Which is safer Allentown or Emmaus? (Macungie: section 8, sale, apartment complex)

[Yegua90]

Hi. I'm a young single female looking to get a 1 bedroom apartment in either Allentown or Emmaus. Which city would be safer for me to live in?

[JohnZ963]

Generally speaking, Emmaus is about 10 times safer than Allentown. Allentown has some safe areas (west end, some neighborhoods in the deep east/south sides) outside of center city, but generally Emmaus is the place to go unless you live the thug lifestyle. Stay away from center city, even if someone tells you "it's really not that bad." It is that bad.

[toobusytoday]

Emmaus, hands down is a safer place to live and it has a cute, walkable downtown. John, btw, is referring to Center City Allentown as the place to avoid. Sad, but true.

[Jillzilla]

I liked Macungie when I was up there, which was close to Emmaus. I drove through Allentown and was scared.. haha. Emmaus was okay, but certain parts seemed a little sketchy.

[LifetimeLocal]

Originally Posted by JohnZ963

Generally speaking, Emmaus is about 10 times safer than Allentown. Allentown has some safe areas (west end, some neighborhoods in the deep east/south sides) outside of center city, but generally Emmaus is the place to go unless you live the thug lifestyle. Stay away from center city, even if someone tells you "it's really not that bad." It is that bad.

Only 10 times? Allentown is hood and getting worse but with all the section 8 rentals that are starting to show up around the burbs it wont be long.

[iGlenn]

Originally Posted by Jillzilla

I liked Macungie when I was up there, which was close to Emmaus. I drove through Allentown and was scared.. haha. Emmaus was okay, but certain parts seemed a little sketchy.

I can't think of any place in Emmaus that I would consider sketchy.

[LifetimeLocal]

Originally Posted by iGlenn

I can't think of any place in Emmaus that I would consider sketchy.

powder mill?

[iGlenn]

Originally Posted by LifetimeLocal

powder mill?

It's funny you mention that because I lived there back in 97-98. I certainly wasn't living in luxury but it was clean, affordable, and safe (atleast back then). I haven't drove by Powder Mill for several years but do go through Emmaus on occasion. It appears things may have changed in that apartment complex.

But if I had to choose between center city Allentown or Powder Mill apartments, I'd pick Powder Mill.

[LifetimeLocal]

Originally Posted by iGlenn

It's funny you mention that because I lived there back in 97-98. I certainly wasn't living in luxury but it was clean, affordable, and safe (atleast back then). I haven't drove by Powder Mill for several years but do go through Emmaus on occasion. It appears things may have changed in that apartment complex.

But if I had to choose between center city Allentown or Powder Mill apartments, I'd pick Powder Mill.

To my knowledge thats the only rough spot in emmaus. The majority of the police calls are for that apartment complex(buddies a cop there). The reason its still a crap complex is because they have section 8 renters. A few years ago a new company bought the complex but by law they cant just kick out the section 8 people. They are not accepting new section 8 renters but there are so many in there it will be decades before they are cleared out. That goes to my point about how section 8 housing can ruin a nice place. All the houses that cant sell or rent around the east penn area and others will most likely go this route when they are bought for sheriffs sale or foreclosures. Since the govt pays the bills and damages landlords sell out the community for easy profit. With prices are a downward spiral that logically will continue it's going be a wild ride for the lehigh valley. I would imagine squatters are going to be the next big thing for the ABE. The feds got us into this mess making everyone believe anyone can own a home which they can but it's paying for it that sucks and when people are spending 40% or more of their income to pay a mortgage or rent it's no wonder how we got into this.

[Yegua90]

Thanks so much guys!!