Relocating to Allentown HELP (Reading, Bethlehem: apartment, crime, home)

[iamcoko]

Hi!

My husband and I currently live in Florida but will be moving to Allentown, PA for his job. He will be working on Hamilton Boulevard zip code 18195.

I am a school teacher and I am trying to get advice on which districts and counties have the best reputation. We will be buying our first house, so I want to direct our search to the best areas. We are willing to commute if one area sticks out more than another. Any information would be very helpful including: best school districts, counties, neighborhoods, and teaching jobs!


Thank you,
Michelle

[MollyMe]

Northhampton is the best in my opinon, and it pays the most for teachers.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by MollyMe

Northhampton is the best in my opinon, and it pays the most for teachers.

The Saucon Valley School District also has a great reputation, as it's in a relatively-affluent suburban area. My sister interviewed at Northampton as well, which is just north of Allentown, but she accepted a position at our alma mater of Pittston Area instead.

Relocation-wise, are you city-slickers, suburbanites, or country folks? When it comes to the Lehigh Valley, my favorite "urban" area is Historic Bethlehem. My uncle and his girlfriend lived in an old mansion converted into an apartment building along West Third Street in SouthSide, just over the Route 378 Bridge. SouthSide is home to both St. Luke's Hospital and prestigious Lehigh University, along with a revitalizing commercial district along East Third Street and East Fourth Street with some specialty retailers and restaurants. Supposedly Downtown Bethlehem is getting a new casino soon, so I don't know what that will do to the overall living conditions for nearby residents---a boon in property values or a burden in crime? (My guess is a mixture of both).

Allentown has some serious crime and racial issues that need to be addressed before I'd recommend anyone moving there. Easton is about midway between Bethlehem and Allentown in terms of "revitalization," and the Crayola Factory downtown is a neat attraction for the kids!

Small-town-wise, my uncle and his girlfriend have since moved to Fountain Hill and are quite happy there. Bangor, Northampton, Nazareth, and Kutztown are other options if you're looking for a "small-town" type of atmosphere. While I hate the suburbs, if you're looking for that type of environment, I've heard that Palmer Township in Northampton County is highly-recommended.

[SteelCityRising]

It looks as if your husband will be working just off of Exit 54 of I-78. From here, your best bets for a quick commute would be Kutztown, Emmaus, or Macungie.

[iamcoko]

Thank you everyone! Please keep the advice coming!

My husband and I grew up in a metropolitan area right outside of Phildelphia. We are looking for a suburb/town that is great to raise kids (family oriented and SAFE), but right by a city (which I am guessing would be Allentown). Would Emmaus give us that option? How is the community of Emmaus?

Also, does Bethlehem have as many things to do as Allentown? Is it as city oriented?

[1orangetabbycat]

I think that we are in the same situation. My husband has been offered a job on Hamilton Blvd in Allentown. We currently live in the Reading area, but would be looking to recolate as well. We will have a school age child, so I've been looking at greatschools.net. I was a teacher, too! I would appreciate any information on the area. Particularly, the East Penn, Upper Perkiomen, Parkland and neighboring school districts.

[iamcoko]

Hi. How far is Upper Perkiomen from Allentown? I know that the district has a great reputation, but I thought it was quite a long drive from Allentown.

[suzannek]

Hello. I hope you're still seeking advice! Anyway, in my opinion Bethlehem is the nicer city - the historic downtown area is beautiful and very walkable, and you MUST see the Christmas decorations and festivities. Plus, MusikFest in August of every year shuts the city down for a big street fair.

Allentown has a reputation as a more "urban" city- there is more crime than the US average and the city center is fairly run down.

Of course, Allentown and Bethlehem are just 15-20 minutes apart, and I personally think of them almost interchangably.

Like someone else said, Saucon Valley is the "posh" suburb, but I don't know if its residents have an objectively better quality of live than surrounding areas. Northampton, Nazareth, Emmaus, and Easton all have a good mix of small town and city life.

I think you could find a nice family area in any of the places I mentioned. And, if you ever get tired of your location, just drive five minutes in any direction and you'll end up in a cornfield! (Just kidding, I think.)