Need info about Hazleton area (Scranton, Wilkes-Barre: middle-class, real estate, neighborhood)

[PamR]

Hi
I hope someone can help, my husband is working in Hazelton and I am currently still in NY but planning on moving there with him in the very near future and would like some advice on the best areas to live within commuting distance of Hazleton.
Someone asked in an old post about stores like Wholefoods in Hazleton, I know theres nothing there but where is the nearest place that does have anything like that?
We are definately not city people and would like somewhere rural, I have been looking online at Beach Mountain but i'd really like opinions from people who actually know the area.
I'd really apreciate any help you can give, thanks

[ScranBarre]

The only place within the city of Hazleton that I'd consider living in myself would be the Terrace neighborhood, which is a more upper-middle-class part of the city on the eastern side. North of Hazleton you'll find Drums (Butler Township) which is one of the fastest-growing communities in all of NEPA and the fastest-growing of the 76 communities in Luzerne County. Beech Mountain Lakes, from what I've heard, is a relatively tranquil place. The nearby Sand Springs subdivision received some very negative publicity in the past from a disgruntled homeowner fed up with the lack of response from the developer in relation to water runoff woes. If I were moving into the Greater Hazleton region from outside of the area, I'd definitely recommend looking into either Sugarloaf Township or the town of Conyngham, both of which offer a rural atmosphere yet still have convenience to the city. There's a lot of racial tensions occurring right now in Hazleton as the city's diversity swells, but these outlying towns about 10-15 minutes away have largely been untouched.

Best of luck to you! I'm not familiar enough with the city to know the nearest organic grocer, but there are a couple of popular ones here in the more heavily-populated Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area.

[PamR]

'i'll check out those areas
If Wilkes Barre is good for shopping is there a good area to live fairly near there and still in commuting distance to Hazleton?

[W-B proud]

Mountaintop, Nuangola, Butler Twp., Dorrance would all be good choices. Nice suburban semi-rural areas that are inbetween W-B and Hazleton.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by W-B proud

Mountaintop, Nuangola, Butler Twp., Dorrance would all be good choices. Nice suburban semi-rural areas that are inbetween W-B and Hazleton.

The Mountain Top area would be a 15-20-minute commute to the Hazleton area for work and about a 10-15-minute commute to the throngs of shopping/dining areas around Wilkes-Barre. Mountain Top (which nobody truly knows if it is spelled using one word or two words), is a fairly safe, tranquil area, but it is heavily-oriented towards younger families with children. I'd have to gander an estimation that 75% of the households there are sited within subdivisions. The Crestwood School District, which serves Mountain Top, is often ranked amongst the best in the region. There have been some overcrowding issues here as of late though because neither the local townships nor the school district have kept pace with the residential growth over the years.

Just as an FYI, while Mountain Top has its own zip code and will turn up in real estate searches, it actually doesn't exist as an officially recognized town. It is a U.S. Census aggregate of several townships (Dennison, Dorrance, Fairview, Rice, Slocum, Wright) and the boroughs of Nuangola, Penn Lake Park, and White Haven. Some hamlets within these townships include Blytheburn, Albert, Rita, Glen Summit, and Hobbie.

Best of luck!

[UpOnBase2]

Graduated from Hazleton Area in mid 90's, went to college, and never looked back. Back then it was a decent area to grow up, very blue collar but fairly safe. We would often hang out downtown and the biggest thing that would happen is a fight. Now there are gangs/gun violence/etc

I go "home" only once/twice per year and the place is getting worse everytime. I would guess that out of my 20 buds that have college degrees only 2 are still there, both teachers. There is very little there, I know orgs like CanDo are trying to bring some better opportunity but there is a serious "brain drain" and crime/drugs is bad in the city.

I would only consider the valley (Conygham/Sugarloaf/Butler) and pray they build a Valley High school if you have kids, the public schools are dismal. It was only croed control when I was there and I am sure it's worse.

I enjoyed growing up there, it taught hard work and toughness but there is NO WAY I would raise my kids there...it's a dump. The valley is nice but very little to offer. Not trying to be uber negative but honest.

[edzeppelin]

Well, ScranBarre, I have noticed that you are giving alot of people disinformation about the wonderful city of Hazleton. Firstly, I am skeptical about someone from Pittston deciding that the only worthwile neighborhood worth living in Hazleton is the Terrace. I absolutely agree with you that it is a rather affluent neighborhood, but it is hardly the only section of the city worth living. Secondly, Hazleton is undergoing a transformation that is happening to cities of all sizes across the nation. The majority of the Latino population that has moved to this area genuinely like it here. The majority of the indigenous population of Hazleton truly believe, that if people are coming to our city in search of a better life, than they deserve to be here.
For anyone considering moving to the city of Hazleton, I applaud you. You too, will eventually learn that Hazleton has many things to offer. I have been a life long resident for almost 37 years now and have no plans on moving. Just like any other city, Hazleton will be what you, yourself, make of it.