Where should I live in eastern PA? (Philadelphia, Allentown: sale, apartment)

[Sendosha]

Thank you for your info on Lansford. I guess that is not quite what I am looking for. I am not very familiar with the area, so I need your help finding a safe, inexpensive area to live in eastern PA.

[toobusytoday]

Sendosha,
If you can tell us a little bit more about what you are looking for it would be helpful. Here are some questions (borrowed from the Philadelphia forum) to get you started:

When are you moving?
Where are you coming from?
Why are you moving?
Where will you be working?
Have you been here yet?

Will you buy or rent?
If buying, are you looking for a house or a condo? How much can you spend?
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?
Do you prefer public or private schools?
Do you have pets?
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?
Work
Shopping
Basic services (supermarket, drugstore, etc.)
Nightlife
Train or subway stations

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

[Sendosha]

I plan on moving by summer from Queens, NY. I recently separated from my husband and have not worked in more than 25 years. I have not been there except when I vacationed in the Poconos years ago. I'd like to move to eastern PA since I heard that it is a nice place to live and is affordable. I will be getting some money from the sale of my present house and would rather buy than rent. A safe neighborhood with low taxes is ideal, but I can only spend under $60K. I prefer a house - 1 or 2-family, but would consider a townhouse . I am over 55, so that is another possibility. No young children - 1 adult daughter who may come with me, 1 son in college in NY. I would love to have a yard, prefer quiet to noisy and do not have a car. I am willing to learn to drive, though. I'd like to be near shopping (basic services), transportation, am white and prefer to be in a mostly white neighborhood, some diversity is fine.
Now you know almost everything about me. I need all the help I can get!

[karen_s]

You might want to look at Palmerton, PA (Carbon County). There are a few small homes available there for under 60K right now. The seniors at my church who live there without cars do fine, it is a very walkable town.

Some links for you:
Palmerton, Pennslvania

The local newspaper:
Times News Online |

You can check homes on realtor.com

Here's a pic looking down Delaware Avenue (the main drag) last fall:
Anthony Skorochod's CyclingCaptured Photo Gallery- powered by SmugMug

[toobusytoday]

That's a wonderful suggsestion Karen! Palmerton is a very nice small town with a walkable downtown area, parks and close enough to the highways to get to a city. Is there a bus service to Allentown or perhaps NYC?