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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask which town you’d pick to relocate to?

87 replies

Newstart2021 · 18/12/2020 05:44

2020 has shown us that family is so important so we’ve decided next year we’ll relocate to be closer to them.
We have a dd who will be starting school in Sep 2022 so we need to consider school catchment areas and a 3 month old ds who hasn’t met anyone yet!
Which town would you pick?
Town 1
Larger with lots of amenities like train station, a variety of shops/restaurants/hairdressers/a monthly market etc.
One outstanding primary school and several good ones but no outstanding secondary schools.
Some good areas but some to avoid.
I grew up there so likely to bump into people I went to school with (not necessarily a negative just could be awkward!)
A slightly bigger house for your money.
Likely to have more job opportunities.

Town 2
5 miles down the road from Town 1 but smaller and regarded ‘posher’ and has a villagey feel.
Small high street with butcher, hairdresser, small supermarket etc.
One good primary school and one outstanding secondary.
Slightly less house for your money.
Lower crime rate.

OP posts:
Chottie · 18/12/2020 05:54

I would chose Town 1

The only negatives I can see are the secondary school not being outstanding and the slightly dodgy areas.

Re. secondary school - your DD is very young so secondary school could have easily turned round by the time she starts secondary. If not, 5 miles is not far to travel to school to Town 2.

Re. dodgy areas, as you know the whole area extremely well, you will know which areas are the nicest for family living.

Positives for Town 1
Job opportunities
More amenities
You already know people locally
Larger house

Hope this helps :)

ZaraW · 18/12/2020 06:01

Town 1 for all the reasons Chottie has listed. Town 2 sounds nice but dull.

hohohopeless · 18/12/2020 06:04

Town 1

It's good to have more facilities for growing families. When the DC get older they will be able to use public transport, go to the shops, meet friends. If they are in a smaller village then it will be more difficult for them to be independent.

MariaHairy · 18/12/2020 06:16

Town one. much more opportunities. and I would prioritise having a bigger house when I have children to a small house in posher post code any day.

ShirleyPhallus · 18/12/2020 06:17

What are the actual towns? You’ll have people be able to give better informed opinions that way

reefedsail · 18/12/2020 06:20

From experience, I disagree about the independence.

I live in a very similar scenario, but for various reasons we live in the smaller 'posh' town. I've let DS play outside since he was 5 or so, and now he's 10 I let him walk to and from his GP's house a mile away, walk to friends' houses, let him out for a run on his own etc. He walks to and from school independently and takes himself to the barber. I would not allow any of this in the other town because it just isn't as safe. It's busier with traffic and crime is such that you wouldn't let a child out alone with a phone in their pocket. He's been able to be independent much earlier in the quieter town.

There are busses directly to the bigger town, so when he is old enough to go there independently (for cinema etc) he will be able to get himself there easily.

mutantelfoftraal · 18/12/2020 06:20

Town 2

inquietant · 18/12/2020 06:22

Town 1.

Minimamame · 18/12/2020 06:24

Town 2

Yonifellover · 18/12/2020 06:28

Town2

Bmidreams · 18/12/2020 06:28

2 definitely for your dcs ages

Schehezarade · 18/12/2020 06:40

Go for the outstanding secondary school. 2.

pilates · 18/12/2020 06:41

2 because of the schools

MeanMrMustardSeed · 18/12/2020 06:43

Town 2

nosswith · 18/12/2020 07:02

Town 2, especially if you can wfh at least part of the time.

Bluesheep8 · 18/12/2020 07:02

Town 2 sounds nicer.

NewYearNewPlumbing · 18/12/2020 07:04

Town 1 as longs as there are ‘Good’ secondaries. You don’t need ‘Outstanding’ and ours was better while good and aiming for outstanding.

More house, more to do, more independence for the D.C. as they get older (we are in S London and it is routine for kids to walk to and from school with friends from yr 5 and use buses and tubes for school as soon as they hit secondary at just 11).

Monty27 · 18/12/2020 07:04

To not know how to respond to exmil passing away

Monty27 · 18/12/2020 07:07

Sorry wrong thread x

Pepperama · 18/12/2020 07:07

Why not see what properties come up? Both sound good options so just see if you find the house that says ‘home’.

MessAllOver · 18/12/2020 07:08

It's not Redhill and Reigate, is it?

JM10 · 18/12/2020 07:09

Town 2

user1493413286 · 18/12/2020 07:11

They both sound good so I’d probably go with whatever your gut instinct is; mine would probably have me at town 1

CarryOnFestiveNamechanging · 18/12/2020 07:25

2 sounds much nicer to me, with the caveat that schools can change a great deal in that time. The secondary school is quite likely to have a different head by the time your dcs get there.

Littlemissnutcracker · 18/12/2020 07:30

Absoultely the village. 5 miles is nothing (only if you drive)

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