One note before we start: there's no wrong answer here. Every city on this list has thriving Anglo families who wouldn't trade it for anywhere else. What we're trying to do is help you match your specific situation — family size, budget, religious life, school-age children, commute needs — to the place most likely to feel like home.
We've also added a logistics note to each neighbourhood. It's something no other guide covers — but after seven years shipping containers to every corner of Israel, we know that where you live affects how your belongings arrive.
Ra'anana — the Anglo heartland
Ra'anana is where the Anglo dream comes closest to reality in Israel. English is so widely spoken that new immigrants have been known to get by entirely without Hebrew for their first year — which is either reassuring or a warning, depending on your goals. The community infrastructure is extraordinary: English-speaking doctors, lawyers, accountants, and realtors; AACI offices; Nefesh B'Nefesh events; an Anglo social scene that means you'll have a full calendar within weeks of arriving.
South Africans affectionately call it Ra'ananafontein. Americans call it home. Both groups are right.
- Schools — consistently rated among Israel's best, with strong Anglo-stream options
- Community — instant social network, English-speaking everything
- Safety — quiet, well-maintained, tree-lined streets
- Ra'anana Park — a genuinely beautiful central green space
- Healthcare — Rabin Medical Centre (Beilinson) 10 min away, English-speaking GPs
- Religious diversity — shuls across the full spectrum, English minyanim everywhere
- Cost — one of Israel's most expensive cities; the Anglo premium is real
- Hebrew integration — easy to avoid Hebrew entirely, which slows long-term integration
- Train access — new station opening soon; until then, Herzliya station (15 min) is closest
- Inventory — limited housing stock; competition for good apartments is fierce
- Bubble feeling — some families find it almost too familiar, not the "real Israel" experience they wanted
Ra'anana is one of our easier deliveries. Wide streets, good access, and building management committees that are used to international moves. Most apartments are accessible without a shuttle or hoist. The main exception is older buildings in the central neighbourhood — if you're renting in a building without a lift, tell us the floor before we book the delivery truck. Typical delivery from Ashdod: same day or next day once cleared.
Modi'in — the modern middle ground
Modi'in was designed from scratch in the 1990s by architect Moshe Safdie, and it shows. Wide roads, generous parks, a covered shopping mall, direct rail to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem — and a growing Anglo population that now makes up roughly 20% of the city. It sits almost exactly between the two major cities, which makes it the first choice for couples where one works in Tel Aviv and one works in Jerusalem.
The city has a different feel to Ra'anana — less of a bubble, more integrated with Hebrew-speaking Israeli life. Many families find this is exactly what they wanted.
- Location — 30 min to Tel Aviv by train, 25 min to Jerusalem by car
- Space — newer, larger apartments; more sq. metre per shekel than Ra'anana
- Parks & infrastructure — half the city is green space; very family-friendly by design
- Schools — strong public schools, good Anglo-stream integration
- Religious mix — comfortable for secular, traditional, and modern-Orthodox families
- Ben Gurion Airport — 20 min away; families who travel often love this
- Still growing — parts of the city feel unfinished; commercial options lag behind the centre
- Car dependent — less walkable than Ra'anana outside the central area
- Anglo community smaller — social network exists but requires more effort to build
- Prices rising — the value advantage over Ra'anana has narrowed significantly in 5 years
Modi'in is a very smooth delivery. Modern buildings, wide access roads, well-organised building committees. We rarely encounter access problems here. Slightly further from Ashdod than Ra'anana (about 40 min) but straightforward. If you're moving into one of the newer tower blocks, confirm lift dimensions for large furniture before shipping — some newer buildings have narrower lifts than you'd expect.
Jerusalem — the city that chooses you
Jerusalem is the number one destination for Anglo Aliyah — but "Jerusalem" is not one place. The neighbourhood you choose determines almost everything about your experience. Baka, German Colony, Katamon, and Arnona are secular-to-modern-Orthodox, English-saturated, and increasingly expensive. Har Nof and Ramat Beit Shemesh (technically a separate city) are strongly ultra-Orthodox American. Rechavia and Talbieh attract academics and professionals. Gilo and Armon HaNatziv are more affordable and more Israeli in character.
