Bethel PA or surrounding areas, what are they like? (Lancaster: unemployment rate, Mennonites)

[aphahorse]

Hubby and I are trying to decide where to move. We are currently in Central NJ and are looking to move to a more country like setting. We don't mind driving 15-20 minutes to a store (like target or walmart, etc)

Hubby's potential job would be in Bethel PA, and we'd be looking withing a 20mile radius to it.

1) Would you consider the cost of living a little cheaper than NJ?

2) Are property taxes reasonable (maybe under $4000?)

4) Are the areas deprived of jobs?

3) Any recommemdations to specific towns that would fit our criteria? We are looking for:
- nice area (not run down)
- middle class areas
- near the Amish
- rural / farming / agriculture area
- we are horse people, so areas that have horses would be nice too.

Thanks!

[CourageMom]

city-data.com has a lot of statistics regarding the different towns that might suit you
around Bethel.

[Icy Tea]

Cost of living would definitely be cheaper than NJ.
Property taxes would be lower but they've gone up like everywhere else.
The county unemployment rate is just over 8% currently. You're close to the Lebanon/ Harrisburg area where its lower.
Its defintely pa dutch farm country, not necessarily amish. I'm sure there are mennonites around. They'd just be less common than in Lancaster. Horses, cows, farms, corn aplenty around Bethel.
For what its worth, PETCO announced its building a new distribution warehouse nearby and is supposed to have 500 jobs available.