Tell me about Wilmington, DE

[Anonymous]

Thanks, everyone. We are not Catholic, or really religious in any way. That said, I wouldn't have a problem, at least in theory, with sending my kid to parochial school if that was where he would get the best education. I'm also OK with going a little more suburban, but it would have to be an older suburb with pre-1950s housing stock, trees, cute shops... surely these areas exist somewhere near Wilmington?? Right now the whole idea seems pretty theoretical and I think I probably just would need to spend some time there to see if I would be comfortable moving.

[Anonymous]

Yes, these areas absolutely exist. No worries.

[Anonymous]

From what I hear, no property tax. Lots of commuters from Philly live there

[Anonymous]

what? it's no sales tax in DE. There is property tax and other taxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone. We are not Catholic, or really religious in any way. That said, I wouldn't have a problem, at least in theory, with sending my kid to parochial school if that was where he would get the best education. I'm also OK with going a little more suburban, but it would have to be an older suburb with pre-1950s housing stock, trees, cute shops... surely these areas exist somewhere near Wilmington?? Right now the whole idea seems pretty theoretical and I think I probably just would need to spend some time there to see if I would be comfortable moving.

I, like the PP that went to Tower Hill school, also grew up in DE from about 12 years old on. Sidenote, i bet i know PP. i was in HS (AI) in late 80s there. OP, The neighborhoods you are looking for are - Rockford Park, Highlands (Tower Hill School location), Westover Hills, Trolley Square (more row homes though), Alapocus Woods (where Wlmington Friends School is located), Wawaset Park, Greenville, and Centerville. If you tell me your ideal home price, I can narrow it down for you. I lived in Highlands.

[Anonymous]

Some nice suburbs as you describe north of Wilmington. Good parochial schools and Wilmington Friends, maybe some others. There are a few public schools that compare with good DC area public schools. Housing is cheap, traffic light. Close to Longwood Gardens and Philly and the DE and NJ beaches. Lots of chemical jobs (Dupont, etc) or jobs related to corporations being registered in DE. Not very racially integrated. Compared to the DC area, the kids have an opportunity to be a big fish in a relatively smaller pond. The feel is more relaxed and less competitive than DC.

[Anonymous]

I'm on the main line of Philadelphia and know of people who commute from my area to Wilmington or the pharma companies nearby. Seems like a long commute, but there are other Philly suburbs with good public schools and amenities you could also consider. Wilmington seems OK, although limited in what it has to offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone. We are not Catholic, or really religious in any way. That said, I wouldn't have a problem, at least in theory, with sending my kid to parochial school if that was where he would get the best education. I'm also OK with going a little more suburban, but it would have to be an older suburb with pre-1950s housing stock, trees, cute shops... surely these areas exist somewhere near Wilmington?? Right now the whole idea seems pretty theoretical and I think I probably just would need to spend some time there to see if I would be comfortable moving.

I, like the PP that went to Tower Hill school, also grew up in DE from about 12 years old on. Sidenote, i bet i know PP. i was in HS (AI) in late 80s there. OP, The neighborhoods you are looking for are - Rockford Park, Highlands (Tower Hill School location), Westover Hills, Trolley Square (more row homes though), Alapocus Woods (where Wlmington Friends School is located), Wawaset Park, Greenville, and Centerville. If you tell me your ideal home price, I can narrow it down for you. I lived in Highlands.

I'm the poster who went to Tower Hill. I graduated in 1994.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone. We are not Catholic, or really religious in any way. That said, I wouldn't have a problem, at least in theory, with sending my kid to parochial school if that was where he would get the best education. I'm also OK with going a little more suburban, but it would have to be an older suburb with pre-1950s housing stock, trees, cute shops... surely these areas exist somewhere near Wilmington?? Right now the whole idea seems pretty theoretical and I think I probably just would need to spend some time there to see if I would be comfortable moving.

