OT: Anyone from DE -please needs some advice

[StephMK]

Hi,

I'm sorry to be off topic but really need advice & have no one else to ask. My hubby's job in VA is in danger (unstable co) & he's starting to look for another position. He's looking at CC co. since he does similar work & DE has several. My question is - to people that live in Northern DE - where are some good areas/neighborhoods? Schools are our most important concern & it's so hard to tell from online pics about neighborhoods. I've researched some school info online but would really like actual feedback from parents. Any info on the area, home prices, etc., pros/cons of the area would be so so appreciated!!! 2006 is not shaping up as a good year for us so far (several reasons & I know we're only a week in!) and would love some help with this.

On a Disney topic - how long does it take to drive there from DE & how easy is it to get flights??

 

[james'mommy]

northern delaware is starting to get built out and quite expensive. dh and i live in cheswold which is south of the c&d canal and about 45 minutes from newark where a lot of the cc companies have offices (btw i hope he isn't applying at mbna since they just got bought by bank of america and will most likely be laying off a lot of people). we make the drive to newark everyday and it really isn't that bad. southern new castle county and upper kent county are really up and coming and the prices are starting to creep up. i wouldn't worry about finding a home in a good school district since they all suck. since before my ds was born we have been planning on placing him in private school. the good news is there are tons of private schools in delaware and quite a few are affordable. if you need more help feel free to email me! good luck

ps- forgot about the disney thing. not sure how long it would take to drive because i'm not insane enough to try it, but it's really easy to get a cheap flight to orlando from philly or baltimore since southwest flies out of them

 

[disney_me]

We live in Kent County Delaware. (Smyrna) We looked at Newark, but Newark is getting pricy. Our home in Smyrna is bigger and cheaper then in Newark. I work in Hockessin De. and I have about an 1 hr drive every morning. I don't mind the drive. Schools, are what you make of them. We are in North Smyrna Elem.

We live in the middle of Delaware, 1 hour from the beach and 1 hour from Wilmington.

If you have any more questions, PM me

 

[tjmw2727]

We just relocated from Mass to Delaware and so far we are very happy. We chose Bear, just south of Newark, for a few reasons. DH has to travel to DE, MD and NJ so we are close to 95. Schools in our district are very good, a good choice of both public and private. We are in the Appoquinimink District and so far IMHO it has been excellent. We came from a superior school north of Boston so I was hesitant. SAT scores in the APP disctrict are better than most of the privates around here, even some of the college prep schools. My dd's figure skate and we are about 10 minutes from UD so that was another plus.

I used a few websites to research schools, greatschools.com, the district website and one other that I will have to look up and can't right now. We came knowing that we would likely have to go private or homeschooling so I am delighted that we were wrong.

Good luck whatever happens, it can be very stressful and uncertain to have to move but hey we gotta do what we gotta do right?

TJ

eta - we drove to WDW for Christmas, 11 hours from Bear to Savannah, stayed the night and then 6 to WDW the next day. We are doing it again in Feb for a cruise ~~

 

[MagicalMom]

We are in Dover. DH works in Northern Delaware & makes the commute. I couldn't imagine living up there. The homes are so expensive. Other than that I think Delaware is a great place to live. Good luck with your decision.

 

[ntink]

Delaware is a good location for flights as you can choose from Philly or Baltimore. We lived in Bear for 8 years and now live in Chester County PA. If I had to choose a place in DE now, I like the Pike Creek/Hockessin area but the other posters are correct, housing is expensive but property taxes are very inexpensive.

 

[tjmw2727]

Chiming back in to say that it guess its all in your perspective because coming from Boston we thought homes were very reasonable . We spent less for our new home than we sold our home in MA for and its twice as big.

I also like the tax free shopping although I did go to a big mall in PA today, prussia I think?

TJ

 

[ntink]

King of Prussia - big is an understatment but I like to go a few times a year.