Many families dream of Jerusalem and then discover the job market doesn't match their field, the commute to Tel Aviv is brutal, or the apartment they can afford is on the fifth floor of a building with no lift. Go in with eyes open.
- Meaning — for families making Aliyah for ideological or religious reasons, nowhere else comes close
- Anglo community depth — every religious flavour, every background, enormous community infrastructure
- Culture & history — museums, markets, architecture, walking distance to ancient history
- Schools — exceptional range, including top English-stream and religious options
- Light rail expansion — improving connectivity across the city significantly
- Commute to centre — Tel Aviv is 50–70 minutes; not viable for daily travel
- Price — Anglo neighbourhoods are among Israel's most expensive per sq. metre
- Traffic — Jerusalem traffic is notoriously bad; parking is a constant challenge
- Hills & old buildings — many beautiful apartments are on high floors, in old buildings, with no lift
- Job market — narrower than Tel Aviv, largely government, academia, tourism, and non-profits
Jerusalem is our most logistically complex delivery zone. Narrow streets in Anglo neighbourhoods like Baka and the German Colony frequently require a shuttle — a smaller truck that transfers goods from the main container. Old buildings with no lifts mean manual carries up multiple flights of stairs, which adds cost and time. If you're moving a piano, large wardrobes, or bulky furniture to Jerusalem, tell us the street and floor before we book — we almost always need to plan this delivery differently. Budget an extra half-day for Jerusalem deliveries compared to Ra'anana or Modi'in.
Tel Aviv — for the ones who want Israel, not a bubble
Tel Aviv was long considered off-limits for Anglo families — too expensive, too secular, not enough English-speaking infrastructure. That's changing fast. Between 2015 and 2025, it became the second most popular destination for young Anglo olim, driven by tech jobs, a vibrant social scene, and the growth of young religious communities through programmes like JLIC. It's still not the natural first choice for families with school-age children, but it's increasingly viable — and for couples in their 30s without children yet, it may be the most honest answer.
- Career — Israel's tech and startup ecosystem centres here; unmatched job market
- Urban life — beaches, culture, restaurants, nightlife; genuinely world-class city
- Integration — you'll learn Hebrew faster here than anywhere else
- International feel — English widely spoken; international businesses everywhere
- Growing young Anglo community — the social scene for young olim is increasingly rich
- Cost — Israel's most expensive city by a significant margin
- Schools — Hebrew-medium; Anglo-stream options are limited compared to Ra'anana or Jerusalem
- Space — apartments are small and expensive; families with multiple children feel the squeeze
- Shabbat & religious life — secular city; Jewish rhythm less prominent than other cities
Tel Aviv deliveries vary enormously by neighbourhood. North Tel Aviv (Ramat Aviv, Afeka) — wide streets, modern buildings, generally smooth. Central Tel Aviv and Florentin — narrow streets, parking restrictions, often require a shuttle and manual carry. If you're moving into a classic Tel Aviv apartment building — 1960s–70s construction, small lift, ground-floor entry through a shared courtyard — measure your furniture before shipping. We've had to leave sofas in stairwells.
Netanya — the coastal middle ground
Netanya is often overlooked by families who fixate on Ra'anana or Modi'in, and that's a mistake. It offers beachfront living at prices significantly below Tel Aviv, a large and established Anglo community (particularly Ir Yamim and South Beach), and an easy 30-minute train to Tel Aviv for work. The French-Israeli population is enormous — French patisseries, French supermarkets, French schools — which makes it feel unusually cosmopolitan. It's particularly popular with retirees, but the family infrastructure is stronger than its reputation suggests.
- Beaches — genuinely beautiful Mediterranean coastline, walkable from most Anglo neighbourhoods
- Price — meaningfully cheaper than Ra'anana or Tel Aviv for similar space
- Train to Tel Aviv — 30 min; viable for daily commuters
- Community — Ir Yamim has a tight, supportive Anglo network
- Quality of life — relaxed pace, great weather, holiday feel even in winter
- School options — Anglo-stream is thinner than Ra'anana; research specific schools carefully
- City centre quality — the older central neighbourhoods feel worn; stick to Ir Yamim or coastal developments
- Less Anglo infrastructure — fewer English-speaking professionals than Ra'anana
Netanya is a straightforward delivery. Ir Yamim and the newer coastal developments have excellent truck access. The older city centre can be trickier — narrow streets near the beach cliff sometimes require a shuttle. Generally one of our easier destinations: good road access from Ashdod, modern building stock in the Anglo areas.
