Suggestions for the perfect NorthEast USA city for a family???
Nov 29th, 2004, 07:03 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Suggestions for the perfect NorthEast USA city for a family???
My sister and her husband know that I am a huge TRAVEL buff and have asked for recommendations for a city in the NorthEast part of the US to move to. They both have teaching degrees and small children. Due to huge loan debt, they need to live in a place with a low cost of living and affordable housing with an excellent school system. Beautiful scenery is a plus. Has anyone TRAVELED to such a town that would foot the bill???
Nov 30th, 2004, 02:50 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 31,043
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They might be able to do well someplace in NH. Property taxes are high but tax-wise it's still a better deal than other New England states since there is no income or sale taxes. They would have to be very careful choosing a school district since some affordable housing is in towns with serious school problems (no local high school and students must be sent to another town on a tuition basis). The beautiful scenery part is the easiest but be aware that a good view ups the property value/increases taxes. Many of the local elementary schools are great. Small with involved families. Some of the towns around Concord might be the answer. A lot of high schools are part of a regional system. A good real estate agent would be a big help here. If their children are very bright, they might qualify for scholarships to a private high school later on. Phillips Exeter and St Pauls (Concord) are considered among the finest in the country but there are also others to choose from and some parents prefer a day school rather than a boarding school.
Nov 30th, 2004, 04:19 AM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 23,138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
With no offense meant to Money Magazine, the median house price in North Andover is close to $500,000. Meets all criteria listed except low cost of living.
One would need to get far outside Boston area to find low cost of living and possibly good schools.
One would need to get far outside Boston area to find low cost of living and possibly good schools.
Nov 30th, 2004, 05:52 AM
#6
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 972
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Consider Western NY - The median home price in Erie County (where Buffalo is located) is just over $100,000. I just bought a center entrance colonial with 4 bed, 2.5 bath and an inground pool for $200K in Williamsville, NY. Williamsville is about 10 miles from Buffalo, has a village with tons of shops and restaurants and the school system was rated #1 in Western NY by Business First magazine. Teachers make a decent salary here as well. I thought I read that the median salary was around $68,000. Property taxes are pretty high, but the assessed value of homes is low. As for scenery and activities, there are two great lakes right here, Niagara Falls is 30 mins away, skiing 30-45 mins, Chautauqua Instition one hour, plus Toronto and the Finger Lakes are just under a two hour drive. And kids will love the Fisher Price headquarters in East Aurora (it has a huge toy store with discounted prices).
Nov 30th, 2004, 05:53 AM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,050
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Actually of the 81 single-family homes in North Andover currently listed on Realtor.com, the median price (i.e., midpoint/ house no. 41) is $649K.
As stated above: excellent schools, Northeast, and affordable on two teachers' salaries is nigh impossible. In fact, "city in the Northeast with excellent schools" is an oxymoron, as is "affordable housing with excellent schools". The cities themselves have terrible schools, the nearby suburbs have great schools and are super-expensive, and the farther out you go the cheaper the real estate and the worse the schools, with very few exceptions.
As stated above: excellent schools, Northeast, and affordable on two teachers' salaries is nigh impossible. In fact, "city in the Northeast with excellent schools" is an oxymoron, as is "affordable housing with excellent schools". The cities themselves have terrible schools, the nearby suburbs have great schools and are super-expensive, and the farther out you go the cheaper the real estate and the worse the schools, with very few exceptions.
Nov 30th, 2004, 06:18 AM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,897
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Hartford, CT suburbs are the closest thing to fitting the bill - real estate prices are much lower than Boston or NYC suburbs but still high relative to the south or midwest. Avon and Simsbury have excellent school systems and have enough New England charm to qualify as scenic. I would not recommend New Hampshire as it does not have a reputation for good public schools (no income tax to pay for them).
Nov 30th, 2004, 06:49 AM
#12
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,232
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would suggest one of the suburbs around Rochester, New York - probably Pittsford for the best schools. It has a pretty little village and great houses that anywhere else in the country would be $200,000 more than they are here.
Teachers in NY State make very good money. Here is a quote from our Sunday paper:
"The major reason for the high cost is teacher salaries and benefits, which account for about 60 percent of all school spending — an average of $56,927 a year or $43.71 per required work hour, according to figures from Rochester's Center for Governmental Research.
Starting teacher salaries in New York, $36,387 last year, were ahead of all other states except Alaska and New Jersey, according to the National Education Association."
