Easton or Bethlehem (or somewhere else)? (Allentown, York: crime, houses, to buy)

[rono626]

My Wife and I are looking at houses in the Lehigh Valley. We are from NYC, and are amazed at what the prices are there. We're ready for something more suburban, but do not want to move to the middle of nowhere either (a 10-20 min. drive to jobs, entertainment, shopping would be ideal).

Things that are important to us:
Safety (want to know the wife can walk around on her own)
Having some property (don't need 5 acres, but a yard where we could plant some tomatoes would be nice)
Selection of restaurants
Golf
Live music scene (I play bass)

So far we've seen Easton (we like College Hill) and Bethlehem. We like them both, but want to hear what people who have been there a while think.

Also, are there any areas near those two cities that we'd want to look at as well?

[LetZ Riide]

College hill in Easton is very nice so is williams township in Easton!

[JC0607]

Easton is not a bad area although it does receive it's fair share of "bad press" I have lived here 19 years and have never had a problem. Many new developments have sprung up in the past few years in the Easton/Bethlehem area. Forks Township in Easton has some nice homes - quite communities. Another nice area is Nazareth which is a little north of here. More of a rural setting that the Easton/Bethlehem area and not far from those necessities in life ... food store, movies, etc. Best of luck in your search. Visit the local newspaper websites The Express Times (broken link) or Lehigh Valley local news from The Morning Call and mcall.com : Allentown news, Bethlehem news, Easton News - you can get some great local feedback from their forums.

[caitlyneck143]

I always feel unsafe in Easton. I guess you have to find the right area. I think you should check out Saucon Valley. I believe it may be considered part of Bethlehem, but I would double check that. They have a beautiful golf course, and is in a very upscale area. I would recommend giving it a look.

[4UnMe2C]

The following links offer information with regards to Golf Courses within the Lehigh Valley area, to which includes the Center Valley Golf Club to which is known as one of the best courses in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley.

Center Valley Club (PA), Eastern PA: Active Golf - New York Metro Golf Courses (0)

Lehigh Valley PA: Active Golf - New York Metro Golf Courses

[Tama]

My mom lives in Palmer Township and it is very nice. It is quite near Easton and Bethlehem and all amenities.

[parma127]

Originally Posted by rono626

My Wife and I are looking at houses in the Lehigh Valley. We are from NYC, and are amazed at what the prices are there. We're ready for something more suburban, but do not want to move to the middle of nowhere either (a 10-20 min. drive to jobs, entertainment, shopping would be ideal).

Things that are important to us:
Safety (want to know the wife can walk around on her own)
Having some property (don't need 5 acres, but a yard where we could plant some tomatoes would be nice)
Selection of restaurants
Golf
Live music scene (I play bass)

So far we've seen Easton (we like College Hill) and Bethlehem. We like them both, but want to hear what people who have been there a while think.

Also, are there any areas near those two cities that we'd want to look at as well?

Hello. Will you be commuting to NYC daily for work?? I live in Howard Beach right now and like yourself I'm considering the same move. I don't know much about Easton but, I have been looking into Bethlehem. It seems like such an adorable town.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/penns...hoto-tour.html

Check out these pics of Bethlehem.

[PAVallygrl]

No offense, but stay the heck out of Easton (lot of drugs, gangs etc etc, they are trying to clean it up but well......) & I'm not to sure as to what will follow the casinos once it gets there in Bethlehem, but I wasn't about to chance it so I looked to buy elsewhere. Head West Magungie area or even Nazareth are very nice areas.

[PAVallygrl]

Oh BTW commute from the LEhigh Valley door to door (Port Authority - if you need to take the subway add additional time) is 2 1/2 to 3 hours on a GOOD day. DO NOT let anyone tell you it's 90 minutes. IT'S NOT! And there is NO train coming to the Lehigh Valley into NYC. Plans to extend the SEPTA train from Philly to Quakertown are in the works but still years away.

[Summering]

Originally Posted by PAVallygrl

No offense, but stay the heck out of Easton (lot of drugs, gangs etc etc, they are trying to clean it up but well......) & I'm not to sure as to what will follow the casinos once it gets there in Bethlehem, but I wasn't about to chance it so I looked to buy elsewhere. Head West Magungie area or even Nazareth are very nice areas.

Forks area is full of wonderful college educated people, and marvelous homes.
There are no drugs or crime in the Forks area. I know a few law enforcement people who live in Forks. They seem to be happy.
The kids all have a great time in some just wonderful new communities.
One new community there even surrounds a great golf course.
Good luck to you......