Bucks County would be close to Princeton. Has some nice areas, too.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Thanks to you all. Off to church, will reconnoiter.
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.
Research Bucks County income tax rates. Very high.
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.
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.
Around New Hope is nice.
How is the stink bug situation?
I grew up in Bucks County, freepmail me and I would be happy to give you a rundown of the area
We live in Hunterdon county NJ which is close to all the areas mentioned. I would recommend Doylestown or a bit further look in the Saucon Vallet area near Bethlhem, They are both nice and don’t have the NJ taxes.
Yardley is one to consider. I grew up in that area. Proberty taxes are horrible.
Do be prepared to spend from $500 to $750k on a home and pay about $12,000/year on property taxes. But the homes I've seen in that price point are phenomenal values - so long as you stay at least 30 miles from NYC. For the same price as the Massachusetts home we are selling, we are getting a home in Fairfield County, CT with 40% more square footage, more bedrooms/bathrooms and a nearly 5 acre mostly wooded lot. Only 65 minutes from Manhattan by train. Can't say enough good things about my new neighborhood.
Sounds like your husband does very well so that should be within your budget. Good luck.
Look into an apartment near Princeton and keep the LA house if you have one. You probably could never come back to LA and grandchildren after puberty are not as much fun.
Let me be the first to recommend Delaware. It is a short automobile ride to Philadelphia, the trains go to a stop called PJ & B (Princeton Junction and Back) which is an extremely short ride into the heart of Princeton. Delaware is about 70 miles straight up I-95 to Princeton. Best of all, Delaware is a sales tax free state and always has been. Real estate taxes are very low.