Pennsylvania Living

self | August 31, 2014 | self

[bboop]

So - our son, his wife, and their one-year old are in the Princeton, NJ area. We are in Los Angeles. Those of you with grandchildren will know - this is TOO FAR! We are considering relocating, but not to NJ. Taxes, etc. :(

Husband is hydrogeologist, so we think we'll be near consulting/ big city/ Philly perhaps. Does anyone know - Bucks County, Chester County (Montgomery County) ? Places to live that are not too far from work/ job centers? And still within Grandma Distance of Princeton?

[bboop]

Thanks - just gathering data here.

[dirtboy]

Bucks County would be close to Princeton. Has some nice areas, too.

[dirtboy]

You might want to look around the area NW of the intersection of I95 and Route 1 in Bucks. That would be an easy trip to Princeton and you have highway and train access to Philly.

[primatreat]

Allentown area. We raised our two kids there. Moravian Acadmy and several Quaker schools.

Quick shot to major NJ interstate hyway systems. Lived there 20 years.
Worked in NJ.
Retired to the Eastern shore of Md.

Life has been good!

[Rodamala]

Bucks County would be perfect... anywhere around the New Hope/Washington’s Crossing area is really nice, and not terribly far from Princeton. I used to live in Ringoes, NJ which is about 6 miles from Lambertville/ New Hope... and taking the back roads through Hopewell to Princeton was a breeze.

[FlipWilson]

I recently started working in Philly again but live in NJ. I thinking of making the same move as you. Bucks and Montgomery are very nice. The thing about Bucks is that it has gotten expensive with everyone moving from NJ to escape the taxes. Montgomery is still cheapish. Freemail me and I can give you more details.

[dirtboy]

If they are moving from LA, anything in Bucks or Montgomery will seem like a bargain in comparison.

[FlipWilson]

True. Anything in anywhere would seem like a bargain.

[bboop]

Thanks to you all. Off to church, will reconnoiter.

[Kid Shelleen]

**** Philly Metro Ping ****

[gusopol3]

Northern Delaware is 1 1/2 hours. Compared to PA , property taxes are low. I’m sure compared to L.A. , housing prices are very low, though expensive compared to southern Delaware. You can take the city route straight up I-95 or the rural route I-295 through NJ.

[aviator]

Research Bucks County income tax rates. Very high.

[Stentor]

You might want to look around the area NW of the intersection of I95 and Route 1 in Bucks. That would be an easy trip to Princeton and you have highway and train access to Philly.

Newtown township/Wrightstown area would be perfect.

[dirtboy]

Good point. Different townships have different local earned income tax rates, on top of the flat state income tax rate. And check property tax rates as well.

[Kid Shelleen]

Just off the top of my head I would vote for Bucks County/Washington's Crossing. Beautiful area and short drive to Princeton but I think it would be easier to find a job first and then pick your residence later.

Princeton would be a pretty easy drive from all the areas you mentioned. (Worst case 1 to 1.5 hours depending on traffic patterns). The key is access to I95 or PA 276. Don't rule out renting for a year to get the lay of the land.
GOOD LUCK !!!

[SueRae]

I’m in Chester County...it’s lovely but parts are getting developed at a high rate. Some good industries still in the area and still about 2 hours to Princeton. I still love it here, though, the person that suggested the Allentown area would be ideal. Check out Bethlehem as well. I have no idea what the cost of living is like there, though. I wish you well in your search.

[oldironsides]

Looked into retiring to Maryland. No way with
O’Malley in charge. We have had a boat on bay but elected
To stay in Pa. for now. I looked up the tax friendly
States for retired folks . We may still move but
Not to a state that has Democrats raiding wallets and estates.

[hal ogen]

We "lived" in maryland ( THE Freak state) for 30+ years. Don't do it! The ever present majority composed of loony LIBs/DIMs will make you regret it with their constant insanity and malignant taxes. Anything positive maryland may have going for it is overshadowed by the presence of insufferable LIB/DIM insanity. Stay away!!!!!!!

[EEGator]

I’m looking at West Chester right now(really Westtown) are you around that area?

[Auntie Mame]

Another thing to be considered when moving to Pennsylvania is their inheritance taxes and estate taxes. I don’t know if it’s still like this, but in around 2000 we visited my husband’s Aunt whose husband had just died a couple weeks before. They own a farm and she was very worried about the tax man who was coming by in a few days to estimate the value of all their property and possessions—including furniture.

California does not do this. I found this just plain sad. This poor woman had just lost her husband and was grieving and the state was sending in the tax man to list and compile her possessions for tax purposes.

Since you’ll be moving there probably for the rest of your life and you’ll probably die there, it might be a good idea to find out exactly what will be left to leave your progeny after you die once the state of Pennsylvania takes it’s cut.