Where to move to

[microscootar]

Dd is due to start a new school in September that’s nowhere near where we live now. We love the school but not the area it’s in.
We are now looking at unexpectedly renting in the area instead as our house hasn’t sold for us to buy another one.
We were planning to move fairly far from the school and just sticking out driving on the school run until dd not there anymore or old enough to travel more independently. (It’s primary fwiw)
But now we’re stuck renting I’m thinking to rent right next to the school (there’s a house currently up for rent there) for the short term then when our house sells continue with our original plan to move to a further away (nicer) area and drive to school.

My dh says we should rent in the further away town and see what it’s like as you get more for your money but I think we should rent close to the school knocking a year off the dreaded school run.
Any thoughts?!

Doesn't the nice town have a nice school? Normally it's the nice places and dodgy ones that have desirable schools. I'd probably try to make everyone life simple by schooling closer to home. It'll also make life easier for your daughter as she'll be able to see friends more easily or walk home when she's older.

Thanks @JoJoSM2 it’s a private school.
The dc come from a 20 mile radius but I want to live 5 miles from the school. Saw a place come up for rent right opp. The school and trying to decide if to rent opposite and stick out the first year, the house is fine just the area we don’t like, and then buy after a year hopefully our house will have sold by then!

Or rent in area we want to live in to see if it’s feasible to live 5 miles from the school or if it will be a right pain driving too and fro.

I'd probably rent in the town you intend to live so that you can get to know the place better. Unless there is a chance that you might like the town where the school is, I wouldn't live there as you might not be happy coming home to a place you don't like.
I would say that 5 miles is quite a distance to drive. My sister drives has been driving my niece 4-5 miles for 5 years now and feels really fed up with it.

Yes I would rent in the area you intend to buy in - you will get a much greater insight into which road to buy on etc - and can put feelers out for a private sale. If the area the school is in is not great - I would assume that the families will not live near it - so you would be trekking off for play dates anyway and would not get any advantage of living nearby.

Thanks. I do a 3 mile school run now but it’s pretty easy and not much traffic. This school does have a car park to pick them up in so it’s mainly the traffic outside the school. I’m completely new to the area so still trying to figure it all out.
Think I will branch out to looking where we actually want to move to then.