Beit Shemesh / Ramat Beit Shemesh — for the religious Anglo community
Ramat Beit Shemesh (Aleph, Gimmel, Daled, and Neve Shamir) is where a very large proportion of American Orthodox families land — and for good reason. Space for the money, excellent Torah schools, a community that speaks your language and shares your values, and proximity to Jerusalem without Jerusalem prices. If your priorities centre around Jewish life, yeshiva education, and community, this is probably where you should live.
- Schools — among the best Torah-education options in Israel; full Anglo-medium available
- Space & value — significantly more apartment for your money than Jerusalem
- Community intensity — extremely tight-knit; support networks are exceptional
- Jerusalem proximity — 30 min by car, train access available
- Growing infrastructure — commercial centres, parks, medical facilities improving rapidly
- Hebrew integration — possible to live almost entirely in English; slower integration with Israeli society
- Job market — limited local employment; commute to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv required for most professional work
- Homogeneity — strongly religious character; less comfortable for secular or less observant families
- Traffic to Jerusalem — rush-hour on Route 38 can be very slow
RBS Aleph has good truck access; Gimmel and Neve Shamir less so — hillside streets with tight turns. We always send an advance team to scope the delivery address in RBS before committing to a truck size. Building lifts in older RBS buildings can be very small. Families moving large American furniture — king beds, American-size refrigerators, sectional sofas — should measure carefully and consult us before shipping. More shuttle deliveries here than almost anywhere else we operate.
Herzliya — the professional's choice
Herzliya is the choice for families relocating for work — particularly to Israel's tech sector. The Herzliya Pituach area is home to hundreds of multinational company offices, and the surrounding residential areas attract an international expat crowd that differs from the classic Anglo Aliyah community. Less religiously focused, more globally oriented. The American International School is here. If your move is work-driven rather than Aliyah-driven, this is worth serious consideration.
- International community — genuinely diverse; not just Anglo-Israeli
- Work proximity — Pituach tech companies walkable or a short drive
- American International School — full English-medium education, IB curriculum
- Beach access — Herzliya Marina area is beautiful
- Train to Tel Aviv — 15 min; great commuter option
- Cost — Pituach is among Israel's most expensive real estate
- Less Anglo community depth — smaller traditional Anglo network vs Ra'anana or Jerusalem
- Less Jewish infrastructure — fewer shuls and Jewish community organisations than other cities
Herzliya Pituach and the northern residential areas are excellent delivery zones — wide streets, modern buildings, good loading access. One of our smoothest regular routes. The Marina area can be slightly more complex due to parking restrictions near the waterfront, but nothing a quick call to building management can't solve.
Quick comparison
| City | Anglo community | Schools | Price | Tel Aviv commute | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ra'anana | Very high | Excellent | High | 25 min | Families wanting smooth landing |
| Modi'in | Strong | Excellent | Medium-high | 30 min by train | Families with dual-city commute |
| Jerusalem | Very high | Excellent | High (Anglo areas) | 55–70 min | Ideologically driven Aliyah |
| Tel Aviv | Growing | Limited Anglo-stream | Highest | In city | Young professionals, tech |
| Netanya | Solid | Good | Lower | 30 min by train | Beach lifestyle, value seekers |
| Beit Shemesh / RBS | Very high | Outstanding (Torah) | Lower | 50–60 min | Orthodox/religious families |
| Herzliya | International | American Int'l School | High (Pituach) | 15 min by train | Work relocations, tech sector |
One thing the table can't capture: the feel of walking into a neighbourhood on a Friday afternoon. If you can, visit before you decide. Stay for Shabbat. Walk to the supermarket. That experience is worth more than any guide.
Still not sure where
to land?
Tell Alex your situation — family size, work, religious life, budget — and he'll help you think it through. Free, two minutes, no pressure.