Thinking of moving from md to south central pa. Either chambersburg,waynesboro or somewhere around Harrisburg. (York: sales, 2013)

[Woot21210]

Need some advice. I currently live close to the pa state line in md and was wondering if its worth it to move to pa. I always seem to be up there to shop in places like chambersburg and waynesboro. I also frequently go to Harrisburg area. Am considering a move sometime in 2013. Is pa much different then md? For shopping It seems slightly cheaper. And housing I've been told is better then md. Are both these true? I would love to save money living in pa vs md. And would commute if the savings were good. How are schools in these areas? What about like car taxes or inspections? How are they? Anything you can tell me is helpful!

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Woot21210

What about like car taxes or inspections? How are they?

There are no car taxes except for normal sales tax when you purchase a vehicle.

Inspections are required annually and cost under $35 since you won't be living in an area with emissions inspection.

[toobusytoday]

Woot, It looks like you've posted the same query on four states forums. I think you might want to narrow down your search a bit. Every single state is going to have good schools and bad schools, expensive areas and inexpensive areas, etc. In fact, I bet if you just moved to a different part of Maryland it would seem very different.

[Hopes]

The four states he is asking about are all within the immediate area of where he currently lives.

He is asking about south central PA, not the entire state, and specific cities and counties in other states.

Many Marylanders have been hopping across the borders for lower housing costs and lower taxes for quite a while.

Moving to another part of Maryland doesn't solve his high tax problem.

[pman]

Maryland sprawl

[toobusytoday]

Originally Posted by Hopes

The four states he is asking about are all within the immediate area of where he currently lives.

He is asking about south central PA, not the entire state, and specific cities and counties in other states.

Many Marylanders have been hopping across the borders for lower housing costs and lower taxes for quite a while.

Moving to another part of Maryland doesn't solve his high tax problem.

I didn't realize that Maryland overall, had a high tax rate. The parts of Maryland that I'm most familiar with (near the lower Delaware border) seemed very similar to Delaware to me.

I stumbled across this site Taxes by State that has some pretty good information to compare apples to apples for all states. I realize it's meant for retirees but the tax info is good for anyone thinking of a move.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

I didn't realize that Maryland overall, had a high tax rate. The parts of Maryland that I'm most familiar with (near the lower Delaware border) seemed very similar to Delaware to me.

I stumbled across this site Taxes by State that has some pretty good information to compare apples to apples for all states. I realize it's meant for retirees but the tax info is good for anyone thinking of a move.

I have always like that great site. PA's income taxes are significantly lower than the other states for higher earners. Many of the taxes are much lower, such as no personal property tax, no sales tax on food and clothing, etc.

[Woot21210]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

Woot, It looks like you've posted the same query on four states forums. I think you might want to narrow down your search a bit. Every single state is going to have good schools and bad schools, expensive areas and inexpensive areas, etc. In fact, I bet if you just moved to a different part of Maryland it would seem very different.

@toobusy. Your right I have posted on all the boards around the state of md. I'm really just trying to see which state would offer what I'm looking for but at the same time be close to md if I need to return for something. I know you said move across the state. I actually have already lived in all 3 sections of md. Western, central and eastern shore. That's how I've been able to see so much of the other states. In each section, I just felt like I was missing something that others from out of state knew. I have known people who used to live in md and have made the switch and laugh at me when I tell them I'm still here. Really I am fed up with md. The taxes. The corrupt state leaders ( I know each state has this but md has had this for decades) the cost of living. The traffic, etc. so if you have any advice on any of the states around md or if you maybe live in one of them, please let me know. I'm desperate to gtfo of md

[ker8]

I'm a PA native (from far NW PA) living in Maryland, so my opinion is biased, but I've often considered moving to south central PA. The only thing holding me up is the commute. Personally, if I were you I'd move in a heartbeat as long as you can stand the commute.

[toobusytoday]

I've lived in all four of the states that you are looking into, but not Maryland! I grew up in lower Delaware, but moved at 19 to upstate New York so didn't really experience Delaware as an adult, except for living on the PA side of the state line several years later. The no sales tax was really, really nice. When we were making the move to that house we did look into schools on the Delaware side of the line but felt that they did not match up with the PA ones.

We lived in West Virginia for two years while my husband finished his degree at WVU. I worked there and while the people were awfully nice, neither of us wanted to stay after my husband graduated (except to go to WVU football and basketball games!). The vibe I got was one of people not being very environmentally progressive and corrupt politicians. That was awhile ago though, so it may have changed. From what I understand though it's still going on - West Virginia Mountaintop Removal: How Coal Mines Have Changed The Appalachian Way Of Life (PHOTOS) A little more ugly obvious then the fracking that's happening here in PA.

We lived in SW Virginia for one year. I loved it there and would have happily stayed but by that time my husband was in a management training program and we had to move. My older son ended up going to college there years later and was ready to move out after graduation. That's a whole different world then Northern Virginia, but perhaps similar to the area that you are looking at, on the border of WV and MD.

We actually also lived in Harrisburg for one summer when my husband did a summer internship while in college. I thought it was a very nice area and it did make the decision to move permanently to the eastern side of PA easier. We have now lived in PA for about 25 years (moving around a bit before settling where we now are) and I am very happy with our adopted state. According to the people that move here from NJ and New York, our taxes are low and the cost of living is reasonable. The schools (at least in my area) are good.

Schools are a little different in PA in that each district is self ruled and you must investigate the district to assure yourself of it's quality. The better the schools, the better the area IMHO.

Good luck.