monroe county (Scranton, Johnstown, Northampton: relocating, travel, wage)

[magnoliame]

Can someone shed some light on the nicer neighborhoods in monroe county? Someplace where the population is culturally diverse but in a middleclass/upperclass neighborhood. schools are very important as well. I heard that it floods a lot in monroe county is this true? Let me know.. Magnoliame.

[SKDOUBLER]

Hi,
We are also considering relocating to Monroe county. We are looking into Brodheadsville, Effort, Kunkletown, Kresgeville and Saylorsburg in the Pleasant Valley school district.
We have relatives there, but would like other peoples opions of the area. We just want to make sure that the relatives are not just telling us good things about the area to get us closer to them.
We have 2 children ages 6 and 10, so we want an area that is good for them. We are relocating from Long Island to get away from the high cost of housing and the NY attitude of the people.
Any help would be appreciated.

[bldginpa]

You might want to consider Pike County for the lower taxes. I understand that there is quite a difference between Monroe and Pike tax rates. Check it out to be sure.

[SKDOUBLER]

How are the schools in Pike county? The taxes aren't as much of an issue as schools are. Here on Long Island when taxes are around $8000 a year, and the houses that we are looking at in Monroe range anywhere from $2000-$4500 a year. I don't mind paying that as long as the quality of life for my children are good. But, if Pike county has low taxes and my children are safe and have a good school, that would be good as well. What is the best school in Pike?

[brock-o-lee]

My wife and I have ived in Kunkletown for the past 21 years. We moved here from the Hackensack area of northern N J. We have loved it here from the begining. We have 2 daughters in Pleasant Valley High School. Our eldest is in 12th grade, she has consistanly been a distinguished honors roll student. Our younger daughter ain't no slouch either, always makes honor roll. The school district IS a very good one, about the best in Monroe County.

You also get out of it what you put into it, so make sure you keep those kids reading and enjoying learning. It's your job as much as theirs! Good, educated parents produce good, educated kids!

This area has changed drastically since we moved here. We were considered, and treated as outsiders originally, the old PA Dutch didn't like anyone who didn't have 5 generations of relatives from the same area. In the past 15 years, or so, building has been going at an insane pace. The area has become quite diverse, many different ethnicities and people from various areas have moved in. The population of Monroe County has doubled in the past 15 years.

Route 209 through Brodheadsville used to only have one traffic light, now from the WaWa to Kresgeville there are 5 traffic lights and the traffic to go along with them. Don't get me wrong, this is still a wonderful area to live and bring up children, but much of the "Rural Feel" is gone. I miss it.

Lately, I have been thinking of moving to the Johnstown, PA area. Also looking into the Everett, PA area. In these ares you can still get a house CHEAP!

Please check out Find Your Spot's web site it'll help you find where you want to be.

[SKDOUBLER]

Thanks, I have visited the area a few times and I like it a lot. But, I am not there full time to get the real feel of it. It really helps having someone elses imput on it. My husband has family (2 siblings) right off 209 and they love it. Since we are the only ones left on Long Island they want us to move closer to them. We really don't want the "Rural Feel", I think it would shock my husband too much since he was originally from Brooklyn. We also don't want it too city-like either. We are trying to get away from that.
Thanks again.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by SKDOUBLER

Thanks, I have visited the area a few times and I like it a lot. But, I am not there full time to get the real feel of it. It really helps having someone elses imput on it. My husband has family (2 siblings) right off 209 and they love it. Since we are the only ones left on Long Island they want us to move closer to them. We really don't want the "Rural Feel", I think it would shock my husband too much since he was originally from Brooklyn. We also don't want it too city-like either. We are trying to get away from that.
Thanks again.

