Moving from California (Philadelphia, Chester, West Chester: apartment, rent, neighborhood)

[robertgmg]

Hi there:

Moving from Los Angeles to work in Logan Township NJ. Will be there for two years on a project. City Man here and am looking for an upscale neighborhood that is convenient to the theater, entertainment, sports, Restaurants, airports, nightlife. Wondering if I should move to Philly and commute. Commuting here in LA is the way of life but dont know how far people on the east coast live from their work. Your input is greatly appreciated.

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by robertgmg

Hi there:

Moving from Los Angeles to work in Logan Township NJ. Will be there for two years on a project. City Man here and am looking for an upscale neighborhood that is convenient to the theater, entertainment, sports, Restaurants, airports, nightlife. Wondering if I should move to Philly and commute. Commuting here in LA is the way of life but dont know how far people on the east coast live from their work. Your input is greatly appreciated.

While it's possible to ditch your car in Philly proper, people in the 'burbs still rely on their cars to a large degree, especially on the Jersey side where you will be working.

It may be hard to find everything you want in one place. However, since you're used to commuting a fair distance, you might be interested in a place like Collingswood, NJ. It's an upscale area with a fair amount going on in its downtown area. And you'll be close to Philly and everything that is going on there. There is a "New Jersey Suburbs of Philadelphia" sub-forum under NJ that would give you more ideas.

Commuting from Philly itself may not be the worst thing for you, but keep in mind that Philly residents pay a wage tax around 4% whether or not they work in the city. That may be worth it to you in order to be close to the amenities you want but some others decide it's worth it to come in from the 'burbs.

[john_starks]

where's logan township?

[tarp]

Logan Township is near Bridgeport, maybe 20 minutes south of the Walt Whitman Bridge on the NJ side. You definitely need a car to get around there. Your best bet is to live in Collingswood or Westmont where you can hop on PATCO to get to Center City Philadelphia for theatre, nightlife, etc. but your daily commute will not involve getting out of the city on the bridge. The bridges between NJ and Philadelphia charge a $4 toll when you enter Philadelphia. This, combined with the Philadelphia wage tax, high cost for a parking spot if you live in Center City, and the higher rent for a Center City apartment would make living in a PATCO-accessible NJ suburb the best bet for a young adult looking to have easy access to city nightlife but working on the NJ side.

[PeeAye Native]

Might also consider Wilmington, DE. It has somewhat of a bar, restaurant, nightlife scene. Somewhat being the key word, much more so than anything on the NJ side of the river in that vicinity, much lesser so than center city Philadelphia. West Chester, PA also has a downtown area with bars, restaurants, nightlife. Wilmington probably has more to choose from (vs. West Chester), but those choices are more spread out geographically.

[DailyJournalist]

I would live in NJ and avoid the Philadelphia wage tax and bridge tolls. Look into Haddonfield NJ., its an upscale community with a great downtown and easy access to Philadelphia via the Patco train.

Haddonfieldnj.org - A website all about Haddonfield, New Jersey, featuring updates on Haddonfield events and happenings as well as important community information.