Somewhere Between Scranton and Bethlehem (Allentown, Wilkes-Barre: real estate, crime, homes)

[KuzinRob]

(Yes, this is a repost from the NEPA forum - just trying to get as many opinions as possible!)

Hi all,

This time last year, I was looking for a place to live doing my pharmacy residency between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. I was very pleased with the help that I received, so now I'm back for more!

I got a "real job" in a Bethlehem hospital, which starts in July after my residency. Also in the past year, I met a wonderful young lady who lives and works in Scranton who I intend on being with long-term.

Hence, I now must find a nice place to live between Scranton and Bethlehem. Even if my girlfriend moves in, she will still have to commute to work in Scranton, otherwise I would TOTALLY move to Lehigh Valley.

From what I've heard, the Poconos are not as safe as they once were - although certain communities are still relatively nice.

Any advice is certainly welcome. Ideally I want the commute to both cities to be under an hour. Mt. Pocono is 40 minutes to Scranton and Bethlehem, Jim Thorpe is closer to Bethlehem, but an hour and a half to Scranton (don't think she'd like that!).

Thanks!!

[jimmyrocks]

I used to commute the 75 miles to Scranton for a client we had up there. The best place in between would probably be the Mount Pocono area. It's a very nice community. Stroudsburg is nice, and a little closer to Bethlehem.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by jimmyrocks

I used to commute the 75 miles to Scranton for a client we had up there. The best place in between would probably be the Mount Pocono area. It's a very nice community. Stroudsburg is nice, and a little closer to Bethlehem.

I'm sorry, but I must disagree with you here. Most on here know me as an incessant optimist, but when even I can find fault in a community, then you know there are some serious impending issues that need to be addressed. Stroudsburg's immediate Main Street may be nicely revitalized, but when I visited for a short-lived photo tour attempt in 2007 I became so fed up with the city folks panhandling me for bus fare that I left out of disgust. The Stroudsburgs (Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg, Stroud Township) are becoming no more than a suburban extension of Northern New Jersey; nearly 20,000 folks commute to work from Monroe County, PA to NJ or NY for employment. As these parents are away from home from 5:30 AM-7:30 PM, who is watching their teenagers in the hours after school lets out at 2:45 PM? Nobody, hence why there is a rising gang problem in Monroe County.

I might consider White Haven. It's not a terribly far commute from either area.

[barinnas]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

I'm sorry, but I must disagree with you here. Most on here know me as an incessant optimist, but when even I can find fault in a community, then you know there are some serious impending issues that need to be addressed. Stroudsburg's immediate Main Street may be nicely revitalized, but when I visited for a short-lived photo tour attempt in 2007 I became so fed up with the city folks panhandling me for bus fare that I left out of disgust. The Stroudsburgs (Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg, Stroud Township) are becoming no more than a suburban extension of Northern New Jersey; nearly 20,000 folks commute to work from Monroe County, PA to NJ or NY for employment. As these parents are away from home from 5:30 AM-7:30 PM, who is watching their teenagers in the hours after school lets out at 2:45 PM? Nobody, hence why there is a rising gang problem in Monroe County.

I might consider White Haven. It's not a terribly far commute from either area.

I've lived in the stroudsburg area for 4 years, I may agree that it is not the best place to live in the world, but the way you talk about it makes me think
that I live elsewhere, these so called gangs are nothing but kids walking the streets, including students from ESU, what do people expect that kids spend their lives inside a bedroom? ridiculous, I've never seen anything out of order here.
white haven may be a good option if you want to bore to death.

[Summering]

Originally Posted by barinnas

I've lived in the stroudsburg area for 4 years, I may agree that it is not the best place to live in the world, but the way you talk about it makes me think
that I live elsewhere, these so called gangs are nothing but kids walking the streets, including students from ESU, what do people expect that kids spend their lives inside a bedroom? ridiculous, I've never seen anything out of order here.
white haven may be a good option if you want to bore to death.

I pretty much agree with this posting........Young people want things to do around them. White Haven doesn't have that.
I'd go to Sciota, Saylorsburg, or even Brodheadsville.
It would be about 45 min to Scranton, or less, and about 35 min. or so to the Allentown area by route 33. Nice homes, good prices and easy access to Stroudsburg stores, Eastons, and even all the big box stores of Phillipsburg.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by barinnas

I've lived in the stroudsburg area for 4 years, I may agree that it is not the best place to live in the world, but the way you talk about it makes me think
that I live elsewhere, these so called gangs are nothing but kids walking the streets, including students from ESU, what do people expect that kids spend their lives inside a bedroom? ridiculous, I've never seen anything out of order here.
white haven may be a good option if you want to bore to death.

I happen to be 21 years of age, and I have never been "bored to death" in NEPA. There's beautiful state parks everywhere, along with whitewater rafting, mountain biking, skydiving, etc. There's all sorts of church bazaars, ethnic festivals, parades, etc. Scranton has just about every big-box store you could think of in or around its three malls, including a higher-end lifestyle center. There's always opportunities to VOLUNTEER as well when you're bored.

The old myth that kids turn to gang-related crime because they're bored is hogwash. The have only themselves to blame for not being constructive, as well as their parents to blame for moving them to suburban areas where "fun" things are only accessible by a vehicle. Why do you think there's so many inner-city minorities living in the Bronx, for example, that are gang members? Is New York City a "boring" place to be? Sure, a lot of local residents may be backwards politically, but it's still a hip and happenin' place to live in my eyes.

[W-B proud]

Try Wilkes-Barre!

[KuzinRob]

Thanks for your help, everyone!

W-B proud: I already live in Plains, and it's an hour and 15 minutes to Bethlehem.

I had been checking out Saylorsburg, Sciota, and Brodheadsville after searching this forum for a while. Would you say that all those nuances of Stroudsburg/East Stroudsburg are less in those three towns? I wanted to stay on the 33 side so I wouldn't be paying six dollars a day in turnpike tolls; 33 is also closer to 380, and therefore, Scranton.

Thanks again!

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by KuzinRob

Thanks for your help, everyone!

W-B proud: I already live in Plains, and it's an hour and 15 minutes to Bethlehem.

I had been checking out Saylorsburg, Sciota, and Brodheadsville after searching this forum for a while. Would you say that all those nuances of Stroudsburg/East Stroudsburg are less in those three towns? I wanted to stay on the 33 side so I wouldn't be paying six dollars a day in turnpike tolls; 33 is also closer to 380, and therefore, Scranton.

Thanks again!

You really can't go wrong with the Pleasant Valley School District, which is in the Sciota/Saylorsburg/Brodheadsville area. From what I've heard all of the "charm" of The Stroudsburgs hasn't spilled down the way into there (yet). Summering lives in that part of Monroe County, so she could probably be a better resource to consult.

[poconoproud]

I agree with the posts about the Saylorsburg area. Everything your looking for. Try to be in Ross Township - it currently has the lowest real estate taxes for our area. I believe it to be the perfect spot for those splitting commute between W-B/Scranton and Allentown/Bethlehem.

Good luck!