Where is safe in Delaware???

[ThreeMusketeers]

DH got a job in Cherry Hill, NJ but we are finding that apartments are VERY VERY expensive in and around the safer parts of this area, so we are researching Delaware. (Northern) The commute does not bother us.

Is anyplace safe for a family with good schools in Northern Delaware, i keep googling it but i am not pulling up anything.

Thanks.

 

[iggbees]

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[MAKmom]

I'm pretty sure my DH read Newark is good.

Public schools in DE are not so good by reputation. That you have to look into. DE has no property tax...The DuPont's own it. It does have a high income tax. You also will not pay any sales tax.

Our school district buts up to the DE state line.

 

[shelemm]

New Castle, DE would be an AMAZING place to live, one of the most unique communities in the US. Don't know about prices, though. Have you considered Penn's Grove, NJ? Nice town, lovely area, but far enough away to have lower prices (just my guess).

 

[Cindy B]

There are some complexes in Wilmington.. stay far far away. There are a bunch right on the line of DE/NJ/PA and they are just awful. NewarK DE to Cherry Hill is easily over one hour each way without traffic. Add traffic to the mix and it would be easily 90 minutes.

There is affordable housing in the Cherry Hill area. Playa Del Sol is an older condo complex that always seems to be renting out. It is definetely older, but you can find something, I"m sure. There is also Essex Towers on Kings Highway, but that is an older place as well. West Cherry Hill (08034 and 08002 zip codes will be cheaper than 08003 zip codes). There are few houses to rent in my neighborhood.

There are a few complexes in Collingswood NJ as well (not far from Cherry Hill about a 10 minute drive). I had friends that lived in Sutton Towers years ago- but I think its called something else now. Voorhees has tons of apartment complexes all along White Horse Road but they can be expensive.

Try Lindenwold (next to Voorhees). There are a bunch of apt. complexes there. THere is also Pine Hill, Hi-Nella, and Stratford. I woudn't recommend Lawnside.

Mt. Ephraim has a few as well, but you have to check where it is. You don't want to be near the stripper bars!

Try Burlington County (right next to Cherry Hill).

There are a few complexes in Maple Shade which may work for you. Ryan's Run, Maplewood, Fox Meadow are three in Maple Shade. Stay away from Hunters Glen in Delran, NJ not far from Maple Shade. I used to live there years ago and it was iffy then. There always seems to be fires in Hunters Glen. Theres also a complex on Lenola Road which I think is called the Arbors. I drove past that yesterday and there was a NOW renting sign. There is another complex off of Rt. 38, near the Papa John's and Aldi that is always renting out as well.

Depending on where in Cherry Hill, you can also try Marlton. In Marlton itself, there are a few apartment complexes with TONS of private rental condos.
Neuw Amsterdam, Allison's (theres another part to the name), and one more off of Rt. 70. We rented a condo behind Olga's Diner for year and it was affordable.

Medford next to Marlton has a few apartments as well-- Hunters Crossing, and a few others. If you are going Medford, it is easily a 1/2 hour-45 minute commute depending on where in Cherry Hill. You can also try Mt. Laurel. There are tons of condo/townhouse rentals there and a few apartment complexes. Ramblewood on Church Road is one complex. Ramblewood also may have condos for rent.

Cinnaminson/Moorestown may have some options for you as well. There are some complexes off of Rt. 130 but make sure they are the newer ones NOT the older ones. Some of the older ones were near the hotels by the hour. There has been a ton of redevelopment in Cinnaminson, so there could be something there that is new. Moorestown is a ritzy town, but there are a ton of private owned apartments along Main Street. These are usually above store fronts or near medical offices. There is a complex near the Lutheran Home that did have a now renting sign. THere is a small complex next to the Moorestown Post Office that had a now renting sign as well. Moorestown has tons of private homes for rent as well.

There are some things in Mt. Holly, Lumberton but they may be iffy. Some are in great neighborhoods, and some are older complexes.

 

[Cindy B]

I'm pretty sure my DH read Newark is good.

Public schools in DE are not so good by reputation. That you have to look into. DE has no property tax...The DuPont's own it. It does have a high income tax. You also will not pay any sales tax.

Our school district buts up to the DE state line.

Newark to Cherry Hill is far! Its an hour without traffic. Add traffic and it would be about 90 minutes easy.

Schools in Delaware are not good. If you want a decent school district in Burlington, Camden County.. I can list them. (I am a substitute for Camden County Schools).


Camden County

Haddonfield
Voorhees
Cherry Hill

I can vouch for those three districts. I've subbed in them. These three are consistently the higher rated schools in various reports. Cherry Hill used to be ranked higher but we went from from an I/J district to an H. (Not a huge deal-this just means that the home prices SEC is a bit lower in CH, than in Haddonfield and Voorhees)

I also have experience in

Collingswood
Oaklyn, Somerdale These are k to 8 schools. I've subbed at these as well.


Burlington County

Moorestown
Medford
Medford Lakes
Evesham/Marlton
Mt. Laurel

are all consistently higher ranked. Moorestown is the highest ranked consistently. My nieces and nephews went there. I went to high school in Mt. Laurel. I have acquaintences that work in Marlton and like it.

I've heard good things about Maple Shade and Cinnaminson schools as well but I have no true experience with them.

 

[mla2177]

Hockessin is a great area! It's like 10 minutes from the De Mem bridge. It can be a little pricey for homes, but I'm not sure about apartments. It''s worth looking into! It's also very close to the Christiana mall and Christiana Hospital.

 

[Karel]

There are many places between Cherry Hill and Delaware that would probably be a better option for you. As Cindy said, that is a long commute. Plus traffic at the bridge can be a nightmare. There are a lot of towns off of Rt. 295.

