Looking into relocating to the Lehigh Valley (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh: real estate, 2013)

[Mr. Stokes]

Dear LV forumers,
I have been snooping here for a while, but now that my wife and I are looking to relocate from Southern California, just wanted to say hello and ask a few things. First of all thank you for all the help you give others by posting in the forum. There have been alot of things to read and think about as we ponder our future move, which would take place within the year.
About us: I attended Muhlenberg in the mid 1980's, and fondly remember the area. My wife is from Northeastern Europe, and she wants to be closer to her family, as I do to mine (Northern NJ folks). I'm 45, she's 38. We don't need night clubs, but we do like to walk, ride bicycles in our free time.
It seems alot has changed in the last 20+ years in respect to Allentown. For instance, I read some sad and then hopeful articles on the Americus Hotel in the Morning Call. What is happening there with the rest of Center City?
As for relocating, how is Nazareth? With one toddler in tow and another child on the way, elementary schools are something of interest. Which hospitals in the area have good maternity wards and OB/GYN doctors?
Any feedback is appreciated. I also wonder what you think how the region compares to other PA metro regions - Lancaster, Harrisburg, Scranton-Wilokes Barre, York? I hope that this isn't too much to ask for in the first post!?
Thanks again!

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by Mr. Stokes

My wife is from Northeastern Europe, and she wants to be closer to her family, as I do to mine (Northern NJ folks). I'm 45, she's 38.
We don't need night clubs, but we do like to walk, ride bicycles in our free time.
It seems alot has changed in the last 20+ years in respect to Allentown. For instance, I read some sad and then hopeful articles on the Americus Hotel in the Morning Call. What is happening there with the rest of Center City?
As for relocating, how is Nazareth? With one toddler in tow and another child on the way, elementary schools are something of interest. Which hospitals in the area have good maternity wards and OB/GYN doctors?

Any feedback is appreciated. I also wonder what you think how the region compares to other PA metro regions - Lancaster, Harrisburg, Scranton-Wilokes Barre, York?

The completion of route 33 to I78 in the year 2002, has made Lower Nazareth, Palmer,Forks and Bethlehem Township much more accessible to Northern NJ (including Newark Airport). As such the population has grown with refugees from the higher real estate taxes in NJ.



Lower Nazareth Commons was developed to provide some higher end shopping roughly 2.5 miles north of route 22. Wegman's is the largest high end food market in the valley nowThe Route 33 corridor is slated for continued development.

Although Newark is by far the easiest major airport to drive to, if you are price shopping and flying to Europe a few times per year, you should be open to going to JFK or Philadelphia. PHL in particular has flights on 2 or 3 day notices that are very inexpensive on USAirways.

Harrisburg, York, and Lancaster suffer from even higher violent crime rates than Allentown. I am not that fond of the coal regions of Scranton and Wilkes Barre, but if you are into skiing it is more convenient.

Per 100K City | Population | Violent crime
164.2 Harrisburg | 47,509 | 780
118.9 Philadelphia | 1,558,378 | 18,535
103.8 York | 40,553 | 421
91.9 Lancaster | 55,582 | 511
89.9 Pittsburgh | 312,737 | 2,810
67.5 Allentown | 108,473 | 732
47.9 Easton | 26,506 | 127
31.8 Bethlehem | 73,634 | 234

34.6 Fountain Hill | 4,622 | 16
31.1 Hellertown | 5,781 | 18
26.2 Nazareth Area | 6,118 | 16
2.6 Forks Township | 15,331| 4

Data on violent crime is from FBI uniform crime report for 2010. The Nazareth Area is basically the borough of Nazareth and does not apply to the townships where violent crime is much lower. Forks Township had only 4 violent crimes for the entire year.

[alexiskai]

Both St. Luke's and LVHN have good reputations for their maternity wards. St. Luke's won Best Place to Have a Baby in one of the local polls. LVHN delivers the most babies overall by far, and this has its pros and cons. The downside is that the staff may feel pressured to accelerate labor or do a precautionary C-section, especially if you arrive on a busy day and your labor is protracted. The upside is that they can easily handle any emergency and have seen just about everything.

