Scranton suburbs to raise a family? (Clarks Summit, Olyphant: low crime, homes, job market)

[Positiveone]

Can anybody recommend a few nice safe suburbs within 20- 35 min's max of Scranton PA to raise a family? Good schools, low crime areas. Yet close to shopping, restaurants and so on. We are hoping to find an area where we can find a newer home in the range of 200-290,000. We did try searching realtor.com but that site asks for a town name and zip code.

Any help will be great!

Thanks!

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by Positiveone

Can anybody recommend a few nice safe suburbs within 20- 35 min's max of Scranton PA to raise a family? Good schools, low crime areas. Yet close to shopping, restaurants and so on. We are hoping to find an area where we can find a newer home in the range of 200-290,000. We did try searching realtor.com but that site asks for a town name and zip code.

Any help will be great!

Thanks!

Well, you just basically described the entire Scranton area. The most popular suburban area has traditionally been the Abingtons, which uses the Clarks Summit, PA (18411), Dalton, PA (18414), or Waverly, PA (18471) mailing addresses. The North Pocono School District uses the Moscow, PA (18444) or Lake Ariel (18436) mailing addresses.

Also, don't use Realtor.com. Use Greater Scranton Board of Realtors, Inc. - Home , which is the web site for the Greater Scranton Board of Realtors. From here you can search for properties by school district, county, or mailing address.

[poconosmama]

I would say Winsor Hills I think the zip is 18436, and there's a new one off of 348 Stonefield Estates which is beautiful. There's the one in Moscow too with great schools, Harmony Hills is it? I know someone is going to snoot these because the prices are a bit high but for some people they are very nice. Good luck in your search!

[FightinPhils]

Why suburbs? The whole Scranton area is basically safe with good schools, the city included. I wouldn't necessarily shut out the city of Scranton, while there are a couple of neighborhoods to avoid, the majority of the city is just as safe and nice as the suburbs, and you can generally buy much cheaper in the city.

[Eileen Talalas]

Jefferson Heights is a nice, well established neighborhood located in Mt Cobb- just minutes from 84- about 10 minutes into downtown Scranton. The homes are well kept, many on an acre or so. Zip code is 18436 (Lake Ariel delivers there even though it;s Lackawanna County)- you should be able to find a couple of nice homes to see if you search on Realtor.com. You will have to look closely though- The zip code covers a huge territory (Lake twp, Paupack twp, Jefferson Twp and more). If you don't mind travelling 25-30 minutes, take a look at some of the lake region communities. The Hideout, WLE, Tanglwook Lake, etc.

[memoriesbre]

If you want a quaint old town feel and a safe place, I say come and see Tunkhannock. We are not far from Scranton and have the peace and serenity of the country yet close to all the stores. We have all that you would need right in town too. Walmart, Gay's True Value Hardware, Restaurants, CVS, the Dietrich Movie Theater, antique shops, ice cream parlors, banks, car dealers, etc.

[auntlucy]

Originally Posted by memoriesbre

If you want a quaint old town feel and a safe place, I say come and see Tunkhannock. We are not far from Scranton and have the peace and serenity of the country yet close to all the stores. We have all that you would need right in town too. Walmart, Gay's True Value Hardware, Restaurants, CVS, the Dietrich Movie Theater, antique shops, ice cream parlors, banks, car dealers, etc.

Are there any senior citizens (60s age) living there? We are looking for a nice safe, quiet, friendly town in which to retire (that does not flood). We want to be close to needed shopping such as Walmart, etc. due to gas prices.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by auntlucy

Are there any senior citizens (60s age) living there? We are looking for a nice safe, quiet, friendly town in which to retire (that does not flood). We want to be close to needed shopping such as Walmart, etc. due to gas prices.

Tunkhannock has an older than average population, so you'll be in good company. Some people are beginning to consider retiring here, the Clarks Summit area, and the Dallas area because they've heard about how the cost-of-living in the Poconos is beginning to rise and are now skipping over to the west side of the SWB metro area. Tunkhannock is a wonderful town with a Wal-Mart just across the bridge and a traditional downtown area with a restored theater, shops, and restaurants.

Here are a few photos from my tour to get you excited about checking this community out, or you can see the whole photo tour at:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/north...-part-two.html

[hopbottomhal]

Olyphant, grand old Olyphant, where the evening stars shine brightly!

[Positiveone]

Thanks so much for all the input everybody! Please keep posting more! I never been to Scranton, so this is a huge move that needs to be properly planned.

What are the property taxes out there on a 260-280,000 home?

How is the Illegal Alien situation in Scranton and Wlikes Barr?

Would you say the job market is improving?

Thanks again!