ever shortcuts you think you may find, will be packed when you are going to work.
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Old 06-07-2015, 07:30 AM
 
Location: Maryland
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You are better off living in the suburbs of Harrisburg, these are not rural areas but it is not the city. Not sure what your budget is or how important living in the country compared to lost time commuting. Linglestown is a nice area that is not congested and a short drive to the capital. That could get you started.

Furboll is right about the roads being packed.
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Old 06-08-2015, 05:28 AM
 
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Default Thanks

Thank you, this is great info. I really appreciate the help.
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Old 06-08-2015, 02:19 PM
 
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moving2Harris,

I too lived in NOVA for 25 years and moved to Harrisburg 5 years ago. I lived in Chantilly and worked at The Pentagon. Trust me when I say the traffic is NOTHING here like NOVA. A rush hour is a rush hour.
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Old 06-08-2015, 06:59 PM
 
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There are some NoVA refugees in Hershey area and probably in the other towns too.

When you say you are looking for "rural", what does that mean to you? 5 acre lot with chickens and pigs roaming? Or detached house with 1/2 acre lot, water and sewer service, and mailbox on the end of the driveway (I've seen that in local RE ads as "rural")?
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Old 06-09-2015, 06:22 AM
 
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Default Thanks again

Thanks again everyone, I think we have narrowed our search down to three areas Linglestown, Hershey and Mechanicsburg. Is the local tax higher in linglestown vs. the other two areas because it is part of Harrisburg city? Also, by chance does any one have any good preschool recommendations for those three areas?
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Old 06-09-2015, 06:30 AM
 
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I don't know about the other two, but I can guarantee it is high in Hershey. I don;t have any kids so I can't suggest anything when it comes to schooling.
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Old 06-09-2015, 08:41 AM
 
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Linglestown is probably Lower Paxton Township, Central Dauphin School District. It is NOT Harrisburg City even though it would have a Harrisburg postal address.

Several years back PA law changed to allow municipalities/school district to go to up to a 2% earned income tax to reduce local school property taxes. Central Dauphin went with the maximum 2% EIT, while Derry Twp (Hershey) stayed at 1% with proportionately higher school property taxes and retaining the occupation tax.

So different choices on how to pay the piper.
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