I know the private schools in DE are top quality - there are people in my area who send their kids there. Ursalin (sp?) is a highly rated girls school. The public schools - not so much.

 

[MAKmom]

OP what are you looking to spend on rent? You will need to spend over $1000.00 for something nice anywhere in the tri state area for a 1 BR.

 

[Mkrop]

Why Delaware?

Have you tried in PA?

The commute from Delaware County PA or Montgomery County PA is not that bad depending on where. Note that I said Delaware COUNTY, that is in PA. Many people moving to the area get confused.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

Try Lindenwold (next to Voorhees). There are a bunch of apt. complexes there. THere is also Pine Hill, Hi-Nella, and Stratford. I woudn't recommend Lawnside.

Mt. Ephraim has a few as well, but you have to check where it is. You don't want to be near the stripper bars!

Stay away from all of these towns.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I would not look across the Delaware Memorial bridge. I use it often and it is a commuter's nightmare.

 

[eh24fan]

Wow...I live in Delaware and have my entire life. I don't know why you'd say the schools in Delaware are terrible. Seriously. There are a few I'd never send my kid to, but overall, I wouldn't say our schools are bad! As far as private schools, there are many of them in northern Delaware and I have had family that attended St. Marks Catholic High School up there. However, they were from the Kent County Maryand area, where schools are notoriously bad!

And to the poster who said Delaware has no property tax is VERY wrong. Delaware most definitely has property taxes and schools think nothing of trying to get referendums passed that will raise those taxes.

I live in "below the canal" in Delaware and I will admit that the lifestyle is a bit different down here.

 

[Cindy B]

Wow...I live in Delaware and have my entire life. I don't know why you'd say the schools in Delaware are terrible. Seriously. There are a few I'd never send my kid to, but overall, I wouldn't say our schools are bad! As far as private schools, there are many of them in northern Delaware and I have had family that attended St. Marks Catholic High School up there. However, they were from the Kent County Maryand area, where schools are notoriously bad!

And to the poster who said Delaware has no property tax is VERY wrong. Delaware most definitely has property taxes and schools think nothing of trying to get referendums passed that will raise those taxes.

I live in "below the canal" in Delaware and I will admit that the lifestyle is a bit different down here.

Lower Delaware is definetely different. My parents live in lower Delaware and it is very different. We didn't go to school there though. It is 94 miles one way from my house in CH to Greenwood Delaware. That would be one heck of a commute.

There definetely is property tax but no sales tax on purchases.

 

[Cindy B]

Stay away from all of these towns.

Really? I had friends that lived in Lindenwold and they had a nicer apartment. I would agree especially if there are schools involved.

Blackwood may be an option. It is still in Camden County, but I don't know anything about schools in that town. There are apartments there.

 

[Cindy B]

OP what are you looking to spend on rent? You will need to spend over $1000.00 for something nice anywhere in the tri state area for a 1 BR.

I would say about $1400 for a 2 BR. I have seen some for $1300 but it all depends.

 

[eh24fan]

Lower Delaware is definetely different. My parents live in lower Delaware and it is very different. We didn't go to school there though. It is 94 miles one way from my house in CH to Greenwood Delaware. That would be one heck of a commute.

There definetely is property tax but no sales tax on purchases.

Oh I certainly wasn't suggesting commuting from Downstate. There are people that do it though. Things are getting so built up down here and there are folks commuting to Wilmington for work or even to Wilmington to catch the train to NYC!!! What the heck?

 

[MAKmom]

Why Delaware?

Have you tried in PA?

The commute from Delaware County PA or Montgomery County PA is not that bad depending on where. Note that I said Delaware COUNTY, that is in PA. Many people moving to the area get confused.

I bet that is what the OP meant to ask. I was baffled why she would want to move to Delaware to work in Cherry Hill.

OP I live in Delaware County & on the bourder of Delaware the state.
Delaware county is huge. I have a 40 min commute to work & my business is still in Delaware County. There are some really bad areas in the county.

Safe areas IMO are Springfield, Media, Newtown Sq, Broomall, Havertown, Edgmont, Upper Providence, Swarthmore, Wallingford, Ridley, Lima,
, Aston, Glen Mills, Boothwyn & Chester Heights, (NOT CHESTER)

 

[Cindy B]

I bet that is what the OP meant to ask. I was baffled why she would want to move to Delaware to work in Cherry Hill.

OP I live in Delaware County & on the bourder of Delaware the state.
Delaware county is huge. I have a 40 min commute to work & my business is still in Delaware County. There are some really bad areas in the county.

Safe areas IMO are Springfield, Media, Newtown Sq, Broomall, Havertown, Edgmont, Upper Providence, Swarthmore, Wallingford, Ridley, Lima,
, Aston, Glen Mills, Boothwyn & Chester Heights, (NOT CHESTER)

Don't forget about other areas of Delaware County:

I lived n Wayne for a while. There is Wayne, Radnor, Bryn Mawr, Ardmore, and such.

However, Wayne to Cherry Hill is about an hour commute. Been there, done that.

 

[ndelaware]

OP, in northern Delaware, you would want to look at the area north of Wilmington around RT 202 and west of there. Good schools, safe neighborhoods, and easy access to 95. I used to commute from 10 mnutes south of Newark to Pennsauken every day and the trip took me about 50 minutes unless there was a major accident. The biggest hold up is where 95 and 1 come together so if you live north of Wilmington you will avoid all this.

To the rest of you, Delaware has no sales tax. Our property taxes are about 1/3 of PAs and maybe 1/4 of NJs. There are many excellent schools in Delaware, both public and private. The biggest difference is I can send my kids to the private school of my choice cause I am not paying the state of NJ (or PA) $10,000 or more a year for property taxes.