Good places for single young professionals to live near Hazleton? (Allentown: appointed, school)

[RLCMA]

I may be taking a job in Hazleton and I know nothing about the area. I currently live in Central MA and there are a good amount of towns outside of Boston that are vibrant and great for young single people. Are there any such communities like this in the Hazleton area? I'm very much a city person and I'm curious how Wilkes-Barre and Scranton are for excitement. Any feedback is appreciated.

[PeeAye Native]

You'll find a lot more to do as a single person in Scranton and Wilkes Barre than in Hazleton. Wilkes Barre has a downtown that is on the upswing, and Scranton also has a lot to do. I'm talking bars and restaurants, cultural events, minor league sports (baseball and hockey), outdoors stuff (hiking, bike riding and skiing).

The drive from either to Hazleton might be sketchy in the winter time, Hazleton is the highest elevation city (note, not borough or village or township) in PA, and when other areas get clouds or rain it can be ice or snow in and around Hazleton. People drive it, but it slows you down.

Here are the two weekly arts/entertainment/culture newspapers for each city, they are a more impressive read in hardcopy/print then on the web, you get the impression there is a lot more to do when you see all the print ads for bars, restaurants and other organized events:

Diamond City - Luzerne County's free entertainment weekly. Find events and restaurants in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton and NEPA.
Electric City/Diamond City - Northeast PA's free entertainment weekly. Find events and restaurants in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and NEPA.

One more possible alternative might be Bloomsburg, about 20 miles to the WNW. It's a smallish college town, and so has some of the goings-on to accompany that (a few college bars, pizza joints, college cultural events, etc.). Definitely less than Wilkes Barre and Scranton, though.

[RLCMA]

Thanks for the reply. Would you recommend Scranton over Wilkes-Barre? Which one has more going on?

[PeeAye Native]

One more link for a weekly entertainment paper: The Weekender, Northeast PA

Which one would I recommend? If you're brand new to the area, I don't think you'll see much difference. Scranton might have slightly more places to get out and socialize (music bars, martini bars, cigar bars, coffee shops) in one concentrated area -- the downtown -- as compared to Wilkes Barre, where the same number of places are geographically spread out more.

However, if I were new to the area, I'd choose the Wilkes Barre area over Scranton just to shave 15 minutes (each way) off the commute time. I'm talking from the approximate city centers, (it will of course vary depending on exact location and how close to an I-81 entrance/exit you are). You'll find that the metro area is very much spread out, the entire area is called the Wyoming Valley, and Scranton and Wilkes Barre are the two major city/metro areas and the county seats of the two principal counties. There are lots and lots of liveable communities surrounding each of the two cities, and these these communities generally blend into each other.

[PeeAye Native]

FYI, one more link for arts and entertainment. The thetimes-tribune.com is the online version of the Scranton daily newspaper. Once a week, on Wednesdays or Thursdays, they post a short video called 'The Weekend Show' where someone goes over the upcoming weekend arts and entertainment events. It's informative, and will give you an insight of what there is to do that is non bar/drinking related.

[sport225]

Scranton definitely has more going on.

Its hands down the best place to live in NEPA. I grew up in Scranton and went to college in Wilkes-Barre. I loved the school I went to in Wilkes-Barre, but I really disliked the area.

Scranton has a great downtown for a small city with lots of bars and cool restaurants. Also outside of the downtown area there is a lot to do also. I think its better for a younger person.

Now, if you're thinking of living outside of the city....both Luzerne and Lackawanna County have some beautiful areas. I'd recommend the Moscow area for Lackawanna County and Back Mt. area for Luzerne.

But Hazleton is the worst. I think coming from MA near Boston, you'd be really disappointed in Hazleton. Its a shame, but the area is really run down. I'm sure the people are nice - but the area is mismanaged (most of NEPA is) but its really noticeable in the Hazleton area. Theres a ton of racial tension and economic distress in the Hazleton area.

[RLCMA]

Thanks for the great replies. I'm hoping to head down to Hazleton this week. It seems the commute from Scranton to Hazleton might be quite a hike.

[ki0eh]

I've heard that some live in the Allentown area and commute to (and more from) Hazleton. That's obviously dicey in the winter compared to I-81 from WB/Scr.

[sport225]

Allentown would probably be the same distance to Hazleton as Scranton...maybe a little shorter.

Allentown definitely has more job opportunities though, if you're in a career field where you can grow and look at other companies etc.

The commute to Hazleton from Scranton would probably take you 45 minutes, in the snow probably longer. People do it and vice versa. Its 81 South the whole way.

Considering its 81, you're really not saving yourself a whole lot of time by living in Wilkes-Barre, maybe 10-15 minutes.

[RLCMA]

Originally Posted by sport225

Allentown would probably be the same distance to Hazleton as Scranton...maybe a little shorter.

Allentown definitely has more job opportunities though, if you're in a career field where you can grow and look at other companies etc.

The commute to Hazleton from Scranton would probably take you 45 minutes, in the snow probably longer. People do it and vice versa. Its 81 South the whole way.

Considering its 81, you're really not saving yourself a whole lot of time by living in Wilkes-Barre, maybe 10-15 minutes.

How is Allentown as far as living goes? Is it nicer than Wilkes-Barre? From doing some research it seems like an area without much going on. I'm hoping this isn't the case.