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Like any city the more your annual income the more options one has in areas in which to reside.
Based on what you have stated concerning the number of children you have of course school districts along with safe areas for child recreation are needed.
Are you a single parent?
With that many children I have to assume you are somewhat budget minded concerning living accommodations.
It would behoove you to not just rely upon your best friends observations but to study the demographic of not just Allentown but other cities attached to and surrounding such.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChristinaMichele
Actually I did read the other posts. I was just giving my opinion based on my bff's experience as she lives in Allentown. What are the nice areas of Allentown? I had thought of moving there until she told me it was a place she regrets moving to. With 4 small children, you can be sure I am trying to stay away from crime. If you can tell me the nicer areas, I guess around where you are, that would be helpful.
Like any city the more your annual income the more options one has in areas in which to reside.
Based on what you have stated concerning the number of children you have of course school districts along with safe areas for child recreation are needed.
Are you a single parent?
With that many children I have to assume you are somewhat budget minded concerning living accommodations.
It would behoove you to not just rely upon your best friends observations but to study the demographic of not just Allentown but other cities attached to and surrounding such.
True. Afterall, it could just be her opinion on Allentown. No, I am married to my children's father. And yes, we are on a budget. He's the only one bringing in the income as I am a sahm. We are looking for 3-4 bedrooms and our maximum price range is $1400/monthly.
Born and raised in Allentown. I would suggest checking out Bethlehem. In my opinion it's a nicer area for dining, shopping, and entertainment. If we are having a night out, we always go to the Bethlehem area. We own a house in the west end of Allentown but would prefer to live closer to downtown Bethlehem. I don't care for the Allentown school district or the Bethlehem school district. Allentown taxes are very high, if you move to Allentown make sure you are in south Whitehall school district (parkland).
I use to live in Allentown for 7 years. Let me explain. You do not want to live in the city of Allentown, absolutely not. However, there are some good places to go in allentown, such as the future hockey stadium that will be built not too long in the distant future, they are working on it as we speak. There is also a baseball stadium, but it is more of a local baseball amateur type thing. If you want to live a simple life, Allentown will meet your needs in terms of getting to places and going to stores. Allentown has america's best grocery store. All the stores and shops that you will need are easily accessible without heavy traffic in Allentown. Avoid areas such as 6th street or 15 th street. These are ghetto areas. Alot of the good stores and stuff are in an area called "Tilghman Street" Allentown. They have one of America's best grocery stores. google it.
As far as places to live, you will want to live in places such upper Macungie or Lower Macungie or Emmaus. Personally even though many sites and stuff rate emmaus as one of the best places to live, honestly it is so so small and the area does not seem very modern. But it is said to be one of the best places to raise a family in america in terms of small town places in america. There is not alot of modern homes or devlopment around in emmaus and the population is about 11,000 people, but if you move to emmaus, pa which is not far from allentown. you can google it. You will be in an area that has a good school district. Lower Macungie and Emmaus are in a school district called East Penn School District. Now there are some ok homes in South Whitehall Township, but i would be a bit more selective that choosing south whitehall township. All these areas are so close to Allentown. If you want to live in a place that are considered a new development, Lower Macungie would be perfect. They have alot of homes in the $500,000 plus range. Lower macungie is about 7-8 miles away from the border of Allentown. Honestly, there are hardly any jobs in the Allentown area. However there are a couple engineering jobs within lower macungie--trexlertown area. But other than a few manager positions of various companies, you will find alot of warehouse jobs and things like that. Lower macungie has a population of about 30,000. i know some sources say 25,000. anyway. The median average income for either a family or household is $69,000. If you live in lower macungie you will be in a very very respectable good school district called east penn school district. If you were to rate east penn school district with the best schools in america it most likely cannot compare, but it is very very "respectable" good school district. The other school district is called Parkland school district, where students from that high school tend to perform really high sat and psat scores. I would say parkland high school in "parkland school district" is the best high school in allentown area and in the entire lehigh valley for a public school. It is better than emmaus high school but not much better. So you can live somewhere in the parkland school district, but the homes there are not considered new development by any standards but it is not crummy homes either. A very good area, but doesnt have modern homes or anything like that is a place called Upper Macungie. Median average income is $82,000 or slightly higher than that. There is nothing to do in both places such as upper macungie, lower macungie and emmaus despite what people say. However there has been a huge population increase in lower macungie. it was 10,000 something and went up to 25,000-30,000 people because people from philly and new york but alot of phillly peoople moved there because they like the "public school education". Remember lower macungie is in east penn school district, not parkland school district. So even though parkland school district is a little better than east penn school district, people were willing to flock to lower macungie which is in the east penn school district. When it comes to tennis and or health fitness clubs. the health and fitness clubs in allentown are good. they are not far from lower macungie or upper macungie, but not too close. one health and fitness club is real near very near from lower macungie called 24-7 fitness club. La fitness is 11 miles away from lower macungie. upper macungie is probably similiar distance. If you choose to live in lower macungie you will be 10 miles away from one of america's best grocery stores called wegmans. There are a number of stores, including giants (it is a big store, but i guess its no bigger than the ones in huge cities that are 3 miles away. ) People here are nice people. I would not say that they are any nicer or meaner than any other people you probably are accustom to.) Also, there is an amusement park for young kids and teens. It consists of roller coasters, rides for kids, and there is a big water park. lots of water tunnels where kids and teens slide down. Now, of course there are things such as the allentown symphany orchestra and allentown art museum which are good. ill be honest, there is not much to do in allentown except these things. But lower macungie, emmaus, upper macungie is a great place to raise a family. and has a good educational system. Avoid the other side of allentown, it is definitely "ghetto". no joke. i know. Keep in mind, if you want to go to a mall, you would have to go to a mall called Lehigh Valley mall which is in whitehall or south whitehall bordering allentown. This is about 12 miles from lower macungie, emmaus, and upper macungie. if you want to go to a store like target, go to the one on cedar crest street in allentown There are also some nice places to eat in allentown. I will tell you that the other places to go or live in allentown would be ones that are located near to cedar crest and tilghman street. These areas are part of south whitehall township. So the other half of allentown is completely ghetto. There are a number of doctors that live in lower macungie, near allentown area.