Also, Rochester has GREAT music and cultural things that are readily accessible. The Eastman School of Music has a community conservatory allowing everyone in the community to take lessons there and participate in a great number of ensembles (great for kids!!). Also we have athletic opportunities for kids that are actually TOO much in my opinion - but if you have a jock or two it can't be beat.
Forget about the snow - it's fun actually (well, until about March anyway).
Teachers in NY State make very good money. Here is a quote from our Sunday paper:
"The major reason for the high cost is teacher salaries and benefits, which account for about 60 percent of all school spending — an average of $56,927 a year or $43.71 per required work hour, according to figures from Rochester's Center for Governmental Research.
Starting teacher salaries in New York, $36,387 last year, were ahead of all other states except Alaska and New Jersey, according to the National Education Association."
Also, Rochester has GREAT music and cultural things that are readily accessible. The Eastman School of Music has a community conservatory allowing everyone in the community to take lessons there and participate in a great number of ensembles (great for kids!!). Also we have athletic opportunities for kids that are actually TOO much in my opinion - but if you have a jock or two it can't be beat.
Forget about the snow - it's fun actually (well, until about March anyway).
Nov 30th, 2004, 07:29 AM
#13
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Philadelphia, and the suburbs of Philly (which include Jersey). There are sections of the city, such as Mt. Airy, which are technically part of the city but it looks like the 'burbs. I don't know what your sister considers affordable, but the housing prices in Mt. Airy are very affordable. I wouldn't recommend the public schools, however there are many, many good private schools in the area, so if they got a job at one of those the kids could go for free. South Jersey is also very affordable with a number of good school districts, plus it's an easy commute to the city. As for scenery, the Philly suburbs get my vote for pretty hilly greenery over Jersey though.
Nov 30th, 2004, 07:33 AM
#14
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,760
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, CNN lists North Andover's average home price as $308,000 and Money Magazine says $342,000... so I guess I'm baffled, too!
At any rate...looking for a place with population over 100,000 in New England narrows the choices down considerably!
At any rate...looking for a place with population over 100,000 in New England narrows the choices down considerably!
Nov 30th, 2004, 07:59 AM
#15
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,050
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Perhaps your sources are using old info; real estate in the northeast, especially around Boston, has been appreciating rapidly. Prices are roughly twice what htey were 5 or 6 years ago. Of those 81 homes on realtor.com, only 10 are under $350.
Nov 30th, 2004, 08:31 AM
#16
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,963
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Perhaps I'm missing something, but it seems like if finances are a concern, it would be best to find a job and then investigate the surrounding towns. DH has a teaching degree (he has since gone into the family business) and he substitute taught for a year and found nothing permanent. I don't think they will have much luck getting a home loan (especially w/the huge loan debt mentioned) if they don't have jobs first. Again, just my two cents.
I'm familiar w/North Andover (I have relatives in Andover). My uncle is a real estate agent in the area - you aren't going to find anything reasonable that is decent that close to Boston. Good luck! Finding a town with beautiful scenery, excellent school, and on the east coast with a low cost of living is going to be tough!!
I'm familiar w/North Andover (I have relatives in Andover). My uncle is a real estate agent in the area - you aren't going to find anything reasonable that is decent that close to Boston. Good luck! Finding a town with beautiful scenery, excellent school, and on the east coast with a low cost of living is going to be tough!!
Nov 30th, 2004, 04:09 PM
#17
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 882
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Roanoke, VA sounds like a good choice to me. Took some time to go to the Virginia mountains just west of Roanoke (sp?) way back in 1995 and saw the Peaks of Otter. The scenery alone is a good reason for me to suggest this area. I don't know how good the schools are there but do not think the cost of living would be as high as the NE U.S. and the population of Roanoke is probably 50,000 to 100,000.
Nov 30th, 2004, 04:15 PM
#18
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,738
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Kennedy3, we considered Portland Maine at one time. Very beautiful, good schools and I think the cost of living is reasonable.
Google Portland Maine and see what you can find.
The SouthEast I would think is where one can live on less with more quality of life, but what do I know, until recently, I have lived in NYC for the past many years.
Google Portland Maine and see what you can find.
The SouthEast I would think is where one can live on less with more quality of life, but what do I know, until recently, I have lived in NYC for the past many years.
Nov 30th, 2004, 05:22 PM
#19
Perhaps they could look for employment at private schools, where housing is often included. Yes, you have the pain of having students living above or below you for 9 months of the year...but with "huge debt" their options are few.
