Relocating family to South Central Pennsylvania (York, Hershey: how much, home, school districts)

[oldeap]

My husband will soon take a new job in Mount Wolf, so we want to relocate somewhere closeby. We have three children under the age of 10, so a strong school system is critical. We'd like to be somewhere with character and strong sense of community. Excellent healthcare services, shopping and dining also highly desirable. Any suggestions on cities or townships on which to focus our relocation search would be greatly appreciated.

[teachbeach]

Mt. Wolf includes Northeastern School district. They are in the middle of the "pack" for York County schools, like others they are dealing with budget cuts to their programs and facilities, but the school district and school board seem to have a good working relationship, with the emphasis being student education and achievement. Just a little to the south is Central School district, much larger, huge new high school and recently remodeled elementary schools and middle school. Huge school district, with all income levels and socioeconomic levels represented. Central York School district students might live near Galleria Mall, out off of East Market St. heading east, the area north and west of the mall, all the way over to north of the West Manchester Mall, and the area along Route 30 that aren't in York City or York Suburban. There are several elementary schools, one middle school and the high school. York Suburban School district is also spread out, but a smaller district, usually rates at the top of the heap for test scores, academic achievement, number of students going on to higher education; but they are really struggling with budget issues because they are landlocked with little tax paying industry. South of that is Dallastown and Red Lion districts. You will get all the shopping and dining you could want for in York, there are 2 hospitals and several ready care clinics, and a multitude of specialists. There are also 2 orthopedic facilities that have surgical centers, a huge medical center that does in/out day surgeries (Apple Hill) and has many specialists on site (Eye, cancer care, heart etc.). York is an hour away from Hershey Medical Center or Johns Hopkins in Baltimore should you need specialized care or a specific second opinion.

York County encompasses York City (the county seat and "downtown" area), but there are several communities or suburbs that have York addresses, yet are not connected to the city schools or resources. Dallastown school district and Red Lion school district students might live in a number of townships or boroughs, and there is a small downtown area in each of those boroughs, and they have park programs, parades, community celebration days. Suburban and Central School districts are more of the urban sprawl, there isn't a sense of real community unless you find or create it in your subdivision or get involved in a sports program, church or your children's school activities.

Taxes, home size, how much you plan to spend, how accessible or remote you want to be to "the action" might impact where you want to live as well. If you would like the name of a few realtors, private message me and I'll share them with you. Putting it out there publicly causes the moderators to "cut" them.

[JettaPA]

Manchester and Mount Wolf are two great towns to live in and raise a family. You can't go wrong with either, especially if your job is in Mount Wolf. Emigsville is another small town in that general vicinity with closer access to I83 and York than the other two towns, but it doesn't have the same "community" aspect that Manchester/Mount Wolf does.

All the shopping, healthcare, and dining options will revolve around York, regardless of the actual town or area of the county you choose to live.