Biage

Hopefully I don't get flamed too much on this one. But seriously, we are probably going to be moving to MEM in the next year and I'm interested in finding out in which areas we should look. Where do most of the pilots (and their families) live? We have two children (toddlers) so good schools are important and my wife prefers a smaller community. Anything within a 45min-1hr drive of the AOC would be preferable. Thanks!

koz2000

Collierville has very good schools (as far as public schools go) and is commonly referred to "base housing" for FDX pilots. It's about 25min to the AOC.
Collierville

Lakeland, TN and Arlington, TN are both growing and show some promise.
Don't go to Cordova. There a A TON of guys trying to get out of the area and have been taking big losses on their homes or not able to sell at all. It used to be a really nice area but Memphis annexed it and it's in the downward spiral.

Anywhere is Fayette Co (Rossville, Moscow, Piperton) is nice as far a little elbow room but you'd definitely have to do private schools or homeschool. There is a private school in Rossville. It's about 10min past Collierville.

Hernando, MS is a very popular new place for FDX guys to go. Very small town feel, I don't know about the public schools, but there is a private school in town.

Olive Branch, MS and Southhaven, MS are also popular. All are about 10-30 min from the AOC.

TonyC

Bartlett, Lakeland, and Arlington are communities in the NorthEast corner of the county that will put you in good county schools, and get you more Square feet for your dollar. Lakeland and Arlington offer more of the smaller community feel, but they are growing. Collierville is closer to the airport, but it has ben growing at a less-healthy pace for several years, and has long lost the small community flavor that it once enjoyed.


DO NOT buy in Memphis, or Memphis "reserve" areas (i.e., Cordova).





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1stCivDiv

From TN that is...We live on the MS side and it is exploding right now. All brand new schools, lots of businesses going in. Most people I have talked to tend to look in the Collierville/Germantown area but IMO it is very overrated and overpriced houses, but some people need the name I guess. There are state taxes in MS which there is none in TN. But the property tax in TN is about 4 times what it is in MS, so pick your poison. Hope that helps, we have been here a year and a half and have looked all over the Memphis area and the Southaven/Olive Branch area seemed the best for us.

Booger

Despite what some think, there are some very good areas in Memphis. East off of Walnut Grove is a great area. It is a little more pricey than Germantown/Collierville but it is very established. Schools in the area are very good at the Elementary School level, but can be questionable after that.

Germantown/Collierville is a very good place to live. It is typical suburbia, but schools are good (for the most part). Elementary is good, but most avoid Germantown High School these days. Getting zoned in Houston High is better, but zoning changes. In other words, don't plan on moving to a house and going to a particular High/Middle School when your kids get old enough.

Stay away from Cordova. Housing prices are much better, but the market has tanked and will get worse. Memphis is annexing most of Cordova, which is lowering the prices and traffic is terrible. They keep building lower end houses which further dillutes the market.

I don't care for Southaven/Olive Branch. They are expanding very fast and doesn't really have the infrastructure to support the growth. I kind of see this turning into another Cordova (without the threat of annexation).

Taxes are higher in Memphis than in Germantown/Collierville. Taxes are even less in Mississippi, but they have a state income tax. It normally comes out as a wash, with Memphis being higher than the other areas. Depending on where you are moving from, taxes are less than alot of areas.

For a really rough guide, plan on paying about $130/square foot in better areas in Memphis. $110 in Germantown/Collierville and $100 in Mississippi. Again, that is very rough, but it gives you an idea.

Bottom line is I think Germantown or Collierville is a good bet. Drive time is about 20-30 minutes. Housing prices are stable (you won't find alot of areas around her that get better than 3-5% appreciation/year, schools are decent, and it is a safe place to raise a family.

Bitme

None of you has mentioned Fayette county much. Public schools are an no go, but property tax is about a quarter of Shelby county and you can get some space around you. Depends on your wife; does she require "the finer" things in life or ?

Fedex999999

Lakeland and Arlington are nice places- thus they have an increase in crime lately. Home invasions, robberies, car theft are all on the rise.

Wherever you go, check the crime rates.

fdx727pilot

Most of the above is great info. IMHO, anywhere in Shelby county that has not been incorporated in an existing city (Bartlett, Collierville, etc) will eventually become part of Memphis city, as Cordova did. Then you get city and county taxes. I recently moved from Cordova to the south side of Olive Branch. My kid is going to a brand new school (so much for the no infrastructure arguement.) The only downside is MS income tax. Once you get a left seat and start making the big bucks, it's a sizeable hit. MS just got $385 from my midmonth check. The property taxes and housing prices are quite a bit lower than the better parts of Shelby county.

OHab

Since nobody else is saying it, I will. There's no way I would subject my family to that city. If you don't believe me, before you decide, spend 6 months sitting reserve in a crash pad watching the evening news . At the same time send a 6 month subscription for the Commercial Appeal to your wife. Spend your time on reserve exploring the city and it's environs. It'll cost you 3 extra days a month, and you'll get one HELL of an education. If after all that you still want to move to the planet, get yourself a carry permit, teach your wife to shoot, enroll your kids in Tae Kwan Do, and knock yourself out. I've been 1 leg (2+30) commuting for 10 years, and it's been worth every second. I live in a small town in New England (20min from the airport) where we don't lock our doors, the most popular dog is a Lab, not a Pit Bull, and there aren't any metal detectors in the high school. There are very few people who can live anywhere in the country they like. Take advantage of it. Life's too short to live in Memphis.

CaptainMark

that's rediculous....what a stupid post! i guess there are no problems in ny,nj,ca,fl...and u have unibombers living in montana...home is where u make it...let's all move to new england..it is so safe there...

http://www.boston-online.com/crime/murder.html