Moving this winter, Allentown or Phillipsburg? (Bethlehem, Easton: 2015, condo, crime)

[chatfouz]

When are you moving? -- Between Oct to Dec 2015
Where are you coming from? -- Shanghai China
Why are you moving? -- Fiancee Job
Where will you be working? --AirProducts
Have you been here yet? --No

Will you buy or rent? --Buy
If buying, are you looking for a house or a condo? How much can you spend? (
Ideally looking to buy a 3/4 story building, small business on the bottom, live on top floors.
200K

Are you married or single? Do you have children? - Married
Do you prefer public or private schools?
Do you have pets? - 2 Dogs
Do you want or need a yard?
Are you keeping a car?
Do you prefer bustling activity or calm and quiet?

What do you want to be closest to?
Good Foot traffic. Busy Area.

-- My main question

I'm researching properties in the area and i'm having a hard time understanding the whole area. I see Bethleham, allentown, Easton, Phillipsberg. IS it much of a pain to travel from one end in NJ to the other end of allentown? The map looks small and with 2 freeways it doesn't seem like it would be a problem.

The properties closer to the river or in NJ are much cheaper. But will the travel be crazy long?

[johnp292]

Traveling from NJ to Allentown is a reverse commute...most people will be going in the opposite direction from you during rush hours.

Phillipsburg is not the best area to live, neither is inner city Allentown. Taxes in NJ are much higher than in PA, my choice would be to look for something on the PA side of the river, but generally avoid Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton proper if you can. Especially if you plan to have children, those school districts are not good either.

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by chatfouz

deally looking to buy a 3/4 story building, small business on the bottom, live on top floors.200K

I'm researching properties in the area and i'm having a hard time understanding the whole area. I see Bethleham, allentown, Easton, Phillipsberg. IS it much of a pain to travel from one end in NJ to the other end of allentown? The map looks small and with 2 freeways it doesn't seem like it would be a problem.

The properties closer to the river or in NJ are much cheaper. But will the travel be crazy long?

Two counties in PA map

Air Products is on the border between Upper and Lower Macungie Township. It is a highly desirable area to live. It would be very unusual to live in the more downmarket areas along the river and commute to the West of allentown.

The type of housing, the so called "live above the store" is much less common post WWII in small town USA. Are you planning on becoming a landlord, or opening your own business or restaurant?

The price you mentioned is on the low side for a good business district.

There may be some places for $200K that are big enough for a family and a business in Allentown, but as mentioned earlier the school district is considered one of the worst in the state. If you have no children and are looking in the City of Allentown then generally stay West of 15th street as the crime is much lower.

Local government includes 3 cities, Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, 27 boroughs and 32 townships. In addition there are 17 school districts. Pennsylvania has the most fragmented local government in the entire USA. The boroughs range in population from a few hundred to just over 10,000 (Emmaus). A borough is often called a town in other states in the USA. A township is what is not a city or a borough. Before WWII the townships were mostly agricultural, but now many of them are very urban.

Roughly half the land in the counties is considered rural, but only about 10% of the people live on the rural land.

[toobusytoday]

The above posters gave you good advice. If you are seeing places for $200,000 they are most likely not going to be in very good shape or are in a poor location. I'm not sure about availability, but there are places like you are thinking of in our smaller towns, at least two story places. Emmaus Main Street Partners Your price point is still too low, but your expenses would be less, great location to Air Products and very good schools.

[hopeful365]

Since you're looking to have a business downstairs, I'd recommend Easton. Don't go to Phillipsburg - I live there now, and there is very little foot traffic on Main Street. When people shop here, they go to Easton or to a shopping center. Downtown Easton is starting to be a great place to do business, and it's right off I-78 so you can get to work pretty easily.

[chatfouz]

We do plan to start a business - a board game cafe

We don't have children, don't plan on that anytime soon. I only care about a decent location and an apt above to live in.

I see stuff main street in phillipsburg but it sounds like the street is dead from the post above.

I'll take a look at eaton. a business doenstairs