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Getting ready to move to Pittsburgh from Charleston, WV...husband is working in Warrendale and I'll be working downtown; have 3 school age children so good/safe schools are majorly important. I've read many posts and am confused about the best areas that will meet our family's needs...want a moderately priced 4 bedroom home (~$150K-$175K) without the HUGE ALLEGHENY taxes that are so imposing. I'd like to keep commute time to less than 30 minutes...can anyone advise to best areas with good schools and little traffic congestion..don't want to spend my life sitting in my car. Willing to go outside of Allegheny County if the commute time isn't horrific. Thanks for your advice!!
P.S. (Excited to be moving there!! Much more to do!!)
The only way to avoid the huge Allegheny taxes is to not live in Allegheny County. If your husband is working in Warrendale you could live in nearby Cranberry or Beaver county. Either way, YOUR commute from Warrendale will be more than 30 minutes.
Thanks Copanut! It looks like I'll be stuck in Allegheny County then as I don't want the long commute and the gas/time would probably offset some of the higher taxes. I understand that some townships in Allegheny do have cheaper taxes than others, but the whole millage thing throws me off as I'm not sure how to calculate it. I'm leary of getting stuck in a high tax township/burough....any thoughts of good locations between Warrendale and downtown that aren't the most heavily taxed that also have good school systems? After some more research, we're thinking of McCandless, Ross Township, Franklin Park, etc.?? Any thoughts on those locations?
Franklin Park and McCandless are in the North Allegheny SD, Ross is in North Hills SD. Both have rates of approximately 19 mils. You'll get more house for your dollar in Ross and the school district is fairly good. Total millage rates for all 3 twps are in the 23-25 mil range, so overall taxes will depend on your home's assessed value.
Thanks Copanut!! This is a great help. How do you calculate the millage assessment (we don't have millages here)? If we were to buy a $175K home in Ross Township, approximately how much would our yearly taxes run? Your mathematical assistance is greatly appreciated!! One more question...how is the commute from Ross Township to downtown? Doable in 30 or less? Thanks!!
Combined county, school, and municipal millage in Ross is 26.25, x 175K or $4593.00 Chances are a house purchased for 175K will have a lower assessed rate since the county now uses 2002 as a base year.
Depending on what section of Ross, 30 minutes or less is doable.
The only way to avoid the huge Allegheny taxes is to not live in Allegheny County. If your husband is working in Warrendale you could live in nearby Cranberry or Beaver county. Either way, YOUR commute from Warrendale will be more than 30 minutes.
Agreed to avoid the taxes stay away from Allegheny County. I've heard Murrysville ( just outside of Monoroeville) doesn't have these taxes. Also I don't know about there school district.
Thanks Copanut!! This is a great help. How do you calculate the millage assessment (we don't have millages here)? If we were to buy a $175K home in Ross Township, approximately how much would our yearly taxes run? Your mathematical assistance is greatly appreciated!! One more question...how is the commute from Ross Township to downtown? Doable in 30 or less? Thanks!!
I would guess you do have millage where you live, probably just expressed differently. A "mill" is 1/1000 of a dollar. This is multiplied by your assessed valuation to come up with how much you owe in actual dollars and cents.
Getting ready to move to Pittsburgh from Charleston, WV...husband is working in Warrendale and I'll be working downtown; have 3 school age children so good/safe schools are majorly important. I've read many posts and am confused about the best areas that will meet our family's needs...want a moderately priced 4 bedroom home (~$150K-$175K) without the HUGE ALLEGHENY taxes that are so imposing. I'd like to keep commute time to less than 30 minutes...can anyone advise to best areas with good schools and little traffic congestion..don't want to spend my life sitting in my car. Willing to go outside of Allegheny County if the commute time isn't horrific. Thanks for your advice!!
P.S. (Excited to be moving there!! Much more to do!!)
Working in Warrendale, you have an interesting little alcove of an area. That's just about where Beaver, Butler and Allegheny counties intersect. And you will some fine homes in a little area called Bradford Park. (NOT Bradford Woods) Allegheny County living in Beaver County. Near 79/279, so Downtown wouldn't be TOO much of a hassle.
Our $170k'ish house in Ross cost us somewhere in the 4k/year (300-something a month) in taxes. its broken into two portions, that was the total when the two were combined.
You can't work outside allegheny and have a 30 minute commute to downtown. Ross is about a 30minute commute to downtown or oakland, morning traffic isn't bad but it does add 10-15mins or so... most of that is local after you get off the interstate though, not on the highway.
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