South Jersey (Camden County)?

[xanis]

My current apartment search has lead me to Jersey, specifically Camden county. I'm doing my own research of course, but I was hoping to hear from some ATOTers that either live in the area or are at least familiar with it. FWIW I'm looking in Haddonfield, Collingswood, and Bellmawr. I work in the city and would be taking PATCO Monday through Friday.

Just looking for some general information (safety, amenities, commuting via PATCO, driving around the area, etc.). Anything would be much appreciated.

 

[Blackjack200]

You're working in Camden or Philly?

 

[classy]

I live in the area what do you want to know?

 

[classy]

Out of those 3 Haddonfield is an old town, but upper class there. Haddonfield is very nice. Most expensive, though. Collingswood is decent, lived there for several years. Both of those places have Patco spots right there. Bellmawr is okay, nothing bad about it, but not as nice as the other two.

 

[Kaido]

There's a real cool guy you can hang out with when you get there. I think his name is Earl.

 

[xanis]

You're working in Camden or Philly?

Sorry, should have been clearer. I'm working in Philly.

 

[xanis]

Out of those 3 Haddonfield is an old town, but upper class there. Haddonfield is very nice. Most expensive, though. Collingswood is decent, lived there for several years. Both of those places have Patco spots right there. Bellmawr is okay, nothing bad about it, but not as nice as the other two.

Awesome, thanks. I'm looking in the area because the rent in Philly would kill me. Seems like I can get more bang for my buck if I go outside of the city, and I'll save a bit on the Philly wage tax if I live outside the city limits.

 

[Blackjack200]

Have you ruled out living in Philly as well?

Edit: Ahh, nevermind, just saw your post above. I don't live or work in Philly, though my ex-gf did both, so I'm a little familiar with the city, not so much the Jersey side though I know a ton of people take the Patco in, so there must be something to it.

 

[Markbnj]

Collingswood has gotten very popular with young professionals over the last few years. Definitely check it out. It's an old town with a lot of history, nice little downtown area with cafes and pubs and whatnot, and they have some great concerts at the Scottish Rite Auditorium.

 

[xanis]

Collingswood has gotten very popular with young professionals over the last few years. Definitely check it out. It's an old town with a lot of history, nice little downtown area with cafes and pubs and whatnot, and they have some great concerts at the Scottish Rite Auditorium.

Thanks, seems to be in-line with what I'm looking for. :thumbsup:

 

[mcveigh]

why not just camden proper? Show those thugs you are not afraid to walk outside!

My uncle works at Rutgers Camden..... I think Syria may be nicer than that right now.

 

[akshatp]

Awesome, thanks. I'm looking in the area because the rent in Philly would kill me. Seems like I can get more bang for my buck if I go outside of the city, and I'll save a bit on the Philly wage tax if I live outside the city limits.

If you live in Philly the rent will kill you, and if you live in Camden the criminals will.

 

[SP33Demon]

Check out Maple Shade.

 

[Kroze]

Wait...people WANT to move to new jersey?

 

[classy]

Check out Maple Shade.

Maple Shade is nice, but depending on where you live traffic in that area is a pain in the rear.

But affordability and easy travel in and out of the city, Collingswood is good bet. Also don't overlook Cherry Hill, . You'll like the area, plenty of things to do and all those areas are safe.

 

[Markbnj]

Wait...people WANT to move to new jersey?

http://www.markbetz.net/2011/05/31/jersey-sore/

 

[isekii]

http://www.markbetz.net/2011/05/31/jersey-sore/

Just mention the best part. We don't have to pump our own gas and our prices are some of the lowest in the country

 

[Kroze]

Just mention the best part. We don't have to pump our own gas and our prices are some of the lowest in the country

Until you find out NJ have the highest insurance rate in the country.

& Property tax for a $335k house is $11k a year.

 

[Markbnj]

Until you find out NJ have the highest insurance rate in the country.

& Property tax for a $335k house is $11k a year.

NJ isn't a cheap state to live in by any means, but that's true of most of the east coast, and all of the northeast. But like the other states NJ has its less expensive areas. NJ breaks down into four quarters, roughly. The northeastern and southwestern quarters are high-density suburban bedroom communities for NYC and Philly. The northwestern quarter is the highlands. Parts of it are very rural and relatively inexpensive, other parts are estate country and could be from another planet as far as the rest of us are concerned. The southeastern part is the Pine Barrens, one of the largest tracts of undeveloped forest land on the east coast. Pretty cheap to live on the borders of, but most people don't want to live any further away from civilization than that.

 

[JTsyo]

NJ is the densest state in the Union but it's not all high density residential and industrial. Get out to the parts with lower population density and you have your usual suburbs.

 

[Blackjack200]

NJ isn't a cheap state to live in by any means, but that's true of most of the east coast, and all of the northeast. But like the other states NJ has its less expensive areas. NJ breaks down into four quarters, roughly. The northeastern and southwestern quarters are high-density suburban bedroom communities for NYC and Philly. The northwestern quarter is the highlands. Parts of it are very rural and relatively inexpensive, other parts are estate country and could be from another planet as far as the rest of us are concerned. The southeastern part is the Pine Barrens, one of the largest tracts of undeveloped forest land on the east coast. Pretty cheap to live on the borders of, but most people don't want to live any further away from civilization than that.

It's pretty funny to hear "undeveloped" and "New Jersey" in the same sentence. I grew up in Jersey and had never even heard of the Pine Barrons until a few years ago.

 

[Markbnj]

It's pretty funny to hear "undeveloped" and "New Jersey" in the same sentence. I grew up in Jersey and had never even heard of the Pine Barrons until a few years ago.

It's funny how few people go out there. I spend five or six days a year exploring out of the way spots with a group of guys, and a few more up in the gap. At various times the barrens have been populated by charcoal burners, iron smelters, glass makers, paper makers, lumbermen, and the remains of their towns and worksites are scattered all over. But every industry eventually failed as cheaper alternatives emerged, and the regular fires erased their remains.

What the barrens are good for now is peace . There are places where you can drive 20 miles on dirt roads and not see a powerline, a structure, or even another vehicle. You hear nothing but the wind and the birds.

 

[zanejohnson]

lol reminds me of that episode of futurama where fry and bender were looking for a place to stay, and then found the "suspiciously nice apartment," and it ended then the realtor tells them it's technically in new jersey, and then it just flashes to bender and fry sitting around talking about it, and fry's like "not a single decent place." ROFL new jersey jokes are funny..

 

[SP33Demon]

Not sure how much you're looking to spend, but you should check out Moorestown. 20 minutes from Philly and named best town in the US in 20XX. Crime is low and a lot of rich folks live there... the school system is also amazing I've heard (if you have kids).

 

[classy]

Not sure how much you're looking to spend, but you should check out Moorestown. 20 minutes from Philly and named best town in the US in 20XX. Crime is low and a lot of rich folks live there... the school system is also amazing I've heard (if you have kids).

Moorestown is nice, but also depends on where you live in Moorestown to as it pertains to traffic. If you live near 295 where you don't have to deal with 70 and 73 traffic then you'll be okay. Haddonfield is a better school system, it aint even close.