considering a move Scranton (after living in New York & Colorado) (Philadelphia: middle-class, ski resorts)

[CJJ1227]

I am originally from Long Island, New York (love, love, love it there, but can no longer afford the terrible living cost). I just recently got married and moved with my husband to Colorado (where he grew up) but we are dying to return to the Eastern Coast within this coming year.

Since NY is out of the question, we would love to be at least within driving range. My questions are these:

1. How far is Scranton from New York? I read that it's about a 2 or 3 hour drive to the city. Is that true?

2. How is "life" there. Where I am now is such a small town and there is absolutely NOTHING to do and it's making me crazy. Is Scranton the same? Is there anything to do there - movie theatres, malls, any place to shop other than just Walmart? I understand that it'll have less than New York, but I am hoping wherever we move will at least have more than Sterling, Colorado does.

Thanks in advance - - I hope somebody can help me out with these concerns. Scranton just seems like a pleasant place to live, but I've never been there so who knows.

[Chefkey]

There is a ton of stuff to do, loads of shopping malls as well as Walmart. Many parks for recreation, places like Montage Mountain for skiing and more shopping. The Nature here is beautiful all over.

We are about two and a half hours from New York. This a nice area undergoing revitalization, the Colleges in this area are fast become the major anchors.

[CJJ1227]

Originally Posted by Chefkey

There is a ton of stuff to do, loads of shopping malls as well as Walmart. Many parks for recreation, places like Montage Mountain for skiing and more shopping. The Nature here is beautiful all over.

We are about two and a half hours from New York. This a nice area undergoing revitalization, the Colleges in this area are fast become the major anchors.

Thanks for that information. It really does seem like such a nice place to live. The fact that it has things to do makes me so happy to hear (and that it's apparently sooo close to NY!)

So you think it's a good place to raise children? Where I am now i just could never have kids. I see way too many teens getting into stupid kind of trouble just because they're bored and have nothing better to do I don't want that for my future children.

[Retired Law 08]

Originally Posted by CJJ1227

I am originally from Long Island, New York (love, love, love it there, but can no longer afford the terrible living cost). I just recently got married and moved with my husband to Colorado (where he grew up) but we are dying to return to the Eastern Coast within this coming year.

Since NY is out of the question, we would love to be at least within driving range. My questions are these:

1. How far is Scranton from New York? I read that it's about a 2 or 3 hour drive to the city. Is that true?

2. How is "life" there. Where I am now is such a small town and there is absolutely NOTHING to do and it's making me crazy. Is Scranton the same? Is there anything to do there - movie theatres, malls, any place to shop other than just Walmart? I understand that it'll have less than New York, but I am hoping wherever we move will at least have more than Sterling, Colorado does.

Thanks in advance - - I hope somebody can help me out with these concerns. Scranton just seems like a pleasant place to live, but I've never been there so who knows.

look here....approx 6 miles from Scranton....Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

The Abingtons - Area Information

[CJJ1227]

Originally Posted by Retired Law 08

look here....approx 6 miles from Scranton....
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitors sites is not allowed

The Abingtons - Area Information

oh wow. Thanks for those links!!

[scrantonluna]

The Scranton 'area' has a lot to offer. One of the best assets is that
it is 'two hours from everything,' and for the most part it's true. Two
hours from NYC, NJ, the beach, easy drive to Philly, etc. Basically it
allows you to experience many different locations, but at the end of
the day you can choose to turn it off.

If you enjoy outdoor activites (hiking, camping, etc) then this is the
place for you. That being said, the area is not perfect, but I'm sure
others will clue you in on that.

Your best bet would be to take a small trip and see how you feel about
the area. You can view homes for sale at Mod cut - link to specific realtor

[ScranBarre]

You really would be best served to come here for a week sometime, stay at a hotel, and extensively scour the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area to get a good "feel" for it. You should be sure to do plenty of "people-watching" while you're here, too, to get a general idea of the types of people you may potentially be befriending if and when you decide to permanently settle here.

I must say that you really can't get any more convenient than Scranton for the very affordable cost-of-living. I can't think of any other area within about a 2-hour and 15-minute drive from both NYC and Philadelphia that offers such a good quality-of-life with housing prices that ARE easily attainable for the middle-class---even singles! I believe the median home value in Lackawanna County is now around $142,000 and is even less in the city proper of Scranton (this is one of the few relatively major areas in the country where people prefer suburban living over the city, driving the suburbs to be MORE expensive!)

Bear in mind though that the employment scene is pretty horrid in the region. I graduated from King's, a local college, in May 2009 and hoofed it down here to NoVA for a great career opportunity. Many other college-educated peers are doing the same as well. This has lead to a "Brain Drain" in the area where many of our youths leave while being replaced in an almost equal fashion by a blend of empty-nesters and retirees from Greater NYC as well as a new wave of Hispanic immigrants (in fact the metro population has been growing pretty much since 2005, so even though we'll still see a SMALL population decline between 2000-2010 reflected in the upcoming U.S. Census, you'll see a MODERATE increase between 2010 and 2020). This is very significant because this area was "dying" pretty much since the 1950s.

I never at all felt "bored" in the area. As far as shopping goes the downtowns were a bit disappointing on the retail front (Downtown Wilkes-Barre has shown more promise lately than Downtown Scranton), but the suburbs had nearly every chain you could imagine (Target, Lowe's, Gander Mountain, Chico's, Talbot's, Best Buy, etc.) Downtown Clarks Summit has several upscale niche retailers that I used to love to patronize---especially Everything Natural, a good-sized organic health food store. There are many great parks that offer ample opportunities for hiking, boating, white-water rafting, cross-country skiing, etc. There's still a couple of drive-in theaters left, a few major theaters, performing arts centers, minor-league hockey (Penguins), minor-league baseball (Yankees), indoor arena football (Pioneers), ski resorts, water parks, and a couple of casinos. My only real GRIPE about the metroplex was the lack of an amusement park---it was irritating to have to take the one-hour trip to Knoebel's or the one-hour and fifteen-minute trip to Dorney Park all the time. An area this large (600,000ish people) should have its own amusement park.

[sues1]

Originally Posted by CJJ1227

Thanks for that information. It really does seem like such a nice place to live. The fact that it has things to do makes me so happy to hear (and that it's apparently sooo close to NY!)

So you think it's a good place to raise children? Where I am now i just could never have kids. I see way too many teens getting into stupid kind of trouble just because they're bored and have nothing better to do I don't want that for my future children.

Try the North Pocono area as well, it's about 15 from Scranton, it includes, Moscow, Springbrook, Daleville, Gouldsboro, and a few other towns. My kids went to school there and it was a great school system.

[peppermint]

ScranBarre said that you should come for a visit. I second that and would like to add that you REALLY, REALLY need to drive from the Scranton area into NYC, if you plan to work in NYC. My husband and I lived north of Stroudsburg, which is about two hours from NYC. A lot, and I mean A LOT, of people move to PA because it's cheaper to live there, but as soon as the snow flies, they want out. It's a long commute, especially if you're not used to it.

If you're only visiting family though, 2-3 hours isn't too bad! Not too close, not too far away!

[loveinbloom]

Originally Posted by Retired Law 08

look here....approx 6 miles from Scranton....
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitors sites is not allowed

The Abingtons - Area Information

Yuppers...great advice...also my trip door to door from Scranton to Suffolk county is 3.5 hrs...