Reading/Wyomissing Info Please (Wilson, Exeter: real estate, high crime, new home)

[NYMD67]

There is a possibility that our family may be looking at a move to the Reading area. Possibilities are high that something will be offered to my husband. The company is located close to the Reading airport area.
We have moved quite a bit for his career and are now looking at this hopefully as a very long term move. Someplace to really call home.
We have lived in MD for the past 10 years, in different parts but the real estate here has held us back from living convenient to things and we are finished with this life style, especially having children now. It is difficult to have to drive 25min to a nice grocery store,etc...

SO-we have specifics we are looking for:
a good school district with diversity (our children are adopted from China)
no more than a 25-30min commute for my husband to work
a family oriented place,close to good grocery stores,shopping,activities for children (i.e.. a Little Gym or YMCA)-when I say close I mean no more than 15 min but would like it even closer!
Nice housing developments but not on top of our neighbors....

Have heard good things about Wyomissing?
What area of PA is Reading considered a part of-I see the threads for Lehigh Valley,etc... wasn't sure where to post this question.

Any help would be great!
Thank you in advance.

[myjanuarygirl]

From how it sounds, you would definitely like the Wyomissing area the best. That's where all of the shopping and restaurants are, and there is a Gymboree located there as well if you would like to get your little ones in tumbling classes. There's also a brand new shopping center that just opened back in November with a Childrens Place and Justice if you have little girls. There's a mall, Target, Wal Mart, Babies R Us, Old Navy, Marshalls, Ross, just to name a few. Basically, Wyomissing is where everything is and from what I hear, the school district is great too. Of course, since it's where everything is, it's much more pricey to live there. But if you can afford it, I'd definitely settle there. Your hubby's commute would be about 10 minutes.

We live in Leesport (Schuylkill Valley School District) which is a nice, safe, quiet town. It takes us about 10-15 minutes to get to the Wyomissing area. There is a family place right here in town where you can ride go carts, roller skate, mini golf, etc. which is great for kids. Plus there's a brand new place for kids about 5 minutes away called Jump Factory where they have huge inflatable stuff for the kids to climb all over. I've heard it's really neat but I haven't been there yet. There's a grocery store right in town too. They are building a new development with beautiful new homes as we speak. Your hubby's commute would be approximately 10 minutes from here as well.

[ChrisatDuke]

I highly recommend Wyomissing.... a lot of shops and restaurants with a great neighborhood feel and one of the best school districts in the area. Wyomissing probably has the highest percentage of Asians in Berks County (though still below the national average), so your children will have no problem fitting in. If you're in the Spring Ridge area, it only takes about 5-10 minutes to get to the airport. From the West Reading side of town, it'll take another 5 or 10 minutes.

BTW, you posted in the correct area. Reading/Berks County is not part of the Lehigh Valley. It's considered Southeastern PA.

[NYMD67]

Thank you both so much for your replies! I hope to see more....
I have another question... It appears (from what I have been reading) that the Reading area has a high crime rate.
Do you see this affecting the Wyomissing area at all, how far are they from eachother?

Thanks again so much

[ChrisatDuke]

Originally Posted by NYMD67

Thank you both so much for your replies! I hope to see more....
I have another question... It appears (from what I have been reading) that the Reading area has a high crime rate.
Do you see this affecting the Wyomissing area at all, how far are they from eachother?

Thanks again so much

They are very close (about 2 miles), but the crime drops off significantly once you step out of city limits. Wyomissing and other Reading suburbs (like Exeter, Sinking Spring, Muhlenberg, Shillington, West Lawn) are very safe. I grew up in this area and never felt threatened or in danger.

[Stephanie P]

I have been looking at the Sinking Spring, West Lawn and Wyomissing areas. I have noticed the different school listings, Wilson, Conrad Weiser and Wyomissing schools. Could you tell us the difference between them, which if any or better?
Thanks so much for your help!

[myjanuarygirl]

Chris is right. It seems almost all of the crime stays downtown. I never have felt threatened where I live. It's safe enough for all the neighborhood kids to go out trick or treating, and I can walk to the post office/playground with my little ones and not even have to think twice about crime. However, from what I'm hearing, there is more crime starting migrate into the West Reading area, which is Wyomissing School District.

As far as I know, Wyomissing and Wilson are both good school districts. I'm not sure on Conrad Weiser's reputation but our nephew goes there and seems to like it. I wish I knew more about the school districts around here (I should, I've lived here all my life!) but I don't think I've heard anything bad about any of them besides Reading & Muhlenberg School Districts.

[NYMD67]

Does Wyomissing have a nice downtown area, I mean quaint with little shops,restaurants,etc... not looking for "nightlife"- unfortunately !
or is there a town close by that does offer that small town feel but still with the convenient shopping?
Also-I have tried to see what type of grocery stores are in the area-is there a Wegman's close by (we are originally from Roch,NY where they are from...) or a Giant at least?
Right now, all we have is Food Lion and it is terrible-I drive the 25min it takes to get to Giant just to do my grocery shopping. It is not fun !

[ChrisatDuke]

Originally Posted by NYMD67

Does Wyomissing have a nice downtown area, I mean quaint with little shops,restaurants,etc... not looking for "nightlife"- unfortunately !
or is there a town close by that does offer that small town feel but still with the convenient shopping?
Also-I have tried to see what type of grocery stores are in the area-is there a Wegman's close by (we are originally from Roch,NY where they are from...) or a Giant at least?
Right now, all we have is Food Lion and it is terrible-I drive the 25min it takes to get to Giant just to do my grocery shopping. It is not fun !

haha, I know what you mean about Food Lion. I avoided that place at all costs when I lived in NC. Anyway, Penn Avenue in West Reading, which is right next to Wyomissing, sounds like what you are looking for in terms of a downtown area....boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops, and all that kind of stuff.

Check out this link for more info.:
West Reading Main Street Program

With that being said, I would still live in Wyomissing, which is more suburban. It's less than a 5 minute drive (give or take depending on exactly where you are) from the downtown section of West Reading. Oh, and there are a number of grocery stores within a 2 or 3 mile radius.

[myjanuarygirl]

There is a Giant, Weis, and Redners right in Wyomissing.