When is it appropriate to spend twice as much in taxes in order to live within a 10 mile radius?

I like Sewickley, but taxes are high there, and people call it "High Brow". My husband likes Cranberry because the taxes are half. People say there is no sense of community and our kids will be "Just a number". How does one navigate the half dozen townships & taxes between the two. We already live in the area for the past two weeks in a furnished condo. Still clueless as to how to solve the question of where to buy.