[Mr. Stokes]

Thank you, PacoMartin and Alexiskai, for your responses. I agree with you regarding the coal region...having found it a bit depressing. Reading left that same lasting impression.
Some of the older homes in Nazareth borough look inviting, (from what we've seen in the real estate pages)...and the main street appears fairly well tended. Which other towns in the area compare?

[toobusytoday]

Mr. Stokes, I'd like to suggest that you fill out the sticky at the top of this forum (read the information for newcomers too) to give us more information. There are many wonderful towns surrounding the cities in the Lehigh Valley but what will be the right place for you is going to depend on many factors. You could walk or ride bikes in any of them.

[Mr. Stokes]

When are you moving? late 2012 - early 2013
Where are you coming from? Southern California (grew up in Northern NJ, wife from N. Europe)
Why are you moving? Be closer to family, 4 seasons.
Where will you be working? No idea yet. Looking around.
Have you been here yet? Yes. 4 years at Muhlenberg College 1984-1988.

Will you buy or rent? Hope to buy
If buying, are you looking for a house or a condo? How much can you spend? house. 150-200K
If renting, are you looking for an apartment, a townhouse or loft? How much can you spend?
Do you prefer hi-rise or walk up?

Are you married or single? Do you have children? married. 1 child 21 months old + 1 on the way due Sept. 3.
Do you prefer public or private schools? public
Do you have pets? no
Do you want or need a yard? yes
Are you keeping a car? 1 car
Do you prefer bustling activity or calm and quiet? calm and quiet

What do you want to be closest to?
Work 2.
Shopping not important
Basic services (supermarket, drugstore, etc.) 1.
Nightlife no
Near Bus stop? Please note that there is NO rail service in the Lehigh Valley. maybe.

Do you want to live with people of a similar age, race, religion or sexual preference or do you prefer a diverse neighborhood? similar

Phillies or Mets? Phillies

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by Mr. Stokes

Some of the older homes in Nazareth borough look inviting, (from what we've seen in the real estate pages)...and the main street appears fairly well tended. Which other towns in the area compare?

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission assembled the median prices of a home sold from 2005-2009 in the various communities. I think I would look at relative position of the communities, rather than absolute values.

Also remember that these are median prices. Some townships notably the ones near Bucks County in the south have a wide range from relatively inexpensive to the most expensive in the area. Lower Saucon township sold a home for $4 million, which is probably a record for Northampton County.

I suggest looking at Tatamy and Stockertown. Good schools, and easy commute to New Jersey. Also some older homes that will be less expensive than many in the townships. Also Hellertown and Coopersburg are excellent boroughs.

A "borough" in PA and NJ is more like a town or a village in most of the rest of the country. Bethlehem City was once three boroughs that merged at the beginning of the 20th century.


