Considering a move to Philadelphia from small town on the Left Coast
January 27, 2017 2:38 PM Subscribe
The job will be located in the 19147 zip code. I'm originally from South Jersey and previously worked in Philly, but it's been nearly 20 years since I lived in the area. Lots of questions abound.
Basically I'm trying to decide the pros and cons of working in the city and living in the city itself vs commuting from South Jersey, where I have family.
After living in a small town for so many years, the idea of driving in that traffic horrifies me. More likely than not, I'm trying to avoid a complicated, expensive commute.
1) Tax wise, is there a reason to live in either Philadelphia vs. South Jersey or do taxes and exemptions even out the city wage taxes?
2) If I end up moving to Philly and I'm looking for a decent one-BR dog friendly place with a fireplace and small yard, will that be difficult to find? I want to be able to walk to work if possible.
3) If I end up living in South Jersey, the closest to the city other than Camden with a reasonable commute to the 19147 zip code would still be Collingswood using public transport? I'm trying to avoid driving into the city because I doubt there will be any parking provided.
4) What is the 19147 zip code neighborhood called? What are the names of the neighborhoods I should look at to be able to walk here within 20 minutes?
Thanks. And of course, any reasons to make me fall in love with being back in this neck of the woods will be much appreciated.
Basically I'm trying to decide the pros and cons of working in the city and living in the city itself vs commuting from South Jersey, where I have family.
After living in a small town for so many years, the idea of driving in that traffic horrifies me. More likely than not, I'm trying to avoid a complicated, expensive commute.
1) Tax wise, is there a reason to live in either Philadelphia vs. South Jersey or do taxes and exemptions even out the city wage taxes?
2) If I end up moving to Philly and I'm looking for a decent one-BR dog friendly place with a fireplace and small yard, will that be difficult to find? I want to be able to walk to work if possible.
3) If I end up living in South Jersey, the closest to the city other than Camden with a reasonable commute to the 19147 zip code would still be Collingswood using public transport? I'm trying to avoid driving into the city because I doubt there will be any parking provided.
4) What is the 19147 zip code neighborhood called? What are the names of the neighborhoods I should look at to be able to walk here within 20 minutes?
Thanks. And of course, any reasons to make me fall in love with being back in this neck of the woods will be much appreciated.
I live in 19147. Dog-friendly 1br with a yard will be difficult but not impossible; most of the housing stock is row homes, so you'd have to find a dog-friendly first-floor unit (sometimes there's shared access to the back but it's uncommon.) be aware the "yard" in this instance is going to be a small patch of concrete, suitable for quick dog business but not exercise for anything bigger than a chihuahua. Working fireplaces are very rare and in a house that's been carved into apartments even more rare.
Collingswood is a great town, and a quick ride on PATCO will drop you off a short walk from your job. If the city's scale intimidates you or you just think you'd prefer it, I'd say go for it! That said, I don't know what the rental market in collingswood is like; everyone I know there are former city residents who bought houses there to stay close to the city while getting more space and better schools for kids.
posted by Tomorrowful at 7:08 PM on January 27, 2017
Collingswood is a great town, and a quick ride on PATCO will drop you off a short walk from your job. If the city's scale intimidates you or you just think you'd prefer it, I'd say go for it! That said, I don't know what the rental market in collingswood is like; everyone I know there are former city residents who bought houses there to stay close to the city while getting more space and better schools for kids.
posted by Tomorrowful at 7:08 PM on January 27, 2017
The NJ - Philly tax situation did change recently, I think in a way that favors living in Philly, but it's something to look up.
I did have a working fireplace in one rented house by South Street, and a yard at another, but both were kind of unusual. Many places are dog friendly. For all three, I would try to find a house or ground floor apartment in one of the older neighborhoods. It was a wonderfully convenient neighborhood to live in, but not super close to the el or PATCO.
posted by sepviva at 3:57 PM on January 28, 2017
I did have a working fireplace in one rented house by South Street, and a yard at another, but both were kind of unusual. Many places are dog friendly. For all three, I would try to find a house or ground floor apartment in one of the older neighborhoods. It was a wonderfully convenient neighborhood to live in, but not super close to the el or PATCO.
posted by sepviva at 3:57 PM on January 28, 2017
« Older Suggestions on books for single mother (father is... | Teach me how to shave my face? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
3) I live in Collingswood, and like it a lot. Lovely walkable downtown with a lot of BYO restaurants. Its a dry town, but we have a microbrewery now, oddly enough. Westmont & Haddonfield are along the PATCO line too and nice as well. If you live within walking distance to patco it works out great, parking in the lots can fill up. If you have any questions, message me. patco runs 24/7. $5.20 round trip from collingswood. You'll probably need to transfer to septa though, unless you are on the north end of 19147 and can walk from locust and 9th/12th. patco sells transfers for $3.10 round trip from the nj ticket machines.
4) 19147 could be queen village, passyunk east, pennsport, head house square, wash sq west, or others depending on where in the zipcode you are. It borders the broad street line, so if your work is close to that you can take the broad street & market frankford el and be all over the city in 20 minutes.
posted by TheAdamist at 3:07 PM on January 27, 2017