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It's funny that you mentioned Pittsburgh. I'm Jersey born and raised but i'm dating a girl who lives in Pittsburgh so I know it well now. I was so surprised how much I like it out there. It has tons of cultural amenities, is very educated and housing is cheap. You have to remember that Pittsburgh created a few multi billionaires in the late 1800s who donated a ton of money to cultural amenities so there are awesome museums and buildings and architecture out in Pittsburgh. It has a pretty hilly landscape and has reinvented itself into a tech hub.
The one downside is that the weather really sucks out there. It's usually overcast and the winters stink. Otherwise it's a decent option.
If you're having kids in the future, look before you leap. You'll find that you pay 1/5 the taxes elsewhere and then see that your kids will be lucky to get 8th grade NJ educations by the time they finish HS. We pay a lot but we get a top 3 education. I wish it was cheaper too but I'd never move down south while my kids are in school.
So where are all these kids coming from that are in elite colleges across the country? Surely they are ot all NJ students right?
I honestly think sometimes a lot of us from jersey just say things like this to make us feel better about paying what it costs to live here. Thanks NJEA!
Honestly, you don't want to live in the Rust Belt, population migration is south and towards the east coast.
Honestly, not sure why you need to leave nj. You can pick up a brand new house in the southern counties fairly cheaply, and still be close enough for day trips to visit family.
If you do go out to Pittsburgh check out the neighborhoods of Shadyside and Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh. They are the nicer and more expensive areas. Oakland is where Carnegie Mellon and U of Pitt are located and there are lots of museums in that area. I'm not as familiar with the suburbs but those are decent in the city options. Walnut Street in Shadyside is charming and the East Libery side of Shadyside is up and coming with lots of big box stores (whole foods, target, home depot etc) and Google there at Bakery Square.
I've been out to the suburbs and they look like Jersey Suburbs but i'm not sure on which ones are the cheaper areas / more expensive. There are tunnels to deal with when coming into the city from certain areas and those can back up with traffic so be mindful of that.
Raised in NJ, transferred to PA and now living further west. There will always be things we love about NJ, but there are more things (like the OP) that we don't miss; lines, aggressiveness, the attitude of entitlement "me" centered people, the high cost of living and taxes. There are equally good school districts in PA, Ohio and other states, you just have to search them out. Parts of PA have reduced cost of living, metro Philly is not going to be much different that northern NJ in terms of housing,taxes and congestion. A good part of Maryland is a sprawl of Washington DC, with the same issues you are looking to escape.
If I were to do it over again, I would have given little thought of Delaware a good looking over. Taxes (no sales tax) are reasonable, housing is fairly priced, if you don't have to be on the shore line. Also parts of Maryland (below Annapolis and inland) and further north east towards Delaware are also worth looking at. You still have all of the big city resources of Baltimore/Philadelphia if necessary, yet the quiet lifestyle you are seeking. Good Luck!
So where are all these kids coming from that are in elite colleges across the country? Surely they are ot all NJ students right?
I honestly think sometimes a lot of us from jersey just say things like this to make us feel better about paying what it costs to live here. Thanks NJEA!
Honestly, you don't want to live in the Rust Belt, population migration is south and towards the east coast.
Honestly, not sure why you need to leave nj. You can pick up a brand new house in the southern counties fairly cheaply, and still be close enough for day trips to visit family.
Northeast, mid-Atlantic, midwest burbs and the west coast. Places that value education. Nobody around here says "I hope my kid can get into Miami!"
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