Moving - Mechanicsburg? Enola? Dillsburg?

EMTX · March 2011

We're moving to the Carlisle area (ideally right IN Carlisle, but open to surrounding areas)... anyone live in these places?

We know nothing about them and have an appointment with our realtor in 2 weeks to check out a few homes.

Thanks!

Also would love any suggestions on other towns to check out. We'd like to stay within 10 miles of Carlisle. TIA.

nhinze01 · March 2011

I lived in Mechanicsburg for a VERY short period of time. It was okay, but I lived near a very popular dirt track that races every friday and some Saturdays for 6 months out of the year. You can hear it for at least 1-2 miles away. FYI

EMTX · March 2011

nhinze01:
I lived in Mechanicsburg for a VERY short period of time. It was okay, but I lived near a very popular dirt track that races every friday and some Saturdays for 6 months out of the year. You can hear it for at least 1-2 miles away. FYI

Oh wow... yikes. One of our favorite houses is there. Coover Street. Do you know if that would be in the sound range?

Thanks for posting this!

rider5344 · March 2011

I'm not sure what your price range is but that makes a difference obviously. You should be fine on Coover St. with the raceway though in downtown Mechanicsburg you do get the constant smell of the Purina factory (which isn't unpleasant, just constant) As for Carlisle, I would NEVER live in town. Carlisle is the county seat and as such has most of the section 8 housing for the area. While it is a nice downtown to visit, there is a higher crime rate because of this (sad but true). Also, the Carlisle school district is one of the least desirable in the area (though it is getting better). Enola has some nice areas but because of other areas housing is cheaper (for a reason) and it's more than 10 min. from Carlisle. Dillsburg has outrageous property taxes and is pretty far from almost everything else so that is something to consider. There are very nice more rural areas of Mechanicsurg which are close to everything but don't have the draw backs of being in town. Try the 17050 zip code instead of 17055. HTH

EMTX · March 2011

THANK YOU! I really appreciate your taking the time to type this out.

Um, that is gross about the Purina factory - I had no idea.

We have friends who also went to Dickinson Law (that's why we are moving there, DH starts in the fall) and lived in downtown Carlisle - they seemed to like it. If I remember correctly they were on North West St or West North, something like that.

ohdrama09 · March 2011

rider5344:
I'm not sure what your price range is but that makes a difference obviously. You should be fine on Coover St. with the raceway though in downtown Mechanicsburg you do get the constant smell of the Purina factory (which isn't unpleasant, just constant) As for Carlisle, I would NEVER live in town. Carlisle is the county seat and as such has most of the section 8 housing for the area. While it is a nice downtown to visit, there is a higher crime rate because of this (sad but true). Also, the Carlisle school district is one of the least desirable in the area (though it is getting better). Enola has some nice areas but because of other areas housing is cheaper (for a reason) and it's more than 10 min. from Carlisle. Dillsburg has outrageous property taxes and is pretty far from almost everything else so that is something to consider. There are very nice more rural areas of Mechanicsurg which are close to everything but don't have the draw backs of being in town. Try the 17050 zip code instead of 17055. HTH

I have to VERY STRONGLY disagree with this about Carlisle. I was born here and have lived here my entire life. The crime here is not bad. I also grew up going to all of the Carlisle schools. They've always been great in my opinion. My parents have never had issues. The Carlisle Area school district is also the trial district for the majority of the new technology purchased by the state. We had smart boards, laptops, and an online library before any other district.

Carlisle was voted one of the most desirable places to live by Forbes magazine in 2010. Don't hate on a place you obviously don't know much about.

We have looked at Mechanicsburg and while it is nice, it is more expensive.

quitexcontrary · March 2011

I feel like I could have written this exact post myself! We are moving to that area in a little over a month. I just started looking online at houses. Your post/questions have helped me out! Thanks

Tabby2727 · March 2011

Check out the small town of Dauphin (17018). The school district is Central Dauphin and a lot of people say it's pretty good. It's right across the river and about 15 minutes away. It's close to the west shore and east shore malls/shopping centers. There's talk of them putting in a strip mall in the next few years which would increase property value. Currently there isn't much around in town except 2 pizza shops and the post office. They have cute little parks too. We own a house there and in Halifax. We're eventually going to sell the one in Dauphin to be closer to family/friends.

EMTX · March 2011

Thanks, all!

Any other tips or town suggestions appreciated.

ohdrama09 · March 2011

Dauphin is very cute. Boiling springs is also a nice area. It's a bit more rural, but the little town has a beautiful lake in the middle and a community pool. The school district is good too. Just like Mechanicsburg though, it's a bit more expensive.

lindyanne · March 2011

I live in Enola but I'm literally across the street from Mechanicsburg. I love where we live. There's a ton of kids in my neighborhood, everyone is super friendly, it's quiet and clean. We are right off the Wertzville Road exit which is about ten miles exactly from Carlisle depending on which exit. We live in the Cumberland Valley School District which is large but good and our elementary school is brand new and is probably less than a mile from my house.

rider5344 · March 2011

ohdrama09:
rider5344:
I'm not sure what your price range is but that makes a difference obviously. You should be fine on Coover St. with the raceway though in downtown Mechanicsburg you do get the constant smell of the Purina factory (which isn't unpleasant, just constant) As for Carlisle, I would NEVER live in town. Carlisle is the county seat and as such has most of the section 8 housing for the area. While it is a nice downtown to visit, there is a higher crime rate because of this (sad but true). Also, the Carlisle school district is one of the least desirable in the area (though it is getting better). Enola has some nice areas but because of other areas housing is cheaper (for a reason) and it's more than 10 min. from Carlisle. Dillsburg has outrageous property taxes and is pretty far from almost everything else so that is something to consider. There are very nice more rural areas of Mechanicsurg which are close to everything but don't have the draw backs of being in town. Try the 17050 zip code instead of 17055. HTH
I have to VERY STRONGLY disagree with this about Carlisle. I was born here and have lived here my entire life. The crime here is not bad. I also grew up going to all of the Carlisle schools. They've always been great in my opinion. My parents have never had issues. The Carlisle Area school district is also the trial district for the majority of the new technology purchased by the state. We had smart boards, laptops, and an online library before any other district.
Carlisle was voted one of the most desirable places to live by Forbes magazine in 2010. Don't hate on a place you obviously don't know much about.
We have looked at Mechanicsburg and while it is nice, it is more expensive.

