Is it Safe to Move from NJ to the Lehigh Valley area? (Allentown: apartments, to rent)

[Nikkib824]

I have read a few posts that have said that many people in the Lehigh Valley area do like people moving in from NJ & NY and that some people who have moved from these areas have had some problems. My boyfriend and I are thinking about moving to the LV area, from just over the border in NJ, because of a new job and we hate NJ. We are looking into places to rent in the west end of Allentown and Emmaus. West Allentown is closer to the new job. My question is, Is it safe to move to these locations being that we are from NJ? Unfortunately, we are going to have to keep our NJ License Plates for atleast 3 months, so it will be obvious that we are from NJ. Im concerned that we might have problems if we move to LV. Also, can anyone tell me the safer parts of Allentown? Where is the division of Allentown and the west end of of Allentown? Thanks for any info!!!

[Love2Golf09]

Originally Posted by Nikkib824

I have read a few posts that have said that many people in the Lehigh Valley area do like people moving in from NJ & NY and that some people who have moved from these areas have had some problems. My boyfriend and I are thinking about moving to the LV area, from just over the border in NJ, because of a new job and we hate NJ. We are looking into places to rent in the west end of Allentown and Emmaus. West Allentown is closer to the new job. My question is, Is it safe to move to these locations being that we are from NJ? Unfortunately, we are going to have to keep our NJ License Plates for atleast 3 months, so it will be obvious that we are from NJ. Im concerned that we might have problems if we move to LV. Also, can anyone tell me the safer parts of Allentown? Where is the division of Allentown and the west end of of Allentown? Thanks for any info!!!

Wait...it sounds like you're asking if it's safe because you're from NJ. Is that what you're asking? Do you really think you would be physically attacked because you're from NJ???? I mean...I must have read that wrong, right? This is beyond insane. We're not savages here. I will admit that there is some animosity towards people from NY/NJ, that's true. There have been situations where people would ignore you, not be very friendly, make comments or jokes, etc. You can get that type of bad attitude anywhere though. However, I've never seen anyone get violence with someone else because they're from NJ. That's laughable. And in Emmaus???? Come on. Seriously, you think someone in Emmaus would assault you because of your NJ license plate? In Emmaus?!?! I don't know much about West Allentown, so it's hard for me to say if it's safe or not, but if it isn't safe then it's just because it's the ghetto. It has nothing to do with NJ. Emmaus is a fine town. Macugnie is also nice.

[toobusytoday]

I have to agree with love2golf, that gave me a chuckle too.

You'll be fine, just learn to pump your own gas, don't beep your horn too much, put your cart away in the cart corral at the grocery store and you'll blend right in.

[Nikkib824]

Oh no! I did not mean physically attacked. I was asking more along the lines of cars/homes being broken into or vandalized. I thought I read in a post a little while ago on the subject of moving from NJ to the Lehigh Valley area, that a couple who moved from NJ got their home broken in three times in the Allentown area. I will have to try and find that post again to make sure I read it correctly. Also, a few posts said to stay away from Allentown because it is not the safest area now and I was trying to figure out where exactly the west end of allentown started. We just want to be in a somewhat peaceful area and just what to make the right choice about where we live. We dont have to move until the end of the year so we have time to decide. Im sorry that I didnt make myself clear before and certainly did not mean to offended anyone in anyway!

[toobusytoday]

Yes, crime does happen in Allentown, but it's pretty much in Center City. Where does West Allentown start? Great question and my best guess is around Cedar Crest Avenue. At least the houses are nice up that way. If you can contact Parkland School district and ask them for their boundaries that would probably work. Parkland is an excellent school district and their boundary goes into Allentown.

[JohnZ963]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

Yes, crime does happen in Allentown, but it's pretty much in Center City. Where does West Allentown start? Great question and my best guess is around Cedar Crest Avenue. At least the houses are nice up that way. If you can contact Parkland School district and ask them for their boundaries that would probably work. Parkland is an excellent school district and their boundary goes into Allentown.

Allentown's West End technically starts around 15th street. However, the limits of the "sketchy" areas seems to move westward as time goes on, and is probably now around 20th street. Cedar Crest is what I'd call "deep west end." Some areas just off the northern part of Cedar Crest Blvd. are actually in South Whitehall Twp/Parkland schools.

[toobusytoday]

John, Do you know just where the boundary is for Parkland school district? I'm sure I've seen a map that shows the Lehigh School district boundaries with that information but when I looked last night, I could not find it anywhere. Nikki, if you have children, you will probably want to avoid the Allentown school district.

Speaking of maps, this crime map might help you decide on what areas to avoid - Lehigh Valley Crime Map: Police reports from Allentown, Easton, Bethlehem from The Morning Call

[JohnZ963]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

John, Do you know just where the boundary is for Parkland school district?

I unfortunately don't have one online. Probably the easiest way is to look at a map of municipalities; anything in South Whitehall is Parkland schools. However, to complicate the matter, there is an area that is in the city of Allentown but Parkland school district. It's the area of newer homes near the Wegmans on Tilghman St, Springwood Hills I think the development is called. I don't know if the new apartments aroiund there are included in that. I think it was some kind of deal the developer made when the land was subdivided. They pay Allentown taxes but the kids go to Parkland.

[LifetimeLocal]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

John, Do you know just where the boundary is for Parkland school district? I'm sure I've seen a map that shows the Lehigh School district boundaries with that information but when I looked last night, I could not find it anywhere. Nikki, if you have children, you will probably want to avoid the Allentown school district.

Speaking of maps, this crime map might help you decide on what areas to avoid - Lehigh Valley Crime Map: Police reports from Allentown, Easton, Bethlehem from The Morning Call

Parkland is weird with the borders but Salisbury takes the cake. That school district changes every 3rd house I think

[LifetimeLocal]

Originally Posted by Nikkib824

Oh no! I did not mean physically attacked. I was asking more along the lines of cars/homes being broken into or vandalized. I thought I read in a post a little while ago on the subject of moving from NJ to the Lehigh Valley area, that a couple who moved from NJ got their home broken in three times in the Allentown area. I will have to try and find that post again to make sure I read it correctly. Also, a few posts said to stay away from Allentown because it is not the safest area now and I was trying to figure out where exactly the west end of allentown started. We just want to be in a somewhat peaceful area and just what to make the right choice about where we live. We dont have to move until the end of the year so we have time to decide. Im sorry that I didnt make myself clear before and certainly did not mean to offended anyone in anyway!

The problem with crime has increased but that's because of the NJ/NY residents so keep an eye on "those people"