what is the Reading area like? (Allentown, Lancaster: homes, neighborhoods, buy)

[teambulldog]

Stay Away From Reading That City Is Full Full Of Crime....... Shillington Is Great, Wyomissing, Mohnton Is Very Quiet, Shoemakerville Is Nice And Quiet But They Got No Cops, Leesburg Is Also Beuatifull... But U Dont Wan The City

[Baltic_Celt]

Hi All -

Pottstown is near Reading. How would that be as an option? I see that realtor.com lists housing prices all over the spectrum & it's only a 15-20 min drive to Reading, isn't it?

Just curious what you all think.

Thanks... VV

[nhgirl]

I am also moving to the Reading area. I was told that Pottstown and Kutztown are too far to commute. Birdsboro, Morgantown, Cumru Township, Wyomissing, West Lawn are all nice with good schools. If you look at the statistics on this web site, it seems like there isn't much crime that spreads outside of the city into these areas. My big concern is that it may eventually happen as the population increases. Any thoughts?

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by nhgirl

I am also moving to the Reading area. I was told that Pottstown and Kutztown are too far to commute. Birdsboro, Morgantown, Cumru Township, Wyomissing, West Lawn are all nice with good schools. If you look at the statistics on this web site, it seems like there isn't much crime that spreads outside of the city into these areas. My big concern is that it may eventually happen as the population increases. Any thoughts?

In terms of public schooling and just the general quality of life, a lot of Pottstown is lacking. Pottsgrove, Boyertown and Gilbertsville are all nice communities adjacent to Pottstown, so those would be another alternative. As far as Pottstown or the other aforementioned towns being too far from Reading to commute, I wouldn't say that at all. Route 422 is a straight shot from Pottstown to Reading, which, although parts of it can get congested during the morning and evening rush hours, is a very simple drive -- 30 minutes max.

Also, Reading and Pottstown, both being larger communities, have their share of gang and drug-related crime, but I wouldn't worry about some sort of "spill over." These are ages-old problems, and the more quiet, suburban communities such as Pottsgrove or Wyomissing have managed to maintain very safe atmospheres for quite some time now.

[sky258]

i say dont move their i live in pa and i am moveing to north carolina, now that should tell you something.

[skueb]

So, I am hearing that Reading is not too good because of the crime and drug problem. I am interested in moving to the Blandon area. I see that Blandon is only about 10 miles outside of Reading, would that be a problem? I am hearing that rural Berks County is lovely, I don't mind rural so long as I can utilize get to shopping and there are decent schools.

[mechtm84]

Originally Posted by mra68

(or recommend we avoid?)

Reading, PA and most of eastern PA. It's just an extension of the New Jersey, Killadelphia, Camden, Trenton Metropolis

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by mechtm84

Reading, PA and most of eastern PA. It's just an extension of the New Jersey, Killadelphia, Camden, Trenton Metropolis

You do know that this adds nothing substantive or informative to the forum. If you can't provide anything but insults based on generalizations -- like you constantly do -- then you frankly have no business posting anything at all. If you REALLY knew about the area, you'd know how diverse SEPA is.

[Wanna Leave Penciltucky]

Reading is not good. Matter of fact no place close to Reading is very good.
Of course do not take anyone's word on here, DO your own homework!

[mechtm84]

Originally Posted by Duderino

You do know that this adds nothing substantive or informative to the forum. If you can't provide anything but insults based on generalizations -- like you constantly do -- then you frankly have no business posting anything at all. If you REALLY knew about the area, you'd know how diverse SEPA is.

I do know about the area, and I have alot of business posting here, DUDerino. They asked what Reading was like, I told them. What is the problem? You're making a generalization that I know nothing about the area. I was homeless in Reading for about 2 weeks when I first moved to PA. It's not fun having hispanic thugs chase you around Reading for 12 blocks, trying to mug me for a lousy $6. I eventually found my way to the Turnpike and took it west to the Harrisburg area. More thugs, but I had to settle for a crappy warehouse job. I had to carry a switchblade with me too for the first time in years. At least harrisburg crime and gangs are concentrated to a small area. So I stayed here. My car was also on it's last leg. Two weeks later, my 94 dodge intrepid blew a head gasket. Go figure.

Please stay off my case and quote me only if you have something to say about Reading. And don't tell me where I can and cannot post. I do not appreciate that. If you desire to be a moderator, go to mod school, but until then, you have no business to tell me where and where not to post.

Originally Posted by Wanna Leave Penciltucky

Reading is not good. Matter of fact no place close to Reading is very good.

Yup, that was a bad experience.

Does anyone knw why Reading is such a pit for such a small city? I was baffled at how run down the city was.