High cost of living, unfriendly people, fiscially
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5/5/2010
Pennsylvania has a incredibly high cost of living and it simply isn't worth it by reasonable standards. We live about 30+ miles outside of Philadelphia in Douglass Township. The cheapest possible property tax you can honestly expect for a house that is less than 20 years old is $5k. Property taxes usually fall into the $6300 (average) range to over $10k for the "most desirable neighborhoods."
The housing prices are also very expensive unless you are willing to commute a long distance. My husband works 21 miles from our house and it takes him 45 minutes to drive it on the best day which I guess isn't too bad considering the large population between home and where he works. But, due to the high cost, you can't choose to be close to work, you have to find housing that you can afford which means a long commute. You really need a $150-175k salary to live a truly middle class lifestyle here. You can live well on $100k provided you have no debt and no kids.
The hardest part of living here is the personalities. The people here are anything but friendly, very judgemental and narrow minded unless you believe their way is the only way. We've lived here two years and have only made a couple friends. We can from the middle of the United States where people are much friendlier and willing to help each other. I did think the people in downtown Philadelphia were more friendly that the suburbs. Even long time locals tell me that PA has really changed in the last 10 years.
And anyone who tells you that the schools are great is not being honest. Property taxes have shot through the roof and they are spending the tax money on new astroturf football fields and not increasing the quality of education. No school needs a cherry wood-walled auditorium that looks like the Four Seasons as familes are being taxed out of their homes. PA is the only state that allows their school districts to initiate a tax increase without voter or government approval. 90% of my taxes go to the schools while the parks and other cities services go largley unfunded. Democrats (Specter was never a Republican) have taxed this place into submission.
We're planning to move next year...
Metoo | Durham, NC