Thank you so much for the input everybody, I really appreciate it.
I'm a single person in their 20's so schools are not all that important to me, though I know it is relevant to resale value and such.
How bad would you guys say are the more rough areas of town? I'm asking since I would be only a single person so my budget would be more limited compared to dual-earners. Are they very dangerous like the worst parts of Philadelphia or Camden or are they just a little downmarket/run-down? Is it liveable for a single young male? I can deal with an area that's somewhat "rough" but I don't have much of a tolerance for areas where my life is in danger of things like stray bullets and gang violence.
ohh ok let me help you out. I use to live in the not so good area of allentown. Okay. The only bad part of allentown is near the middle school near harrison morton. you should google that and see the address. you do not and i repeat do not want to live near harrison morton middle school. Now i know you dont go to school or anything like that. but i want to use that as a reference point in terms of the ok areas. I use to live in an apartment complex called "congress apartments" in allentown. you can check out that area. again there are mostly low income people around here.
Congress Apartments
1207 E Congress St # 201, Allentown, PA 18109
I never experienced any break ins, i never experienced any crime. People were super friendly over here. i lived in that apartment complex for 7 years. Just keep in mind that the people who live in here are ghetto, but keep in mind they are harmless as flies. Yeah people around here are harmless as flies. But the ones in downtown allentown avoid. this is dangerious. so yes please live at a place near congress apartments allentown. you will be completely safe and people there are actually supernice. but i must tell you that i would say 60 percent are hispanic or puerto rican and 40 percent are white. but it seems like its lower than 40 percent, honestly But i must say that you will come across more hispanic people than whites in this area of allentown. I went to the high school around the area and i have never experience a single person trouble me or even tease me and im somewhat of a nerdy looking person. But the high school called dieruff high school is not place to send kids cuz its low class area by all standards. these people are harmless as flies. again you will not want to live anywhere near harrison morton middle school. again i hate to use schools as a reference but i have my fair share of experiences. There are drug dealers and shootings around here.
If you are not the type of person that is interested in music or the arts, then there is absolutely nothing in allentown except the professional hockey stadium which will is being built now. Also there is a really really big event once a year during summer time called musikfest which is in a place called Bethlehem. Honestly since your young allentown would definitely not be a place for you. Bethelehem would. bethlehem has a
(1) newly built casino
(2) more places to eat and better nightlife
(3) musikfest- keep in mind all the music is performed outdoors. this is only during the summer time. professional music artists perform once a year.
The myopic lens that your viewing through has painted the entire area in a rather negative light.
However my lens is quite different and is focused upon areas of Allentown that are more than worthy of ratings that place it within the ranks of favor and not the negative light that has illuminated your past.
Remember it is up to each person to make their world liveable regardless of others opinions including my own.
In another post of yours you highlight Musikfest as a plus yet you have discounted the arts.
Music is part of the arts despite the genre.
Remember you must first rebuke and correct your own facts prior to posting such.
Good day.
Quote:
Originally Posted by philzz
ohh ok let me help you out. I use to live in the not so good area of allentown. Okay. The only bad part of allentown is near the middle school near harrison morton. you should google that and see the address. you do not and i repeat do not want to live near harrison morton middle school. Now i know you dont go to school or anything like that. but i want to use that as a reference point in terms of the ok areas. I use to live in an apartment complex called "congress apartments" in allentown. you can check out that area. again there are mostly low income people around here.
Congress Apartments
1207 E Congress St # 201, Allentown, PA 18109
I never experienced any break ins, i never experienced any crime. People were super friendly over here. i lived in that apartment complex for 7 years. Just keep in mind that the people who live in here are ghetto, but keep in mind they are harmless as flies. Yeah people around here are harmless as flies. But the ones in downtown allentown avoid. this is dangerious. so yes please live at a place near congress apartments allentown. you will be completely safe and people there are actually supernice. but i must tell you that i would say 60 percent are hispanic or puerto rican and 40 percent are white. but it seems like its lower than 40 percent, honestly But i must say that you will come across more hispanic people than whites in this area of allentown. I went to the high school around the area and i have never experience a single person trouble me or even tease me and im somewhat of a nerdy looking person. But the high school called dieruff high school is not place to send kids cuz its low class area by all standards. these people are harmless as flies. again you will not want to live anywhere near harrison morton middle school. again i hate to use schools as a reference but i have my fair share of experiences. There are drug dealers and shootings around here.
Not only that, but Philzz discounts the Iron Pigs as "amateur baseball."
They are, in fact, the Triple-A Minor League PROFESSIONAL team for the Philadelphia Phillies.
There are a lot of things to do in the Allentown area besides the arts, which aren't anything to sneeze at.
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