Moving to DE/Philly Metro from NYC (Wilmington, Newark: real estate, rent)

[By~Tor]

Greetings all, and I hope you can help.

My gal and I are looking to get out of the $1500 a month rent cycle and move to the Philly area, where the city is big enough to sustain us with employment, but the housing prices are decent... and by decent, I'm talking about LOW $100's, for a townhouse....

I know Philly can be sketchy, so I am also thinking about northern Delaware for the house, but I have a few questions:

* In northern Delaware / Wilmington, are the housing choices for $100 - 130K worth looking into, as fixer-uppers or not?

* Is there reliable public transportation from northern DE to Philly / Center City or is it more of a driving deal?

* As far as crime goes, how does northern DE compare to metro Philly?--- Is it markedly different, or pretty much the same?

ANY help you guys can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[D from STB]

Delaware is going to be a real culture shock for you if you appreciate the UPSIDE of living in the city...tons to do, incredible diversity, creativity and colorful people everywhere. If you're looking for a cheaper but calmer, quieter version of Manhattan, Delaware is NOT the place to move. I'm from there and I went absolutely insane. It's one big suburb, even Wilmington. It is NOTHING like NYC whatsoever.

Claymont has train service to Philly, though you'll probably need to transfer once or twice depending on where you're headed. It's much cheaper. And it's a dump. It's suburban mullethead mediocrity or drugs and crime, one or the other - and nothing in-between.

Philly's got a lot more to offer. You're probably gonna go insane in Delaware, coming from NYC, unless you're ALREADY suburban-minded. I'd stick to Philly. Like any city, there are sketchy areas, but there are also great restaurants, tons of shops and galleries, and just a whole lot to do.

[By~Tor]

Thanks, D... Originally, I'm from Dallas, but after stops in St. Louis Chicago, downstate Illinois & NYC, I'm pretty well acclimated to a variety of living cities.... and otherwise....LOL!

I'm not so much worried about the lack of constant stimulus (one good thing about NYC, of course, but also it's bane) as I am crime and general liveability....

[nsa162]

Try your hand at newark,De. Its a little further south as opposed to wilmington but houses are more affordable than north wilmington and being that the university is there makes it a lively place.
I myself am looking to move to Newark,De

[D from STB]

I agree with that last posting. If you have to live in DE, Newark would be the place to go...but I don't think there's a train from Newark to Philly, if that's a concern. I don't think Newark's on the SEPTA line or the Amtrak Northeast Corridor (which at least stops at 30th Street Station).

If crime is the concern, definitely avoid Wilmington and Claymont. Wilmington has a surprisingly high violent crime rate for such a small city and Claymont, though suburban, has serious drug problems. Parts of New Castle are bad too.

Of course, every city and now, increasingly, even every small town has it's share of drug problems and violent crime. It's life in the year 2007.

[nsa162]

according to this it would appear that there is septa service to Newark
http://www.septa.org/maps/click_map.html

[rdlr]

On the other hand, Kent and Sussex County (Delaware) populations are dramatically rising because of so many transits moving from Philadelphia, NY, NJ and Wilmington. Many love mid and lower Delaware and would rather do a 2 hour commute to either Baltimore, Philadelphia, and an additional hour or so to New York. The bypass (SR1) has ensured quick access to the northern hub of Delaware allowing the best of both worlds. The Philadelphia/NY arts scene, concerts, and sporting events are always on our calendar, and we are in Kent County, Delaware. It's so easy to get up there and back to our more calm setting.

[maryCh]

Not being a native NY'er, but married to one, and having lived on Long Island almost 2 yrs (several years ago, I will admit), AND being a recent transplant to DE (central Kent Co), I believe I can safely post something useful on this topic. That said, I agree with the previous poster regarding the consideration of how much of a social life you and your gal want to have.... I assume you are 20-something or early 30's based on your original posting.

What I will recommend from past experience from moving MANY times in my life, is that you continue asking these nice folk on this board, and visit the area several times and check out the area for yourselves. We did just that about 10 times from NC prior to our move here, and are very content with our choice so far. I believe a lot of people across our nation have gypsy blood right about now, for very individual reasons based on their personal life goals and needs, as well as the adventure of trying a new life in a different place. Only you will know what is right for you and your gal at this moment in your lives.

Good luck, and let us know your progress... both pros and cons. There are a lot of newcomers to the forum, and a good mix of regular posters. For such a small state, I have been very impressed with the vast amount of information posted here in the year or so I have been a member of the forum.

Mary

[wilman]

Wilmington would be a great for you depending on what your looking for. They just built new houses and condos on the riverfront which is right next to the train station so easy access to philly, or Union park gardens which is also a nice area or Northwest Wilmington(Trolly Square)which where the night life is. Newark is nice but not if you wanna hangout with College kids. The crime in wilmington is high for a small city but the areas I'm telling you about are nice, crime really only happens in certin parts just like New York.

[Postal68]

Originally Posted by Delly

On the other hand, Kent and Sussex County (Delaware) populations are dramatically rising because of so many transits moving from Philadelphia, NY, NJ and Wilmington. Many love mid and lower Delaware and would rather do a 2 hour commute to either Baltimore, Philadelphia, and an additional hour or so to New York.

Delly,

We are currently in Pennsauken, NJ and are looking to make a move due to ever rising NJ real estate taxes, and to find a better public school system for our children. We currently send them to catholic grade school but between tuition and taxes we are paying almost $11,000.

We both work in Philly, my wife in Center City and myself in West Philly.

a few questions

What is the median home type and price in Kent and Sussex ?

How are the public school systems ?

How far would the drive be to the closest SEPTA train to the city, which I guess would be Newark)