Possible move to Berks County

[bert304]

I am considering a job offer near Reading, the biggest problem is I will have to move to Berks county and I know nothing really about the area. I would just like some honest opinions of the county. Like schools and where to look for a house. Thank you

[PisnNapalm]

Habla Espanol?

[mjfletcher]

Originally Posted by bert304

I am considering a job offer near Reading, the biggest problem is I will have to move to Berks county and I know nothing really about the area. I would just like some honest opinions of the county. Like schools and where to look for a house. Thank you

I live in Reading, and though its getting better in many areas, its still got a way to go, so you may want to skip Reading and go for the suburbs. Same goes for schools, Readings schools aren't as good as they used to be, larger classes than a single teacher can realistically accommodate means students don't get the individual attention they may need and either fall behind and repeat the class, or get pushed through just to get them out of the class without actually learning anything.

My cousin and her husband just moved to laureldale with their 3 kids (and her mother who lives with them). They love the area, nice and quiet, close to everything. Walmart, Kmart, couple grocery stores, video store, auto parts all just a few blocks away but well out of sight so it feels like they're further away than they actually are. They paid 140k for the house which has a large detached garage sitting on 3/4 acre.

[wwhite72082]

Its coming up on a year that I moved to Laureldale and so far the area has been great. As mjfletcher mentioned, It is conveniently close to the city and stores but far enough away to be quiet.

I work in a bad part of Reading, but haven't had any issues traveling to and from work, same goes for my wife. I can't vouch for the schools as I dont have kids and I attended Daniel Boone in Birdsboro (Which also isn't far from Reading but is filled with high school aged kids)

I would also recommend sticking to the Suburbs that would keep your commute fairly short such as Douglassville, Birdsboro, Exeter, Muhlenburg, Temple, Laureldale, Berkshire, Wyomissing, ect...

Depending on where you Job is located in the city, you may have upwards of a 20 minute drive in the morning but you may be much happier actually outside of the city of Reading.

[JoeWilliams]

Originally Posted by wwhite72082

Its coming up on a year that I moved to Laureldale and so far the area has been great. As mjfletcher mentioned, It is conveniently close to the city and stores but far enough away to be quiet.

I work in a bad part of Reading, but haven't had any issues traveling to and from work, same goes for my wife. I can't vouch for the schools as I dont have kids and I attended Daniel Boone in Birdsboro (Which also isn't far from Reading but is filled with high school aged kids)

I would also recommend sticking to the Suburbs that would keep your commute fairly short such as Douglassville, Birdsboro, Exeter, Muhlenburg, Temple, Laureldale, Berkshire, Wyomissing, ect...

Depending on where you Job is located in the city, you may have upwards of a 20 minute drive in the morning but you may be much happier actually outside of the city of Reading.

I'd KILL for a 20 minute drive to work. On a very good morning, it's 30 minutes. Most mornings, it's 45. I've spent as long as 2 hours when some bonehead wipes out on 422.

I live 11.5 miles from work.

[bert304]

The job is off route 183 so I wold be in the north side. Thanks for the suggestions.

[Spejosh]

I worked off of 183, and I live in Sinking Spring near the Spring Township building. It would be about a 10-20 minute drive to the Reading Airport from my house. It's a decent school district here (Wilson) and we got just about every type of shopping and dining you can think of in a 15 minute drive.

Now is also a good time to get a house around here. Prices are down a bit and there are some good deals to find depending on your budget. But avoid living in the city of Reading.

[mjfletcher]

Originally Posted by bert304

The job is off route 183 so I wold be in the north side. Thanks for the suggestions.

That job wouldn't happen to be behind the airport would it? Along Arnold Rd?

[rev214]

some of my wife's family (her mother's side) was originally from the kutztown area...about 15-16 miles northeast from reading...nice area outside of the town from what i've seen over the years...

[mjfletcher]

Only problems I've ever heard about in K-Town are from the college students. But what do you really expect in a town that pretty much exists only because there's a college there? A former supervisor moved to Blandon, bout halfway between Reading and Kutztown and he liked the area.