Hi, All! New to city-data.com! Hoping for some "retire in PA" options/advice!

[auntieannie68]

family members love chambersburg and lansdale(outside philly)--pittsburgh has an escalating crime issue at present-----is south/central jersey in the running?

[were-to-retire-wolf]

Originally Posted by bluecarebear

You are going to notice that in PA - there isn't much of a difference in property taxes any longer compared to NY. You aren't going to find great savings crossing the border. It's only a little bit cheaper to live in PA. Also, be careful with property taxes. Every county has a different set up with how the property is assessed and when. Some counties in PA haven't be reassessed in 30 years.

BCB: That is unfortunate. I was hoping to catch a break on property taxes. Of course, that doesn't take it out of the running. Kiplinger's rates PA as 'tax-friendly' whereas NY is 'least tax-friendly' for retirees. Some other states we are considering are [in no parrticular order] are FL, AZ, and VA. Although we'd like to stay relatively close [within a few hours drive] to the NYC area, if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. There are many other places to consider. --- w-t-r-w

[were-to-retire-wolf]

Originally Posted by selhars

I haven't read ALL the posts year but from what I've read so far...
1) you haven't said you DO NOT want West Chester,….. 2) you've only said you're not sure you'll be able to afford it.

So……..what if you ARE able to afford that area? I mean we are talking more than 10 years out. You don't know WAHT you'll be able to afford that far out.

If you have family in West Chester -- and you can afford the WC area -- would that be your preference?
It seems to fit your criteria…..and there are plenty of options in that area.

Also, what ages will you be at retirement……55 or 70?

selhars: If we could afford the WC area, great. However, we'd like to be able to bank a portion [as large a portion as possible ] of the proceeds from the sale of our house and reduce our C-O-L as much as possible. I'm not sure that would be possible in that area. [I wouldn't mind be wrong, though! ] I hope to be retired before 70, 65 at the latest. Thanks for the response! --- w-t-r-w

[were-to-retire-wolf]

Originally Posted by Dequindre

Pros:

-Chambersburg is located along I-81, which allows quick access to large cities in both Pennsylvania and Maryland.

-The town has beautiful rural scenery outside of the sprawling areas.

-The retail and dining scene in Chambersburg is quickly improving, with new stores and restaurants such as BJ's Wholesale Club, TJMaxx, Dick's Sporting Goods, Harbor Freight Tools (in addition to Target, Kohl's, Staples, Hobby Lobby, etc.). New restaurants built/planned include Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, Cafe del Sol, etc. (in addition to others such as Texas Roadhouse, Olive Garden, TGI Friday's, among others).

-Compared to many Pennsylvania communities near larger metropolitan areas, you get a lot of "bang for your buck" with homes in Chambersburg area.

-Local municipalities outside of the Borough of Chambersburg are generally regarded as having low taxes (Hamilton Township, Greene Township, Guilford Township).

-Outdoor recreation is plentiful, such as Penn National Golf Course (they have a large retirement community as well), Cowan's Gap State Park, Michaux State Forest, etc.

Cons:

-Because of the growth in population over recent years, traffic gets congested at peak hours on many major roads through the Chambersburg area.

-Downtown has a few places to avoid at night (especially around the Southgate area).

-Even though the retail and restaurant scene in Chambersburg is improving, many Chambersburg residents still view Hagerstown, MD as a larger sister-city and opt to shop and dine there because of the greater selection.

-The area surrounding Chambersburg is agricultural, so when the farmers are spreading manure, you can smell it all throughout the area.



If you have any more question, don't hesitate to ask! Here is a link to the Penn National Retirement Community that I mentioned earlier: Retirement Community | Active Retirement Communities in PA

Dequindre: Thank you for your comments. That is the kind of 'insider info' we are eager to hear and we will definitely take it into consideration. Cheers! --- w-t-r-w

[were-to-retire-wolf]

Originally Posted by auntieannie68

family members love chambersburg and lansdale(outside philly)--pittsburgh has an escalating crime issue at present-----is south/central jersey in the running?

auntieannie68: I haven't come across much positivity online w/r/t NJ as a retirement destination. I wouldn't mind hearing some, though! --- w-t-r-w