Looking for smaller town outside of bethlehem or scranton (Philadelphia: to rent, selling a house)

[ladyfish]

We have heard great things about the bethlehem or scranton metro areas in this forum and will be looking at both areas. We are interested in learning if there are any smaller towns that are located relatively close (1/2 hour commute) outside of these areas that are affordable and welcoming. I have heard about Jim Thorpe and we will be considering it, but I noticed that it is about an hour outside of bethlehem and depending on where my husband gets a job, that will probably be just too far of a daily commute for him.

We know scranton is more affordable than bethlehem so we may be looking there primarily. If we were to live outside of a metro area, we'd love to be close to hiking. But I just got a PA hiking book, and it looks like hiking is rampant throughout the state so that shouldn't be too much of a worry.

ALSO . . . are incomes much lower than the national average in NEPA? For a trade, could he expect to earn about the national average?

And Philly is very vegetarian-friendly I've heard -- are scranton or bethlehem as well?

[toobusytoday]

What's affordable? Are you moving from an area where the cost of living is high and selling a house there?
This is not a depressed area and not known for low wages.
General rule is that north and west of Allentown and Bethlehem is lower cost housing then South of the city. Some residents commute from the Lehigh Valley to NY/Northern Jersey and to Philadelphia so they are earning city wages. A good idea is to rent for a year and look around.