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Pros/Cons, Likes, Dislikes of Living in Jersey
I am looking for honest answers here. I was born and raised in South Philadelphia and never pictured myself moving away. Lately, things in the neighborhood have been going down - robberies, vandalism, etc. My husband has been pushing me forever to move to Jersey with our two daughters. I am so used to be able to walk out my door and walk to a corner store for a few small things, walking to the playground, walking to school, sitting on the step with neighbors while the kids play, walking blocks away and still knowing people, etc. Please tell me what living in Jersey is like. Where do the kids hang out as they get older, what is the crime like, drugs etc.
I know a few families who have moved to Jersey only to move back because they were so used to living in the city and Jersey was too quiet for them and also because their kids were getting involved in drugs and what not in Jersey too. I know drugs and crime are everywhere, but I'm just looking to see just how different things really are.
Any info you can offer would be great. Thank you.
Re: Pros/Cons, Likes, Dislikes of Living in Jersey
I lived in Northeast Philadelphia until I was 14 and started high school in South Jersey. It was a huge adjustment for me and not just because I was a teenager. There's really not the local corner store that you can go to in most communities (Haddonfield and Collingswood are two towns that are exceptions to this rule) nor can you just walk to wherever you want to go. You do rely on your car a lot more than you do in the city. The kids in my neighborhood still hang out in the immediate area and play games in the street or in the field behind our houses. We've recently experienced some vandalism and petty theft (people breaking into cars for change and CD's, etc) in the area but nothing that has me overly concern, I would bet it's kids being stupid.
I went to Catholic grade school in Philadelphia and public high school in South Jersey. I was a little behind when I first started, especially in math and science but the teachers quickly helped me get caught up. I liked public school because it offered a variety of classes compared to Catholic school. I knew kids who used drugs in high school, mostly pot, but it was never as prevalent as it was in my "nice" neighborhood in Philadelphia. Towards the end of my time in Philadelphia the kids were finding drug paraphernalia in the streets and on the sidewalks.
As an adult, I plan to stay in New Jersey for the foreseeable future unless my H and I receive some amazing opportunity we can't turn down. The biggest selling point for me are the schools. I can send my children (when we have them) to school through 12th grade for free (obviously you pay taxes) and have no doubt they'll receive a great education compared to what they would receive in Philadelphia through the public school system.
Come to Palmyra or Riverton! Right across the bridge. I lived in a small town in SJ and could definitely walk to a few places,etc. You can definitely find a town with some of the benefits of living in the city, but not the crime.
I live in Riverton. I am about ten steps from the train station and a short walk to a few different stores (Wawa being my favorite) and restaurants,deli's, a cafe. I am one train stop away (literally two minutes on the train) from a few more stores, my favorite pub, my favorite pizza joint,etc. Schools are great in my town, crime is low....not quite non-exsistent, but I feel really safe. We are technically a suburb, but there is definitely a "city" feel IMO. We drive in to Philly and take the train to NY a lot. Dh works out of both cities....we are city people to some extent (I would live in NYC if we could; DH won't) so I know what you are saying.
My advice to you would be to pick a "river town" as we call them. Or Collingswood or Haddonfield....
**ETA**There is nothing I dislike about living here. I do use my car a lot, but there is just so much within ten minutes of me...shopping, things to do with the kids. great places to eat. I feel like I have so much at my fingertips. Sometimes that can be bad b/c I feel like we alost do too much.
You can also page me on the north jersey board if you have questions. GL!