Municipality ; Type ; House ; Pop ; County
Weisenberg ; township ; $324,700 ; 4,923 ; Lehigh
Hanover - N'hampton ; township ; $316,300 ; 10,866 ; Northampton
Lower Nazareth ; township ; $314,900 ; 5,674 ; Northampton
Upper Saucon ; township ; $303,400 ; 14,808 ; Lehigh
Lower Saucon ; township ; $292,700 ; 10,772 ; Northampton
Lower Milford ; township ; $291,900 ; 3,775 ; Lehigh
Forks ; township ; $286,100 ; 14,721 ; Northampton
Williams ; township ; $284,300 ; 5,884 ; Northampton
Bushkill ; township ; $282,800 ; 8,178 ; Northampton
Upper Macungie ; township ; $282,800 ; 20,063 ; Lehigh
Lowhill ; township ; $276,400 ; 2,173 ; Lehigh
Upper Milford ; township ; $273,100 ; 7,292 ; Lehigh
Lower Macungie ; township ; $267,400 ; 30,633 ; Lehigh
Upper Nazareth ; township ; $264,200 ; 6,231 ; Northampton
Bethlehem TWP ; township ; $261,400 ; 23,730 ; Northampton
North Whitehall ; township ; $254,800 ; 15,703 ; Lehigh
Lower Mount Bethel ; township ; $242,300 ; 3,101 ; Northampton
Lynn ; township ; $241,400 ; 4,229 ; Lehigh
Portland ; borough ; $236,300 ; 519 ; Northampton
South Whitehall ; township ; $233,800 ; 19,180 ; Lehigh
Palmer ; township ; $233,000 ; 20,691 ; Northampton
Plainfield ; township ; $231,100 ; 6,138 ; Northampton
Moore ; township ; $230,400 ; 9,198 ; Northampton
Allen ; township ; $224,500 ; 4,269 ; Northampton
Washington ; township ; $221,800 ; 5,122 ; Northampton
Salisbury ; township ; $221,500 ; 13,505 ; Lehigh
Upper Mount Bethel ; township ; $219,500 ; 6,706 ; Northampton
Coopersburg ; borough ; $217,400 ; 2,386 ; Lehigh
Stockertown ; borough ; $215,900 ; 927 ; Northampton
East Allen ; township ; $208,400 ; 4,903 ; Northampton
Lehigh TWP ; township ; $206,100 ; 10,526 ; Northampton
Heidelberg ; township ; $203,100 ; 3,416 ; Lehigh
Tatamy ; borough ; $195,700 ; 1,203 ; Northampton
Washington ; township ; $195,600 ; 6,624 ; Lehigh
Whitehall ; township ; $188,700 ; 26,738 ; Lehigh
Nazareth ; borough ; $188,200 ; 5,746 ; Northampton
Bath ; borough ; $187,700 ; 2,693 ; Northampton
Hellertown ; borough ; $182,300 ; 5,898 ; Northampton
Macungie ; borough ; $182,000 ; 3,074 ; Lehigh
Alburtis ; borough ; $180,500 ; 2,361 ; Lehigh
Emmaus ; borough ; $179,100 ; 11,211 ; Lehigh
North Catasauqua ; borough ; $176,800 ; 2,849 ; Northampton
Glendon ; borough ; $176,300 ; 440 ; Northampton
Bethlehem ; city ; $169,000 ; 74,982 ; Both
East Bangor ; borough ; $168,000 ; 1,172 ; Northampton
Roseto ; borough ; $166,200 ; 1,567 ; Northampton
Coplay ; borough ; $162,500 ; 3,192 ; Lehigh
Pen Argyl ; borough ; $161,900 ; 3,595 ; Northampton
Walnutport ; borough ; $161,900 ; 2,070 ; Northampton
Northampton Bor ; borough ; $160,700 ; 9,926 ; Northampton
Wind Gap ; borough ; $159,200 ; 2,720 ; Northampton
Freemansburg ; borough ; $158,700 ; 2,636 ; Northampton
Bangor ; borough ; $153,200 ; 5,273 ; Northampton
West Easton ; borough ; $148,500 ; 1,257 ; Northampton
Chapman ; borough ; $142,500 ; 199 ; Northampton
Hanover - Airport ; township ; $140,300 ; 1,571 ; Lehigh
Fountain Hill ; borough ; $137,700 ; 4,597 ; Lehigh
Allentown ; city ; $137,500 ; 118,032 ; Lehigh
Easton ; city ; $132,800 ; 26,800 ; Northampton
Catasaqua ; borough ; $132,100 ; 6,436 ; Lehigh
Wilson ; borough ; $130,800 ; 7,896 ; Northampton
Slatington ; borough ; $127,300 ; 4,232 ; Lehigh

[Mr. Stokes]

You are the wonder man of data and statistics, Paco! Much obliged.

[P Bethlehem]

Try using Zillow .com to find a prices on homes, its very acurate(estimates) and pretty well updated. They make it easy because they're map has the lots with the home values listed on there.

[Mr. Stokes]

Zillow is very informative, probably spent too much time on it already! Thanks for the suggestion. Another question for the forumers: Where do you shop for groceries?