I, like the PP that went to Tower Hill school, also grew up in DE from about 12 years old on. Sidenote, i bet i know PP. i was in HS (AI) in late 80s there. OP, The neighborhoods you are looking for are - Rockford Park, Highlands (Tower Hill School location), Westover Hills, Trolley Square (more row homes though), Alapocus Woods (where Wlmington Friends School is located), Wawaset Park, Greenville, and Centerville. If you tell me your ideal home price, I can narrow it down for you. I lived in Highlands.

I'm the poster who went to Tower Hill. I graduated in 1994.

NP here: Rockford Park / Highlands late 80s Wilmington Friends... Hi!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My inlaws live there; my husband grew up in northern DE. Parochial school, or private school, seems to really be the norm in at least my small-ish sample size of upper middle class professionals.

I kinds like northern DE - it's very different from where I grew up (very rural and poor) and where I live now (DC urban). To me, northern DE is just one vast suburb. Southern DE - the beaches - is very different, much more rural.

I think it's not a bad place to raise kids, the geography is interesting and mostly pretty, so outdoor sports are good, and of course the beach is relatively close. I think being Catholic might offer ways to fit in and make friends more easily. You could do well with a big house and nice yard. There is a lot of wealth in DE. I think if we were ever to move there, I'd worry about my kids developing suburban ennui - my husband is full of those typical suburban high school stories or drinking and partying.

We've rarely gone out in Wilmington - there are nice places, but as other shave said the city really empties out after business hours.

Pp 22:33 - This was my experience... But it's been a while since I lived there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone. We are not Catholic, or really religious in any way. That said, I wouldn't have a problem, at least in theory, with sending my kid to parochial school if that was where he would get the best education. I'm also OK with going a little more suburban, but it would have to be an older suburb with pre-1950s housing stock, trees, cute shops... surely these areas exist somewhere near Wilmington?? Right now the whole idea seems pretty theoretical and I think I probably just would need to spend some time there to see if I would be comfortable moving.

I, like the PP that went to Tower Hill school, also grew up in DE from about 12 years old on. Sidenote, i bet i know PP. i was in HS (AI) in late 80s there. OP, The neighborhoods you are looking for are - Rockford Park, Highlands (Tower Hill School location), Westover Hills, Trolley Square (more row homes though), Alapocus Woods (where Wlmington Friends School is located), Wawaset Park, Greenville, and Centerville. If you tell me your ideal home price, I can narrow it down for you. I lived in Highlands.

I'm the poster who went to Tower Hill. I graduated in 1994.

1995 THS grad here.

[Anonymous]

NP here. If you like urban, you are not going to like it. It is very small town. Very. Everyone knows everyone else, and your business. That said it is a nice place to practice law, albeit small. It will be a huge change from your practice here. Everyone knows everyone.

The schools are horrible, you will have to go private.

Some of the places other posters mentioned are nice areas to live. You will not be living in downtown Wilmo. As PPs have said, it shuts down after business hours and isn't very safe. You will be driving to Philly for restaurants of DC caliber and King of Prussia mall in PA for shopping.

Do your diligence before you make the leap.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who lives there (works in finance) for a couple years, and doesn't like it much. I've been to visit him a few times, and the downtown area isn't that nice at night. He's about the only person in his company who actually lives in Wilmington. Everyone else commutes from the Philly area.

[Anonymous]

It's an armpit.

[Anonymous]

1994 THS grad here. Hi to WFS late 80's and THS 1995!!

About the poster who said that there is a lot of wealth. That is true, but at least when I grew up there people were not as showy.

As for the partying, I won't lie and say we never drank at Tower Hill but our academics were so demanding and it was so competitive that we focused more on that. I was also a three season athlete and between sports, school work and he newspaper, yearbook, community arrive, plays, etc. I didn't have the time to party too much.

Honestly, we had sleepovers almost every weekend. Girls who slept around, etc. were looked down upon, as well.