I lived in Carlisle for years and am a teacher. I know a LOT about it. While you experience may be different it is what I have found to be true.

rider5344 · March 2011

ohdrama09:
Dauphin is very cute. Boiling springs is also a nice area. It's a bit more rural, but the little town has a beautiful lake in the middle and a community pool. The school district is good too. Just like Mechanicsburg though, it's a bit more expensive.

Dauphin and Boiling Springs are both wonderful little towns! Dauphin however is across the river, a good 45 min. from Carlisle.

summerbridesara · March 2011

EMTX:
THANK YOU! I really appreciate your taking the time to type this out.
Um, that is gross about the Purina factory - I had no idea.
We have friends who also went to Dickinson Law (that's why we are moving there, DH starts in the fall) and lived in downtown Carlisle - they seemed to like it. If I remember correctly they were on North West St or West North, something like that.

I've lived in Mechanicsburg for the past 6 years. We currently live in the Rivendell development which is about a mile from the Purina factory. Our previous house was basically right across the street from the factory. I have to disagree with the previous poster that the smell is "constant". It's definitely a frequent smell, not unpleasant, but it's not there constantly. That being said, I love, love, LOVE Mechanicsburg and our development currently has some new lots for sale!

rider5344 · March 2011

FWIW the only district ranked lower than Carlisle in the area is West Shore.

ohdrama09 · March 2011

rider5344:
ohdrama09:
rider5344:
I'm not sure what your price range is but that makes a difference obviously. You should be fine on Coover St. with the raceway though in downtown Mechanicsburg you do get the constant smell of the Purina factory (which isn't unpleasant, just constant) As for Carlisle, I would NEVER live in town. Carlisle is the county seat and as such has most of the section 8 housing for the area. While it is a nice downtown to visit, there is a higher crime rate because of this (sad but true). Also, the Carlisle school district is one of the least desirable in the area (though it is getting better). Enola has some nice areas but because of other areas housing is cheaper (for a reason) and it's more than 10 min. from Carlisle. Dillsburg has outrageous property taxes and is pretty far from almost everything else so that is something to consider. There are very nice more rural areas of Mechanicsurg which are close to everything but don't have the draw backs of being in town. Try the 17050 zip code instead of 17055. HTH
I have to VERY STRONGLY disagree with this about Carlisle. I was born here and have lived here my entire life. The crime here is not bad. I also grew up going to all of the Carlisle schools. They've always been great in my opinion. My parents have never had issues. The Carlisle Area school district is also the trial district for the majority of the new technology purchased by the state. We had smart boards, laptops, and an online library before any other district.
Carlisle was voted one of the most desirable places to live by Forbes magazine in 2010. Don't hate on a place you obviously don't know much about.
We have looked at Mechanicsburg and while it is nice, it is more expensive.
I lived in Carlisle for years and am a teacher. I know a LOT about it. While you experience may be different it is what I have found to be true.

DH and I are very close with several teachers and aides in the district. It reallllllly is not that bad. At all. How long ago did you live here? I'm going to use my hormones as an excuse here but that just rubbed me the wrong way. I love this town. So does my family. And DH's family.

TheLinkBride · March 2011

Erin! I can't believe you are moving to that area. Congrats to your husband on law school! I grew up in Dillsburg (my parents still live there, and they grew up there as well).

EMTX · March 2011

TheLinkBride:
Erin! I can't believe you are moving to that area. Congrats to your husband on law school! I grew up in Dillsburg (my parents still live there, and they grew up there as well).

Thank you! Maybe I can finally meet some Central PA Bumpies, after having been in TX for 3 years, and then Eastern PA. Would be nice!

spunkielexis196 · April 2011

We live in Mechanicsburg area, Upper Allen Township to be exact and I love it because it is super close to a lot of things, but also somewhat rural. We live about 2 miles from the race track and it is not too bad.

There are a lot of new developments popping up everywhere. My stepdaughter moved in with us and she went to Carlisle School District for a while and did well, but she has excelled in Mechanicsburg and will graduate next year with honors. I think any school district is good, but it also depends on what the child puts into it. I think the only district I would avoid is Harrisburg, but given that, good luck on your house-hunt.

kross605 · April 2011

Welcome to the area! I grew up in Mechanicsburg, lived in Philly for several years and now I'm back in the area.DH and I struggled over where to settle as well but my family and our jobs are in the Mechanicsburg / Enola / Camp Hill area so Carlisle was only briefly on our radar. What's best for you really depends on the type of neighborhood you want and your lifestyle. Dillsburg is probably too far and doesn't have many attractions to make it worthwhile. Boiling Springs is really nice but more rural than Carlisle Borough or Mechanicsburg / Enola. Obviously Carlisle or Mechanicsburg Boroughs are the best places for dense neighborhoods and older charming homes. Not knowing much about your preferences or price range I'd probably recommend Enola or Mechanicsburg because of the generally better resale value there and their proximity to major highways (visits to state college!), shopping, attractions in Harrisburg, etc.

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Moving - Mechanicsburg? Enola? Dillsburg?

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