Commute and home - Palm Harbor to Temple Terrace (Tampa: crime, new home) - Tampa Bay - Florida (FL) -Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater - City-Data Forum

cruunited · 01-03-2013, 08:37 AM

Considering a move to FL from Massachusetts. After doing a great amount of research, I'm looking at the Aberdeen neighborhood in Oldsmar near East Lake (homes roughly between $450-$550). I am professional with children 9,11, and 13.

I'm primarily concerned about schools and the commute. I'm less concerned about employment as I will have a career in Healthcare and will have a job in place prior to relocating (not clinical, but management). I believe the industry is fairly secure no matter the location.

My questions are: how is the commute from Palm Harbor/East Lake/Oldsmar TO Temple Terrace? How are the middle and high schools in those areas?

And lastly, for those that have similar situations as me, were you happy with your decision to relocate?

floridagirl777 · 01-03-2013, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruunited

Considering a move to FL from Massachusetts. After doing a great amount of research, I'm looking at the Aberdeen neighborhood in Oldsmar near East Lake (homes roughly between $450-$550). I am professional with children 9,11, and 13.

I'm primarily concerned about schools and the commute. I'm less concerned about employment as I will have a career in Healthcare and will have a job in place prior to relocating (not clinical, but management). I believe the industry is fairly secure no matter the location.

My questions are: how is the commute from Palm Harbor/East Lake/Oldsmar TO Temple Terrace? How are the middle and high schools in those areas?

And lastly, for those that have similar situations as me, were you happy with your decision to relocate?

Did you already secure a job in Temple Terrace, or are you hoping to? Are you looking at other locations in which to work? I'm just thinking that the commute to Temple Terrace from East Lake may be a bit of a hassle.

cruunited · 01-03-2013, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by floridagirl777

Did you already secure a job in Temple Terrace, or are you hoping to? Are you looking at other locations in which to work? I'm just thinking that the commute to Temple Terrace from East Lake may be a bit of a hassle.

Already secured. I'm ok with a commute anywhere under an hour. Would it be more than an hour? If more than an hour, what areas near Temple Terrace have strong schools and a new/safe housing community? I looked at Westchase, but the public schools seem to not be as strong as East Lake or Palm Harbor.

FloridaKash · 01-03-2013, 10:32 AM

Your commute will be well over an hour during traffic times. The entire way is on roads with lights, no interstate.

Westchase would be a better option for you. Westchase also has pretty good schools.

Sunscape · 01-03-2013, 11:04 AM

Good schools in that area.
About an hour commute.
It all depends on your priorities.
Good Luck!

cruunited · 01-03-2013, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Annie of Oldsmar

Good schools in that area.
About an hour commute.
It all depends on your priorities.
Good Luck!

Annie - is your comment regarding my original post regarding Aberdeen/East Lake or the prior comment on Westchase?

Westchase seems a shorter commute, but I was concerned about schools and community.

My priorities are as follows in order: schools, safe community, commute to work (Temple Terrace), proximity to beach and shops.

The prior person posting mentioned "well over" an hour commute. I did it on mapquest and it looks like 50 minutes (depending on traffic).

The Villages Guy · 01-03-2013, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruunited

Annie - is your comment regarding my original post regarding Aberdeen/East Lake or the prior comment on Westchase?

Westchase seems a shorter commute, but I was concerned about schools and community.

My priorities are as follows in order: schools, safe community, commute to work (Temple Terrace), proximity to beach and shops.

The prior person posting mentioned "well over" an hour commute. I did it on mapquest and it looks like 50 minutes (depending on traffic).

Plan on doubling mapquest times in Tampa during rush hours. Maybe even triple in certain Tampa locations. Lights are very long and very numerous in Tampa.

Sunscape · 01-03-2013, 01:24 PM

My comment is on East Lake -Aberdeen. I know the schools are good there. I don't have any knowledge of the schools in Westchase so I can't say anything.

cruunited · 01-03-2013, 01:38 PM

Thanks Annie. Schools are a prior and based on my research, the area seems to have a lot of positives - good schools, close to shopping, close to beach, new homes, etc. Probably my biggest concern on the location is driving from East Lake to Temple Terrace. I usually work 8 to 6, so I would estimate my commute would be between 7-8am in the morning and 6-7pm in the evening.

Other options I've considered are Cheva or Trinity. This would get me north of Tampa and possibly less of a commute.

floridagirl777 · 01-03-2013, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruunited

Already secured. I'm ok with a commute anywhere under an hour. Would it be more than an hour? If more than an hour, what areas near Temple Terrace have strong schools and a new/safe housing community? I looked at Westchase, but the public schools seem to not be as strong as East Lake or Palm Harbor.

I agree with everyone else. I think the commute from East Lake/Palm Harbor is going to be well over an hour in traffic. East Lake, Palm Harbor, and Oldsmar are definitely great areas, but you'll have to endure a long commute to Temple Terrace if you decide to live there. If you are able, make sure you purchase a home that is in the Palm Harbor University High School district. That is one of the top high schools in Tampa Bay. They have some excellent programs there, especially for high-performing students.

I'm not sure about good areas to live in Temple Terrace. I personally would not feel comfortable living there … not with children anyway. If you spend an hour driving around out there you'll see what I mean.

Westchase has decent schools. They won't be what you'd get in Palm Harbor, but they are not bad schools. My sister lives there. Her daughter attends private school, but my sister does say she has heard that Westchase Elementary is decent. She has also said that the crime from nearby Town-n-Country is infiltrating the area.

For those of you who know the traffic patterns in Tampa well, would Safety Harbor be a good option for the OP? I know school-wise and community-wise it is a great place for professionals, but I'm hesitant to recommend it because of the commute. I'm just wondering if it would save him any time if he took the Causeway over the Bay and then took 275 to Temple Terrace. I've done that drive many times and it took me about 40 minutes to get to the USF area, but that was never in any sort of heavy traffic. I'll leave that option to those of you with more experience with Tampa's traffic patterns.