In that case, Monroe County would probably be the perfect fit for you, as it is "suburban"---a blend of trees and city amenities. Monroe County is booming with new retail enterprises. Tannersville is home to The Crossings Premium Outlets, and Stroud Township is home to the Stroud Mall, Loews Theater, Kohl's, Target, Wal-Mart Supercenter, an upcoming Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. As others have been saying, the county's population has been EXPLODING in recent years---I believe it's still the second-fastest growing county in the state behind neighboring Pike County. With that growth comes more opportunity, but it also creates more traffic nightmares. I was out to visit a friend in Marshalls Creek last Fall, and it took me an insane amount of time to get from I-80 to his home just five miles away via Route 209! The county has simply grown too quickly than it has been able to keep up with, so now you're left with country roads with city traffic---NOT a good mix! LOL!

I'll also agree with Brock-O-Lee that Pleasant Valley is probably the second-best school district in the Poconos behind Delaware Valley (Milford Area). My ex-boyfriend is a product of Pocono Mountain, and he told me that there were a lot of drug and gang issues there. Also, that particular school district is now larger than SCRANTON! The district grew so quickly that it had to split itself into East and West "campuses" and struggle to build new classrooms to keep pace with the growth. Pleasant Valley is also growing rapidly, but it seems as if they've managed to do a better job at keeping up with the increasing demand by increasing capacity accordingly.

Overall, it's certainly not a bad area---just a bit too congested for my tastes (and I live on the outskirts of a mid-sized city!) LOL!

[amsm196]

Originally Posted by SKDOUBLER

How are the schools in Pike county? The taxes aren't as much of an issue as schools are. Here on Long Island when taxes are around $8000 a year, and the houses that we are looking at in Monroe range anywhere from $2000-$4500 a year. I don't mind paying that as long as the quality of life for my children are good. But, if Pike county has low taxes and my children are safe and have a good school, that would be good as well. What is the best school in Pike?

Hi Long Islander! We are also originally from Long Island NY, currently we are living in Nevada. We also have 2 young children and are looking to move out of Vegas possibly back East. We have heard alot about Pa being a much more affordable place to live then is the high taxed Long Island. But where are the jobs in Monroe & Pike County? For example the job market here in Vegas is very strong and as you know Long Island has many jobs, but overall is the job market in Pike & Monroe very strong? Or do most people travel far to work?

Also how is the crime rate in Monroe & Pike? Where we used to live on Long Island the crime was low, we never had any crime issues there.

Any info helps, the more the better.

Thanks

[magnoliame]

hi again everyone,
It's good to hear that pleasant valley is a good school district. That was one of the areas my husband and I were looking into. I still have not heard any word on the racial climate of Monroe county. How would it be for a biracial family to live there. And is it true that it floods alot? Can somebody help a sista out? Thanx

[rjw8625]

Originally Posted by amsm196

Hi Long Islander! We are also originally from Long Island NY, currently we are living in Nevada. We also have 2 young children and are looking to move out of Vegas possibly back East. We have heard alot about Pa being a much more affordable place to live then is the high taxed Long Island. But where are the jobs in Monroe & Pike County? For example the job market here in Vegas is very strong and as you know Long Island has many jobs, but overall is the job market in Pike & Monroe very strong? Or do most people travel far to work?

Also how is the crime rate in Monroe & Pike? Where we used to live on Long Island the crime was low, we never had any crime issues there.

Any info helps, the more the better.

Thanks

There's the rub. Most of the newer residents in Monroe County, PA work in or close to NYC. It is about 60-75 miles away depending on where you are. Traffic is bad along Interstate 80 since it is only two lanes as it was built when Pennsylvania simply wasn't thought of as an extension of NYC sprawl.
The advantages these people gain are an inflated NYC wage without the corresponding expense, but they spend 25% of their life in their cars.

To be fair, it also depends on the job, but I'd say there is little that pays very well on the PA side. My brother is living with relatives temporarily in Northampton County, PA (just south of Monroe) and driving into New Jersey for work, but when he finishes 4 months of training in Alabama, he's going to get a place closer to work to avoid the traffic.

-Bob